Portable sundial

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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.

Record details

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• Online ID: 000-100-104-196-C
• Image Rights Holder: National Museums Scotland
• Project: 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]
  Sundial, portable
  
• 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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