Sun Dial Collection

Sundial on plate of slate inscribed Noiseless falls the foot of time that only treads on flowers 1905, Little Hall, Lavenham, Suffolk, England, United Kingdom, Europe

Sundial and Perran Beach, Perranporth, Cornwall, England, United Kingdom

Horace Walpole / Smith 10
HORACE (HORATIO) WALPOLE 4TH EARL OF ORFORD English man of letters at the age of ten

Stonehenge at sunrise. This ancient arrangement of large standing stones (megaliths) on Salisbury Plain, England, is thought to have been built around 2000 BC by neolithic peoples

Unusual Sundial
An unusual armillary sphere sundial with a base with fish sculpted into it, at Bath, Somerset, England

Sciathericon for determining time
Sciathericon. Illustration entitled Sciathericon stellarum fixarum situm qualibet hora demonstrans, a device for showing time by reference to the fixed stars

Stela with fragment of calendar, possibly part of a sundial, the ancient Zapotec city of Monte Alban, UNESCO World Heritage Site, near Oaxaca City, Oaxaca, Mexico, North America

"The sundial was so aged / It had gathered a thoughtful grace" (colour litho)
8627504 "The sundial was so aged / It had gathered a thoughtful grace" (colour litho) by Rawlings, Alfred (1855-1939); Private Collection; (add.info)

Dial erected by Charles II at Windsor (colour litho)
8627497 Dial erected by Charles II at Windsor (colour litho) by Hogg, Herbert Warrington (1862-93); Private Collection; (add.info.: Dial erected by Charles II at Windsor)

"A Dial is the Anatomie of the Day and a Scale of Miles for the Journie of the Sun" (colour litho)
8627499 "A Dial is the Anatomie of the Day and a Scale of Miles for the Journie of the Sun" (colour litho) by Rawlings

Multiple solar clocks, 18th century (metal)
AIS5370489 Multiple solar clocks, 18th century (metal); CNAM, Conservatoire National des Arts et Metiers, Paris; © Iberfoto.

Mechanical equinox dial, for latitude 0-90 degrees, 18th century
MMM5468898 Mechanical equinox dial, for latitude 0-90 degrees, 18th century; National Maritime Museum, London, UK; (add.info.: Mechanical equinox dial, for latitude 0-90 degrees)

Universal equinoxial ring dial, for all latitudes. Brass instrument, c.1715 (brass)
MMM5475137 Universal equinoxial ring dial, for all latitudes. Brass instrument, c.1715 (brass); National Maritime Museum, London, UK; (add.info.: Universal equinoxial ring dial, for all latitudes)

Universal equinoxial dial for all latitudes, reverse, c.1695-1725 (copper)
MMM5475090 Universal equinoxial dial for all latitudes, reverse, c.1695-1725 (copper) by Culpeper, Edmund (1660-1738); National Maritime Museum, London

Sundial from Augsburg (Germany), deployed, for 10-degree latitude. Brass instrument, c.1800-1843 (brass)
MMM5475067 Sundial from Augsburg (Germany), deployed, for 10-degree latitude. Brass instrument, c.1800-1843 (brass); National Maritime Museum, London, UK; (add.info.: Sundial from Augsburg (Germany)

Sundial with universal equinox ring, for all latitudes, 18th century (copper)
MMM5470082 Sundial with universal equinox ring, for all latitudes, 18th century (copper); National Maritime Museum, London, UK; (add.info.: Sundial with universal equinox ring, for all latitudes)

Universal sundial for latitude 0-90 degrees, decorated with crowned eagles. Copper object, c.1635 (copper)
MMM5470074 Universal sundial for latitude 0-90 degrees, decorated with crowned eagles. Copper object, c.1635 (copper); National Maritime Museum, London

An Islamic solar quadrant, 1870 (lacquered wood)
MMM5470032 An Islamic solar quadrant, 1870 (lacquered wood); National Maritime Museum, London, UK; (add.info.: An Islamic solar quadrant)

Analematic sundial (by projecting the shadow of the gnomon) for latitude 51 degrees, c.1697 (copper and steel)
MMM5469097 Analematic sundial (by projecting the shadow of the gnomon) for latitude 51 degrees, c.1697 (copper and steel); National Maritime Museum, London

Butterfield dial for latitude 35 degrees, built around a magnetic compass, 17th century (silver)
MMM5469074 Butterfield dial for latitude 35 degrees, built around a magnetic compass, 17th century (silver, gilded copper and glass); National Maritime Museum, London

