Universal equinoctial dial for latitudes 0°-90° North. This painted dial is mounted on a pedestal set on a square base, supported by four round wooden feet. All the markings are manuscript. On the reverse side of the base-plate is a central shield painted with a cock, surrounded by circle with the signature 'Joanne Paulo Gallucio Saloensi Auctore Venetiis 1572'. On the obverse side of the base-plate, the cardinal points are named in Latin and personifications of the winds are painted in the corners. The base-plate is surmounted by two octagons and a revolving circular base, on which is set a supporting column formed of two intersecting pieces of card. This column holds the latitude arc which is grooved to accommodate a semicircular disc (the gnomon). A slit in the centre of the semicircle accommodates the hour disc.

The whole instrument is well-crafted and elaborately painted and decorated in black, red, blue and yellow. The reasons for suspecting that this instrument is a forgery are connected to mistakes in the calendar. The dating of the instrument as 1572 is impossible since the dates given for the equinoxes (21 March and 21 September) relate to the Gregorian calendar, which was not introduced until 1582. The information is also incorrect for the Gregorian calendar, since the sun is given as entering each zodiac sign on the 21st of the month. Otherwise the instrument is correctly designed and capable of functioning as an equinoctial dial or as an instrument for laying out other dials.

For more information regarding this dial please refer to the OUP & NMM catalogue, 'Sundials at Greenwich'.