Accession No
0164
Brief Description
horizontal dial, French, c.1930
Origin
France
Maker
Class
dials
Earliest Date
1930
Latest Date
1930
Inscription Date
Material
metal (chrome, steel, other (brass?)); glass; paper (cardboard)
Dimensions
box length 55 mm; breadth 54 mm; thickness 21 mm
Special Collection
Provenance
Inscription
Description Notes
Chromed metal watch-like dial with suspension ring; dial on one face with hour ring divided 6 - 12, 1 - 6, numbered by 1, divided to 15 minutes. Gnomon for 22˚S. Inset compass 8mm diameter with 8 marked points.
Cardboard box.
Condition: good; complete.
References
Events
Description
The horizontal dial is the most common form of sundial. The portable version proved very popular with the upper classes during the 19th Century. During this period it could best be described as the wristwatch of its day.
The hour lines are engraved onto a horizontal surface, with a gnomon (pointer) in the centre. Seasonal variations (caused by the earth’s orbit being elliptical, not circular) have to be compensated for, as they can affect the raw reading by up to 18 minutes.
18/10/2002
Created by: Saffron Clackson and Boris Jardine on 18/10/2002
FM:43286
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