$17,413
H 86.23 in W 23.63 in D 23.63 in
Reclaimed Bronze Armillary Sun Dial on 19th Century English Limestone Column
Located in Wormelow, Herefordshire
Dating to the late 20th century, this large scale armillary sundial would make a striking centrepiece to a garden, pond or patio.
Stone, Limestone, Metal, Bronze
French 16th Century Sundail - Cadran Solaire
Located in Round Top, TX
An exceptional Gothic Period French Cadran Solaire - Sundail beautifully carved from stone. Fabulous patina. A perfect accent to any garden.
Stone
$1,395
H 62.4 in W 32.4 in D 10.1 in
Antique French Metal Weather Vane with Rooster on Stand, 20th Century
Located in High Point, NC
This early 20th-century French weather vane features a hand-cut and painted metal rooster perched atop an arrow, beautifully worn with layers of red, white, and blue patina. The scul...
Metal
$16,983
H 72.84 in W 20.87 in D 25.99 in
Large Tower Clock by H. Wheight, Malmesbury (1859) – Fully Functional
Located in Madrid, ES
Product Overview: An exceptional find for antique clock collectors and enthusiasts, this large tower clock dates back to 1859, crafted by H. Wheight of Malmesbury. The clock is in pe...
Wrought Iron
$1,250
H 10.5 in W 20 in D 6.25 in
Antique Keuffel & Esser Co 141547 Surveyors Compass in Case w Wooden Tripod Base
By Keuffel and Esser Co. 1
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Antique Keuffel & Esser Co 141547 Surveyors Compass in Case with Adjustable Wooden Tripod Base. Circa Early to Mid 20th Century. Measurements: Case: 10.5" H x 20" W x 6.25" D Approxi...
Metal
Swedish Armillary Sculpture
Located in Atlanta, GA
This figural armillary of Atlas, constructed of metal with a copper numeric banding, hails from Sweden. Original matte black finish and mounted on a well-proportioned custom wooden p...
Metal
Vintage English Country Iron Garden Armillary Sundial
Located in Elkhart, IN
A beautifully crafted iron armillary sphere, evoking the timeless elegance of classical European gardens. Pieces like this are often found anchoring gravel courtyards, nestled within...
Brass
Vintage French Country Iron Garden Armillary Sundial
Located in Elkhart, IN
A beautifully crafted iron armillary half-sphere, evoking the timeless elegance of classical European gardens. Pieces like this are often found anchoring gravel courtyards, nestled w...
Iron
Vintage French Country Iron Garden Armillary Sundial
Located in Elkhart, IN
A beautifully crafted iron armillary sphere, evoking the timeless elegance of classical European gardens. Pieces like this are often found anchoring gravel courtyards, nestled within...
Iron
$810
H 16.25 in W 10 in D 17 in
Vintage French Country Iron Garden Armillary Sundial, Classic English Garden
Located in Elkhart, IN
A beautifully crafted iron armillary sphere, evoking the timeless elegance of classical European gardens. Pieces like this are often found anchoring gravel courtyards, nestled within...
Iron
Vintage English Country Hammered Copper Garden Armillary Sundial
Located in Elkhart, IN
Dimensions: 9.5"W x 7"D x 12"H A classic decorative form that brings structure, history, and architectural presence to any space.A stunning vintage English country or Neoclassical s...
Copper
Vintage French Country Gray Iron Garden Armillary Sundial
Located in Elkhart, IN
A beautifully crafted iron armillary sphere, evoking the timeless elegance of classical European gardens. Pieces like this are often found anchoring gravel courtyards, nestled within...
Iron
Vintage Iron Black Garden Celestial Astronomical Armillary Sundial
Located in Elkhart, IN
A stunning contemporary black iron garden armillary sundial. This is an astronomical instrument, and each ring represents the various positions of the celestial bodies.
Iron
Antique French Country Wrought Iron Garden Armillary Sundial
Located in Elkhart, IN
A beautifully crafted large iron armillary sphere, evoking the timeless elegance of classical European gardens. Pieces like this are often found anchoring gravel courtyards, nestled ...
Iron
$280Sale Price|43% Off
H 9 in W 19 in D 9.63 in
Vintage Neoclassical French Country Metal Garden Armillary Sundial
Located in Elkhart, IN
A beautifully crafted armillary half-sphere, evoking the timeless elegance of classical European gardens. Pieces like this are often found anchoring gravel courtyards, nestled within...
Aluminum
Vintage Neoclassical French Country Brass Garden Armillary Sundial
Located in Elkhart, IN
A beautifully crafted silvered brass armillary half-sphere, evoking the timeless elegance of classical European gardens. Pieces like this are often found anchoring gravel courtyards,...
Brass
Vintage French Country Gray Iron Garden Armillary Sundial
Located in Elkhart, IN
A beautifully crafted iron armillary sphere, evoking the timeless elegance of classical European gardens. Pieces like this are often found anchoring gravel courtyards, nestled within...
