Universal equinoctial ring dial for all latitudes. Standard dial (see related terms) except for the following details:-

A slider, with a pointer to indicate the latitude, moves in the grooved rim of the meridian ring which has on it a degree scale divided clockwise. The remainder of the obverse side is filled with a table of latitudes for places in Europe. The main hour scale appears on the equinoctial ring, which also features a table of latitudes on its reverse side and outer rim. There is a date scale, a zodiac scale, but no declination scale. The equinoxes are marked at 12 March and 12 September, and 'N' and 'S' are marked at the relevant ends of the bridge.

This is a simply decorated yet beautiful instrument, but its small size probably militates against its usefulness. The early equinoxes (12 March and 12 September) allow us to give quite specific information about the date and place of origin. Southern Holland adopted the Gregorian Calendar soon after its introduction. This dial must, therefore, come from one of the northern provinces and have been made before 1700, when the remaining parts of the Netherlands changed from the Julian to the Gregorian Calendar.

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