Scaphe dial. This instrument comprises a dial and compass set on a raised gold rectangle, with an ivory lid. The compass consists of a red ring with 12 engraved characters inside it - they represent 12 directions by the names of the Chinese hours. The dial is formed out of a bowl-shaped depression in the ivory. The hour-lines are marked in black and a small vertical brass pin gnomon is in the centre of the bowl. Above the dial are five Japanese characters giving the numbers 5, 4, 9, 8 and 7.

This dial is among the smallest of the instruments in the NMM sundial collection and is very similar to AST0523. The tiny size of the dial itself would have militated against the accuracy of the instrument, which would probably only have been able to provide the time to the nearest hour. These ivory sundials were probably inspired by the tradition of the 'netsuke' in Japanese jewellery, which were finely carved miniature ivory sculptures used for attaching items to the sash (obi) of a Japanese man's traditional dress.

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