Promotional sundial for Niamid
Promotional item from Phizer Drug Co. for Niamid, the mood brightener, made around 1925 in the USA. The one for sale is gold coloured with slight tarnish on the upper edge of the gnomon but otherwise in very good condition. It has a little compass, a level and the gnomon which is read off against roman numerals from 5am til 7pm. 75mm x 75mm x 15mm
£20

Chinese sundial/compass
Made of high quality wood and used by rich families - not now convinced this is old (hence the price!) There is a compass with an inner ring of eight markings and the outer ring has three characters for each of the inner ones. The gnomon is surrounded by three concentric rings of markings - I think, Chinese numbers (there are 12 in the inner ring, 24 in the next ring) - and the outer ring is divided into two opposite sets of 21 divisions. The gnomon is propped up against a ladder with 13 markings. 100mm x 100mm x 15mm
£50

Celluloid sundial by Moore
This is a Sun-Dial Watch and Compass. Amazing to see the mixture of ancient design with modern plastic materials made for general use so recently. Celluloid dial with fixed brass working compass and flip up sundials needles. Wonderful like new condition with rough box. Box is missing end flaps. Has a gnomon and numbers on both sides - one side for the southern states and the other for the northern states. 50mm diameter. Made around 1910 in the USA by George Moore of Boston, Massachusettes.
£150.00

Ring Dial
This is an original 18th century dial, sold previously at Bonhams. It's made of brass with a brass loop to put a thong through to wear round the neck. The outside is a date scale and an inscription: 'IO.H.S.THON ANNO 1721.' The equinoxes are marked at approximately 19 March and 19 September. On the inner face is an hour scale and an inscription: 'PIZ BUIN'. The centre of the band is a separate sliding band with a hole in it. The sun shines through this onto the inner surface - which has the hours marked on it. There's a tag so that you can move it round with your finger.
It is 78mm in diameter, 30mm wide, 5mm thick. It's a big one! 285g in weight.
£350

Boxed, glass domed floating sundial
SOLD
Housed in original turned wood case, probably walnut and has a lovely patination, the press-fit top has a nice little carved decoration on the top. The hand-coloured compass card is typical of the work of Stockert of Bavaria, though this compass is unsigned. It is sometimes referred to as a Patent Pantochronometer. There are several well-known makers of such instruments: Michael Butterfield and Nicholas Bion in Paris, Charles Bloud in Dieppe, and Johann Willebrand of Augsburg. About 1800. 55mm round x 30mm
£300.00

Ansonia Sunwatch
SOLD
The Tickless Timepiece. Based on the Butterfield-style pocket sundials of the 18th Century, it was a combination sundial and compass, and came with a booklet explaining how to determine the correct time from the sun, based on latitude, longitude and compass variation tables. The Ansonia Clock Company was a prolific maker of American clocks formed in 1850 in Ansonia, Connecticut. This is in superb condtion, box, instructions, etc.More on our database.
£80