Rights Holder: Surrey County Council
CC License:
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Unique ID: SUR-7790B4
Object type certainty: Certain
Workflow
status: Awaiting validation
The outer frame of a post medieval portable sundial measuring 36.82mm in diameter.
This example is of the simple ring type. It is formed of a flat copper alloy ring with a rectangular channel cut in the centre for about a third of its circumference; this contains a separate sliding collar. On the external surface, above and below the channel, there are inscribed measurement lines, above which are the first letters of the months of the year: 'I F M A M I' (the earlier months) above and 'I A S O N D' (the later months) below, upside down. Circumferential lines below the letters continue round the whole external face, as do the lines that border the letters above.
On the interior there are similar incised lines directly above and below the channel that go around the whole surface. In a zone between each end of the channel are punched dots, alternately over scored with diagonal and transverse lines. These lines are in turn under numerals denoting hours: '4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12' above and '8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1' below. The basic semicircular wire loop is located at a point where the band has been soldered together.
Notes:
Notes:
These sundials are known as simple ring dials or poke dials ('poke' being an archaic word for pocket). The sliding collar would be set into position for the month of the year and, when the dial was suspended vertically, the sun would shine through the hole in the lozenge-shaped piece, through the slot, and onto the interior of the ring. The hour could then be read by looking at the closest gradation mark to the spot of light on the interior of the ring. Turner states "A cheap dial, it was popular during the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries among country people who kept it in their poke, or pocket. Not infrequently they are literally unearthed" (Turner 1980, 25).
Subsequent action after recording: Returned to finder
Broad period: POST MEDIEVAL
Period from: POST MEDIEVAL
Date from: Circa AD 1600
Date to: Circa AD 1750
Quantity: 1
Width: 10.38 mm
Weight: 10.48 g
Diameter: 36.82 mm
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Other reference: 11-1579
Primary material: Copper alloy
Manufacture method: Cast
Completeness: Incomplete
4 Figure: TQ2263
Four figure Latitude: 51.352988
Four figure longitude: -0.249407
1:25K map: TQ2263
1:10K map: TQ26SW
Grid reference source: From finder
Unmasked grid reference accurate to a 1 metre square.
Author | Publication Year | Title | Publication Place | Publisher | Pages | Reference | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Turner, G. L'E. | 1980 | Antique Scientific Instruments | Poole, Dorset | Blandford Press Ltd |