Sundial in Patinated and Engraved Bronze, 1720

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Sundial, patinated and engraved bronze, george i, circa 1720 – england

type: sundial
material: patinated and engraved bronze
period: circa … Read more Sundial, patinated and engraved bronze, george i, circa 1720 – england

type: sundial
material: patinated and engraved bronze
period: circa 1720
country: england
provenance: private collection
good condition considering its age and use
dimensions: 10 x 20 x 20 cm

an exquisite baroque english sundial in patinated and engraved bronze with an octagonal profile. This is a beautiful scientific instrument, an original english sundial, from the time of george i, circa 1720. The dial is profusely engraved with roman numerals, latin letters, and compass markings such as nn, ne, se, and sw. The design is completed with a central star and the inscription or aphorism "darkness brings day." the dial features a wrought iron gnomon that casts its shadow on the plate to indicate the time. Below the gnomon, the plate is centered with a compass rose. This object reflects the taste for complexity, allegory, and the study of time, so characteristic of its era. See less