Accession No

0794

Brief Description

horizontal dial, inscribed “‘Tempus Fugit 1659’”, but actually a c. 1925 fake

Origin

England [tentative attribution]

Maker

fake, unknown maker

Class

dials

Earliest Date

1925

Latest Date

1925

Inscription Date

1659

Material

metal (brass)

Dimensions

side of base 152mm; height 69mm (height 89mm; 3-2-2000)

Special Collection

Robert Whipple collection

Provenance

Purchased from K.M. de Beaumont, Cambridge, England, in 11/1935.

Inscription

‘Tempus Fugit 1659’

Description Notes

Brass plate with countersunk holes for fixing to pedestal at the 4 corners. Hour circle divided [IV]-V - XII, I - VII-[VIII], numbered by I, divided to 7 1/2 minutes. Gnomon for 50˚ N. Cardinal points marked by initial.

An imitation in the ‘antique’ style.

Condition: fair; complete.

[NOTE: On 15/04/2015 XRF analysis was conducted on this instrument. Results and analysis are given in the ‘Notes’ field.]

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:43547