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NEWLY DESIGNED AND BUILT SUNDIALS
The term armilla comes from the Latin for a band or bracelet, but it was probably the ancient Greeks who first developed armillary spheres as teaching and observation aids. Now they are wonderful outdoor fixtures that, among other things, remind us of our place in the universe.
Essentially your armillary timepiece will comprise a skeletal celestial sphere with a model of the Earth in space at the centre. The gnomon - the central rod - is aligned with Polaris (the Pole Star), and it is the shadow of the gnomon falling on the inner engraved scale of the Equator that tells you the time.
The dial is made from marine-grade brass and is fully resistant to all weathers, though it will eventually patinate to dark green. It is hard-soldered with alloyed silver solder, and the engraving is a mixture of hand, mechanical and acid etching techniques. See here for more details of your armillary, and of the general history of their use.
As well as armillary spheres I also design, build and install a range of horizontal or wall-mounted flat sundials in metal and stone.
RESTORATIONS
A recent recent very satisfying project was restoring an early 18thC horizontal dial by famous maker John Rowley, who later made an orrery for the 4th Earl of Orrery. This beautiful dial was in a fairly lamentable condition, with the brass gnomon bent right over and all the hand-engraving obscured by dirt and verdigris. But now it is restored to its former glory - pictures of it in the Gallery.
Contact me to discuss the design, siting and delivery of your new hand-built sundial, or the restoration of any of your antiques in need of some attention. |
