Polyhedral dial

Polyhedral dial for latitudes 20°-80° North (base latitude 47° North). This wooden cube dial is set on a wooden base-plate supported by four small round feet. Both the obverse side of the base and five sides of the cube are faced with red paint and black print on yellow paper. A compass with a printed compass card is set into the base. The compass has an eight-point rose and the magnetic variation is marked at 18° West of North. A turned wooden pillar, with a pivoted ball joint halfway up, supports the cube.

The horizontal dial has an hour scale numbered clockwise IIII-XII, I-VIII and also shows a depiction of a wreath. The South vertical dial, marked 'SUD', has an hour scale and a looped garland around the gnomon and the North vertical dial, marked 'NORD', has an hour and a central depiction of a wreath. The West vertical dial has a diagonal hour scale with parallel hour-lines and a cherub is depicted with a garland. The East vertical dial is the same as the West except the cherubs are holding a latitude arc. There is a metal loop at the top of this, which holds a string plumb line and lead bob, which also act as a latitude indicator. There are five brass polar gnomons and the dial is signed 'I.G. KLEININGER' on the North face.

This dial is very similar in decoration to AST0385, suggesting that there may have been close links between Beringer and Kleininger; perhaps a master-apprentice relationship.

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

Object Details

ID: AST0386
Collection: Astronomical and navigational instruments
Type: Polyhedral dial
Display location: Not on display
Creator: Kleininger, J.G.
Date made: 1780-1810
Credit: National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, London, Caird Collection
Measurements: Overall: 198 x 78 x 98 mm