Description

A very fine gilded brass oval horizontal sundial with some special features and some history but attributable, without any dubt, to Culpeper.

First, the horizontal sundial is English :

-The needle is typically English

-The decorative bird on the gnomon is of massive shape with a tail cut straight.

-The list of cities is written in English

-The three lines of hours are for the latitudes of 55, 51 et 45 : 51 latitude is the latitude of London.

Secondly, the sundial is datable circa 1715 because the magnetic declinasion of the compass is of 15 degrees negative.

Thirdly, the shape of spring under the gnomon is typical of the Culpeper production : the decorative shape and above all the two heads of birds we find on other sundial signed by Culpeper.

Fourthly, we can note that the bottom part of the underneath of plate was erased, cancelling the original signature of Culpeper. We can see the remains of the first letter, a “C” for Culpeper.

A very fine and gilded example of a rare sundial by one of the most famous English maker for the late 17th century and early 18th century.

Size : 8,5×6,8cm.