Accession No

6642

Brief Description

portable sundial, attributed to Richard Glynne, belonged to Robert Copley, English, 1720 (c)

Origin

England

Maker

Glynne, Richard [attributed]

Class

dials

Earliest Date

1720

Latest Date

1720

Inscription Date

Material

metal (brass, silver, other); glass

Dimensions

Dial: 94mm diameter x 20mm depth

Special Collection

Provenance

Purchased from Globeworkshop via www.fleaglass.com, 31/05/2017.

Inscription

Robert Copley Esq.

Description Notes

Portable sundial, attributed to Richard Glynne, English, c. 1720

Comes with two fold gnomons and a nine-sided case. One gnomon is engraved 'Robert Copley Esq.', the other is blank. The two gnomons are made to two different angles for use in different locations. Sits on the base of the inbuilt compass and one foot, which the seller notes is a later replacement. The edge of the dial is engraved in Roman numerals (from I - VIII on the right side and from XI - IIII on the left) and a scale with both 4 and 12 subdivisions.

Comes with a black case with brass turnbuckle fastener, lined with purple velvet, likely made or refurbished later.

The seller suggested that Robert Copley corresponds with a barrister admitted to Gray's Inn on 9th April 1666, and that the gnomons are built for use in London (51.5o) and Doncaster (53.5o), where Copley's family estate was. The seller dated it to 1660 to 1680. However, Joshua Nall and Boris Jardine suspect the dial is made by Richard Glynne, which would date the sundial later.

Complete.

References

Events