Objekt 26
Column sundial with case
Description
Pillar sundials, also called cylinder sundials, were common and popular until modern times. Its use is independent of the north-south direction, making a compass unnecessary. The cylindrical body has a rotating head with often a retractable shadow thrower. Around the cylinder, 2 rings each are drawn at the top and bottom with monthly and daily data for the first and second half of the year. Vertical lines extend from these dates. Curve-like hour lines are drawn in the horizontal. The intersections of the date and hour lines indicate the hours. The already modest accuracy of the time indication varies with the time of day and season. The cylinder of this sundial is in a heptagonal case marked months, days, planets and days of the week in three parts. The 1 (for one o'clock) as noon line refers to the "Basel time" valid until 1798.
Object description
18. Century.
Wood with branding (numbers, words, letters), gnomon hidden under the upper part of the case
Gift of H. Häusser-Stromboli, Florence
Inv. 1951.935.