Not currently on display at the V&A

Sundial

Sundial
ca. 1700 (made)
Artist/Maker
Unknown
Place of origin
England (made)

Said originally to have come from the village of Ryhope, near Sunderland in the north of England. This sundial has thirteen facets with metal gnomons and sits on a baluster-shaped pedestal. On acquisition it was claimed that this type of sundial was very common in Scotland, and only found in England in the northern counties. A suggestion was made (not in the event taken up) that this dial be placed in the quadrangle of the Museum to be 'appreciated by those who have to design gardens in the old style'. In 1910, when this dial arrived at the V&A, designing gardens in the style that was current around 1700 (the approximate date of this dial) was the height of fashion.


Object details

Categories
Sculpture
Tools & Equipment
SCRAN
Object type
Sundial
TitleSundial (generic title)
Materials and techniques
Stone
Stone
Brief description
Sundial, stone, from the village of Ryhope, Sunderland, North England, ca. 1700
Physical description
The sundial has 13 facets with metal gnomons and sits on a baluster shaped pedestal. Three of the gnomons are missing and one is loose.
Dimensions
  • Brick pedestal height: 88.5cm
  • Sundial height: 32.5cm
Object history
The sundial is said to have come from the village of Ryhope near Sunderland. Purchased from Mr H.J. Reynolds, for £17 10s in 1910 in London.
Historical context
On acquisition this type of sundial was said to be very common in Scotland, and only found in England in the northern countries.
Subject depicted
Gnomons
Summary
Said originally to have come from the village of Ryhope, near Sunderland in the north of England. This sundial has thirteen facets with metal gnomons and sits on a baluster-shaped pedestal. On acquisition it was claimed that this type of sundial was very common in Scotland, and only found in England in the northern counties. A suggestion was made (not in the event taken up) that this dial be placed in the quadrangle of the Museum to be 'appreciated by those who have to design gardens in the old style'. In 1910, when this dial arrived at the V&A, designing gardens in the style that was current around 1700 (the approximate date of this dial) was the height of fashion.
Bibliographic references
  • Bilbey, Diane with Trusted, Marjorie, British Sculpture 1470 to 2000. A Concise Catalogue of the Collection at the Victoria and Albert Museum, London, 2002, p. 165, cat. no. 222
  • Dunn, Richard. 'Scientific Instruments at the Victoria and Albert Museum, London: a provisional inventory', in: Bulletin of the Scientific Instrument Society, no. 79, 2003, pp. 6-14, esp. p .11
Collection
Sculpture Collection
Accession number
A.42-1910

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Record createdMarch 3, 2003
Record URL
https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O75711/sundial-sundial-unknown/
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