Iron
Brutalist Style Iron Garden Armillary Sundial, USA, 20th Century
Located in Elkhart, IN
A stunning contemporary iron garden armillary sundial beautifully crafted in the brutalist style.
Iron
$940
H 20 in W 18 in D 12 in
Vintage French Country Iron Garden Armillary Sundial- Outdoor Estate Decor
Located in Elkhart, IN
A beautifully crafted iron armillary sphere, evoking the timeless elegance of classical European gardens. Pieces like this are often found anchoring gravel courtyards, nestled within...
Iron
$680
H 16.25 in W 10 in D 17 in
Vintage Iron Armillary Sphere Sundial Garden Ornament, English Estate Decor
Located in Elkhart, IN
A beautifully crafted iron armillary sphere, evoking the timeless elegance of classical European gardens. Pieces like this are often found anchoring gravel courtyards, nestled within...
Iron
$500
H 11 in W 10 in D 8 in
Vintage Brass Armillary Sphere Sundial Garden Ornament, English Country Style
Located in Elkhart, IN
A beautifully crafted brass armillary sphere, evoking the timeless elegance of classical European gardens. Pieces like this are often found anchoring gravel courtyards, nestled withi...
Brass
$800
H 16.25 in W 10 in D 17 in
Vintage Iron Armillary Sphere Sundial Garden Ornament, English Estate Decor
Located in Elkhart, IN
A beautifully crafted iron armillary sphere, evoking the timeless elegance of classical European gardens. Pieces like this are often found anchoring gravel courtyards, nestled within...
Iron
$500
H 11 in W 10 in D 8 in
Vintage Brass Armillary Sphere Sundial Garden Ornament, English Country Style
Located in Elkhart, IN
A beautifully crafted brass armillary sphere, evoking the timeless elegance of classical European gardens. Pieces like this are often found anchoring gravel courtyards, nestled withi...
Brass
$595
H 16.5 in W 17 in D 12.25 in
Vintage Iron Armillary Sphere Sundial Garden Ornament, French Country Outdoor
Located in Elkhart, IN
A beautifully crafted iron armillary sphere, evoking the timeless elegance of classical European gardens. Pieces like this are often found anchoring gravel courtyards, nestled within...
Iron
Charming Armillary Sundial
Located in Brooklyn, NY
This iron garden ornament can be used as in home decoration, or even desk ornamentation. Bright baby blue paint with slight oxidation, giving a handsome look. Please confirm location...
Iron
Swedish Vintage Large Metal Armillary Sundial
Located in Winnetka, IL
This is a vintage metal Swedish armillary of Atlas mounted on a wood plinth . The armillary is supported on the arm of Atlas and there is banding with numerals on it . The numbers do...
Metal
19th Century Solar Signal Cannon on Marble Sundial
Located in Richmond, VA
Incredibly cool 19th century solar powered signal canon marble sun dial base. This signal cannon can be set to ignite with the sun through the attached magnifying glass- which can be...
Marble, Iron
Mid Century Cast Stone with Bronze Sundial by Virginia Metalcrafters
Located in Port Jervis, NY
Fabulous cast stone organic baroque styled pedestal base with a bronze sundial atop. Fits perfectly as there is a hole in the top of the stone centered which accepts the sundial very...
Cast Stone, Bronze
Universal Solar Clock/Adjustable Equatorial Sundial Mounted on Marble, Italy
Located in San Francisco, CA
An early form of timekeeping, the solar clock traces its origins to mankind’s first observations of daylight and shadow. Likely beginning as a simple post placed in the ground, the s...
Marble, Pewter
Vintage Neoclassical Brass Armillary Sundial on Green Marble Base
Located in Elkhart, IN
A Grand Tour–style classical armillary half sphere in brass, mounted on a cylindrical green marble base. The half sphere and arrow give this piece a sense of movement, complementing ...
Marble, Brass
Vintage Neoclassical Brass Armillary Sundial on Green Marble Base
Located in Elkhart, IN
A Grand Tour–style classical armillary half sphere in brass, mounted on a cylindrical green marble base. The half sphere and arrow give this piece a sense of movement, complementing ...
Brass
19th Century Satyr and Laurel Decorative Sundial Column
Located in Hastings, GB
A splendid decorative column, profuse with Satyr masks, laurel and vines. Would have had an iron sundial on the top, this has been lost over time, but could be easily replaced. An ab...
Composition
$70,000
H 47.5 in Dm 18 in
American Bronze Statue of Mythological Figure holding a Sundial by Robert Aitken
By Robert Ingersoll Aitken
Located in Katonah, NY
While many of Aitken’s works were civic commissions, he also designed a great many medals and was an accomplished portraitist. This satyr sundial, being a whimsical piece meant for u...
Bronze
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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