Armillary Sundials

Of all the sundials, the armillary sundial is most reminiscent of the Middle Ages and Old World astronomers.  The design comes from the early astronomical device called an armillary sphere which was created to represent the heaven’s great circles.  The armillary sundial indicates solar time by the use of an arrow which corresponds to the Earth’s axis.  The arrow’s shadow is cast on an equatorial band which is marked with the clock hours.  Today, these sundials are made from a variety of materials such as brass and iron and are sometimes quite ornate with exquisite detailing. As favorite decorative items for landscape artists, they are usually placed on pedestals and make perfect accents and conversational pieces in classic garden settings.

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