Horizontal pedestal dial for latitude 47° North. This dial has a circular bronze dial-plate which has an hour scale round its edge. The southern part of the dial is occupied by chased relief work of two shields surmounted by a crown and supported by a lion and a stag, with flags behind the supporters. There are relief mottoes both above and below the coat of arms: 'afflictis lentae celeres gaudentibus horae' [The hours pass slowly for those who mourn but swiftly for the joyful] and 'vos genus et pietas vos laudat gratia morum' [May your race, your devotion and your courtesy bring you honour]. The triangular brass gnomon has an undulate vertical edge.

This instrument was probably made by an Italian equivalent of the English firm Pearson and Page, who flourished in the first half of the 20th century. The relief numbers on the hour scale and the inclusion of various mottoes are typical of the type of sundials being produced in the early years of the 20th century. Eden and Lloyd (1900) described such a dial sold in London in 1896, which may well have been the same instrument.

For more information regarding this dial please refer to the OUP & NMM catalogue, 'Sundials at Greenwich'.