made in Paris

Portable sundial

This silver portable sundial was made in Paris in the 18th century, probably by Jean Baptiste Delure. This photograph shows the instrument folded flat.

The gnomon is in the form of a rod which folds flat. The arc on the reverse of the hinged piece which has Delure's signature, is graduated from 0 to 90 degrees to enable the user to set it to a local latitude. The sundial is then orientated with the compass, and the time can be read, if the sun is shining.

Pocket sundials, especially made in silver, were made for wealthy travellers, who could impress friends and acquaintances by demonstrating their knowledge in using it.

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Online ID:	000-100-104-196-C
Image Rights Holder:	National Museums Scotland
Project:	0098: National Museums Scotland Project description \| View all records in project
Ref:	National Museums Scotland T.1923.23
Date:	18th century
Material:	Silver. Inscription: [A list of places with their latitudes]
Dimensions:	2.63" x 2.75"
What:	Sundial, portable
Subject:	20. TIME MEASUREMENT, Sundials (Departmental Classification)
Who:	Delure, Paris (Sundial maker)
Where:	France, Paris
Event:
Description:	Silver portable sundial, the gnomon in the form of a rod which folds flat, made by Delure, Paris, with a list of places with their latitudes engraved on the back, 18th century
References:	For Delure, see Augarde, Jean-Dominique, 'La fabrication des instruments scientifiques du XVIIIe siecle et la corporation des fondeurs' in Blondel, C. et al (ed.), Studies in the History of Scientific Instruments, London: 1989, pp 62-3 For sundials in general, including examples of this type, see Turner, Anthony, Early Scientific Instruments 1400-1800. London: 1987, pp 173-81 Turner, Anthony, Mathematical instrument-making in early modern Paris' in Fox, Robert & Turner, Anthony, Luxury Trades and Consumerism in Ancien Regime Paris'. Aldershot: 1998, p 82
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