Vintage Stone Sundial
1970s American Greco Roman Vintage Stone Sundial
Cast Stone, Iron
1950s British Mid-Century Modern Vintage Stone Sundial
Stone
Mid-20th Century Swedish Vintage Stone Sundial
Stone, Metal, Copper
Mid-20th Century English Mid-Century Modern Vintage Stone Sundial
Stone, Granite, Metal, Copper
20th Century Vintage Stone Sundial
Stone
1980s Neoclassical Vintage Stone Sundial
Concrete, Iron
1970s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Stone Sundial
Steel
People Also Browsed
20th Century English Vintage Stone Sundial
Stone, Iron
Early 20th Century Italian Art Deco Vintage Stone Sundial
Bronze
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Vintage Stone Sundial
Stone, Limestone, Metal, Iron
1930s European Vintage Stone Sundial
Lava
Early 20th Century Croatian Vintage Stone Sundial
Bronze
Early 1900s French Art Nouveau Vintage Stone Sundial
Blown Glass
19th Century French Napoleon III Vintage Stone Sundial
Onyx, Bronze
1740s German Rococo Vintage Stone Sundial
Brass, Bronze, Enamel
20th Century French Other Vintage Stone Sundial
Metal
19th Century French Vintage Stone Sundial
Bronze
Mid-20th Century Art Deco Vintage Stone Sundial
Concrete
1890s Austrian Art Nouveau Vintage Stone Sundial
Bronze
16th Century French Renaissance Vintage Stone Sundial
Limestone
1910s American Arts and Crafts Vintage Stone Sundial
Bronze
18th Century French Vintage Stone Sundial
Stone, Limestone
19th Century French Vintage Stone Sundial
Bronze
Recent Sales
Late 20th Century British Victorian Vintage Stone Sundial
Stone, Brass
1960s Swedish Vintage Stone Sundial
Brass, Copper
1930s Italian Art Nouveau Vintage Stone Sundial
Marble
20th Century European Vintage Stone Sundial
Stone
1940s American Vintage Stone Sundial
Cast Stone
Mid-20th Century British Vintage Stone Sundial
Stone
1930s English Vintage Stone Sundial
1940s Neoclassical Vintage Stone Sundial
Cast Stone, Iron
20th Century English Vintage Stone Sundial
Cast Stone, Composition, Metal, Bronze
20th Century English Vintage Stone Sundial
Cast Stone, Composition, Metal, Bronze
20th Century English Vintage Stone Sundial
Cast Stone, Stone, Bronze, Metal
1930s American Vintage Stone Sundial
Stone, Iron
1980s Philippine Vintage Stone Sundial
Stone, Iron
Mid-20th Century Danish Vintage Stone Sundial
Stone, Metal
1950s French Vintage Stone Sundial
Stone, Iron
20th Century English Vintage Stone Sundial
Limestone
20th Century French Vintage Stone Sundial
Concrete
20th Century Vintage Stone Sundial
Stone
20th Century Vintage Stone Sundial
Cast Stone
20th Century English Vintage Stone Sundial
Cast Stone, Metal, Bronze
1940s Finnish Vintage Stone Sundial
Metal, Copper
1950s Swedish Vintage Stone Sundial
Multi-gemstone, Brass
Mid-20th Century Danish Vintage Stone Sundial
Stone
Mid-20th Century Danish Vintage Stone Sundial
Stone, Metal
1950s English Rustic Vintage Stone Sundial
Cast Stone
1950s French Vintage Stone Sundial
Cast Stone, Bronze
1930s Vintage Stone Sundial
20th Century English Vintage Stone Sundial
Cast Stone, Aluminum
1930s American Folk Art Vintage Stone Sundial
Marble
20th Century British Neoclassical Vintage Stone Sundial
1950s Swedish Vintage Stone Sundial
Copper, Wrought Iron
20th Century British Vintage Stone Sundial
Cast Stone, Steel
1940s Vintage Stone Sundial
Aluminum
1960s French Vintage Stone Sundial
Finding the Right sundials for You
Although typically decorative, antique and vintage sundials transport a guest in your home to a different era, their simple function a tether to the ancient world.
Humans have tracked time since the dawn of civilization. Before the invention of precise mechanical clocks, various materials including water and incense were used to mark the passage of time. The sundial was one of the earliest of these timekeeping devices.
The oldest known sundial dates back to 1,500 B.C. in Egypt. The very first sundials were simple stone blocks with markings and a vertical needle of wood or metal to indicate the hours with its shadow. Later Greek sundials had a gnomon parallel to the axis of the Earth. Some flat sundials from the Islamic world were directional objects for pointing the way to Mecca.
Mechanical clocks use a series of gears and springs to track time precisely; sundials rely on light and shadow. As sunlight crosses over a sundial, it casts a shadow that moves across the face of the dial as the Earth rotates.
There are now more accurate, easier and probably cooler ways to tell time, yet the sundial persists. It is not uncommon to find flat stone sundials among an assemblage of decorative elements in colorful gardens and standing sundials in expertly appointed outdoor spaces.
While garden sundials are among the most popular sundials today, sundials made of metal, stone, bronze and more can be found on 1stDibs to match any taste or setting. The collection also includes sundials of Scandinavian, British and North American origins.
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