Accession No

6817

Brief Description

octagonal brass double-horizontal sundial, by Hilkiah Bedford, English, 1666

Origin

England; London; Fleet Street

Maker

Bedford, Hilkiah

Class

dials

Earliest Date

1666

Latest Date

1666

Inscription Date

Material

metal (brass); wood

Dimensions

306mm across, 2mm thick, gnomon 750mm tall

Special Collection

Provenance

Donated by a private individual in May 2024

Inscription

Hilkiah Bedford in Fleet Street

Description Notes

Octagonal dial plate.

Hours in Roman numerals from 1/4 to IIII - XVII - 1/4 past VIII, subdivided by 1/2, 1/4 and 5 minute intervals. Signature "Hilkiah Bedford in Fleet Street" on the border between VIII and IIII. Standard double-horizontal scales with most month names in full, 'July - November, D' on the west side and 'January - May, J' on the east.

Scale for sun's azimuth 40-0-90-0-40 inside main chapter ring.

Dial is dark grey, with blotchy patination with areas of green and dark brown. The gnomon is fixed to the dial plate by two substantial tenons protruding 4mm on underside. Eight counterstuck fixing holes in corners. 0 - 90 degrees slanting scale on north-west side radially from sharp edge of vertical gnomon face. Gnomon angle measured as 51 degrees but latitude calculated from lines at IX and III as 52.4 and 51.37 degrees respectively.

Underside has wooden support blocks approx. 160mm long and a wire to hang.

References

Events