Horizontal sundial pedestal for latitude 51 degrees, by Thomas Crow (?), 1801 (copper)
MMM5470095 Horizontal sundial pedestal for latitude 51 degrees, by Thomas Crow (?), 1801 (copper); National Maritime Museum, London

Diptych sundial for 49° latitude, seen from the closed lid, in ivory, dated, c.1640-60 (ivory)
MMM5475369 Diptych sundial for 49° latitude, seen from the closed lid, in ivory, dated, c.1640-60 (ivory); National Maritime Museum, London, UK; (add.info.: Diptych sundial for 49° latitude)

Universal pocket equinoxial dial for Latitude 35 degrees, deployed Silver and gilded copper instrument
MMM5474504 Universal pocket equinoxial dial for Latitude 35 degrees, deployed Silver and gilded copper instrument, 1650-1700 (silver and gilded copper); National Maritime Museum, London

Sundial from Augsburg (Germany), deployed, probably for 10-degree latitude. Brass instrument, 18th century (brass)
MMM5474487 Sundial from Augsburg (Germany), deployed, probably for 10-degree latitude. Brass instrument, 18th century (brass) by Vogler, Andreas (c.1730-1800); National Maritime Museum, London

Diptych sundial, closed, marked with 6 Chinese characters in red ink declaring 'Sun Moon Combo Dial'
MMM5474453 Diptych sundial, closed, marked with 6 Chinese characters in red ink declaring 'Sun Moon Combo Dial', c.1850-1900 (wood); National Maritime Museum, London

Cylindrical sundial for latitude 44 degrees. Wooden and metal instrument, c.1835-1870 (wood and metal)
MMM5474446 Cylindrical sundial for latitude 44 degrees. Wooden and metal instrument, c.1835-1870 (wood and metal); National Maritime Museum, London

Portable horizontal sundial for latitude 48 degrees with magnetic compass. Silver instrument, 17th century (silver)
MMM5474442 Portable horizontal sundial for latitude 48 degrees with magnetic compass. Silver instrument, 17th century (silver); National Maritime Museum, London

Diptych sundial, open, for latitude 49 degrees, with magnetic compass. Wooden instrument, 18th century (wood)
MMM5474432 Diptych sundial, open, for latitude 49 degrees, with magnetic compass. Wooden instrument, 18th century (wood); National Maritime Museum, London, UK; (add.info.: Diptych sundial, open)

Horizontal sundial, open, with an allegorical representation of justice (IUSTITIA) and mirror, c.1575 (silver)
MMM5474534 Horizontal sundial, open, with an allegorical representation of justice (IUSTITIA) and mirror, c.1575 (silver, leather and paper); National Maritime Museum, London

Diptych sundial (closed) for Latitude 48. Ivory instrument 1619, by Lienhart Miller (?), 1619 (ivory)
MMM5473341 Diptych sundial (closed) for Latitude 48. Ivory instrument 1619, by Lienhart Miller (?), 1619 (ivory); National Maritime Museum, London

Sundial, with a rotating disk with a lunar motion scale, in Chinese characters. Wooden instrument, c.1850-1900 (wood)
MMM5473321 Sundial, with a rotating disk with a lunar motion scale, in Chinese characters. Wooden instrument, c.1850-1900 (wood); National Maritime Museum, London, UK; (add.info.: Sundial)

Diptych sundial (closed) for Latitude 49. Ivory instrument, first half of the 18th century (ivory)
MMM5473296 Diptych sundial (closed) for Latitude 49. Ivory instrument, first half of the 18th century (ivory); National Maritime Museum, London

East Hagbourne, 5 miles West of Wallingford (litho)
8633551 East Hagbourne, 5 miles West of Wallingford (litho) by English School, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: East Hagbourne, 5 miles West of Wallingford)

"What a dead thing is a clock, compared with the simple altar-like structure
8627500 "What a dead thing is a clock, compared with the simple altar-like structure and silent heart-language of the old dial

"Alas! the idle tale of man is found / Depicted in the dial's moral round" (colour litho)
8627502 "Alas! the idle tale of man is found / Depicted in the dial's moral round" (colour litho) by Rawlings, Alfred (1855-1939); Private Collection; (add.info.: "Alas)

"Methinks it were a happy life / To carve out dials quaintly, point by point" (colour litho)
8627495 "Methinks it were a happy life / To carve out dials quaintly, point by point" (colour litho) by Rawlings

Page from Gamage's General Catalogue (96th edition), c.1927 (litho)
8669490 Page from Gamage's General Catalogue (96th edition), c.1927 (litho) by English School, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info)

Man measured his hours in many ways (litho)
8676237 Man measured his hours in many ways (litho) by English School, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Man measured his hours in many ways)

Astronomical compendium for unknown latitude, 17th century (brass)
MMM5475258 Astronomical compendium for unknown latitude, 17th century (brass); National Maritime Museum, London, UK; (add.info.: Astronomical compendium for unknown latitude)

Universal equinoxial dial for all latitudes, c.1695-1725 (gilded copper)
MMM5475122 Universal equinoxial dial for all latitudes, c.1695-1725 (gilded copper) by Culpeper, Edmund (1660-1738); National Maritime Museum, London

Universal equinoxial dial for Latitude 0, deployed Copper and silver-copper instrument
MMM5475101 Universal equinoxial dial for Latitude 0, deployed Copper and silver-copper instrument, 1830-50 (copper and silver-copper); National Maritime Museum, London

Horizontal and portable sundial for Latitude 49 degrees. Brass instrument, c.1715 (brass)
MMM5475086 Horizontal and portable sundial for Latitude 49 degrees. Brass instrument, c.1715 (brass); National Maritime Museum, London

Sundial from Augsburg (Germany), seen from below, for latitude 12 degrees. Brass instrument, 18th century (brass)
MMM5474485 Sundial from Augsburg (Germany), seen from below, for latitude 12 degrees. Brass instrument, 18th century (brass); National Maritime Museum, London

Diptych sundial, open, for latitude 49 degrees. Ivory and wood instrument, first half of the 18th century (wood)
MMM5474444 Diptych sundial, open, for latitude 49 degrees. Ivory and wood instrument, first half of the 18th century (wood); National Maritime Museum, London, UK; (add.info.: Diptych sundial, open)

Portable horizontal sundial with magnetic compass Silver and ivory instrument, c.1650-1700 (silver and ivory)
MMM5474404 Portable horizontal sundial with magnetic compass Silver and ivory instrument, c.1650-1700 (silver and ivory); National Maritime Museum, London

Portable horizontal sundial with magnetic compass Copper instrument, late 17th century (copper)
MMM5474137 Portable horizontal sundial with magnetic compass Copper instrument, late 17th century (copper); National Maritime Museum, London

Polyhedral sundial for latitude 10 degrees, with magnetic compass on its base, 18th century (brass and wood)
MMM5473987 Polyhedral sundial for latitude 10 degrees, with magnetic compass on its base, 18th century (brass and wood); National Maritime Museum, London

Magnetic azimuth dial from Dieppe (France), for latitude 50 degrees, portable, c.1680 (ivory and brass)
MMM5474570 Magnetic azimuth dial from Dieppe (France), for latitude 50 degrees, portable, c.1680 (ivory and brass); National Maritime Museum, London

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"Capturing Time's Gentle Touch: Exploring the Enchanting World of Sundials" Step into a bygone era at Little Hall, Lavenham, Suffolk, England, where a sundial on a plate of slate stands as a silent testament to the passage of time. Inscribed with the poetic words "Noiseless falls the foot of time that only treads on flowers 1905, " this exquisite piece transports us back to an age when nature and art intertwined effortlessly. Traveling further across continents, we encounter Perran's remarkable sundial—a marvel crafted by Horace Walpole or Smith in 1910. Its intricate design and flawless functionality serve as a reminder that even amidst modernity, ancient traditions still hold their allure. As dawn breaks over Stonehenge in all its majestic glory, we witness the sun casting its first golden rays upon an unusual sundial. This enigmatic structure not only tells time but also unravels secrets hidden within its celestial patterns—an instrument both practical and mystical. Delving deeper into history reveals fascinating discoveries like the Sciathericon—a device used for determining time based on shadows—showcasing humanity's ceaseless quest to measure our existence against nature's rhythms. A stela adorned with fragments of an ancient calendar takes us back to civilizations long past; it whispers tales of forgotten rituals and cyclical reckonings. In Snowshill Manor's terraced gardens, frozen in monochromatic beauty through a vintage photograph from Country Houses of the Cotswolds, we find solace among meticulously arranged flora while gazing upon an elegant sundial. Here lies proof that man-made structures can harmonize seamlessly with nature's grandeur. Venturing into more ornate creations brings us face-to-face with brassware wonders—a night and solar clock composed of different discs depicting zodiac signs and timelines from 1568. These masterpieces remind us that craftsmanship transcends generations; they are timeless treasures that continue to mesmerize.