PortableSundials.com
Ancient gadgets from Earth
Hi!
I hope you enjoy my treasures.
Maybe you are a Reenactor - when from? Or Steam Punk - aiming anytime in particular? Perhaps you are fascinated by ingenious objects? Or a Collector, hoarder - or want a unique gift for a special person?
If you have something to sell you can always add it to our site.
I've tried to group things in a simple way. But maybe you'll just need to browse around to find what you want.
Could really do with your help and advice here! What would you recommend or amend?
How can I help you?
Do you just want to chat - or maybe you'd like me to sell something for you?
I'm not an expert - so I can't help you identify things or price them.
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SUNDIALS 1

 Lovely green metal with intricate inscriptions. In-built compass and three feet with which to level it.

Chinese Diptych Sundial

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Chinese Diptych Sundial


An attractive piece with flower and chinese character carvings. The gnomon opens vertically with a red string attached. The point of the shaped gnomon then points to one of the 8 sectors. The compass (which at present isn't swinging as it should) would help you align it to the south. There are three adjustable feet.
I picked this up at Malvern Flea Market a few years ago. It's different!
85mm by 64mm. 22mm high when folded, 80mm when unfolded. Weighs 104g.
£115.00
Purchased in the depths of Beijing this wonderfully old looking sundial will tell you so much more, with Feng Shui and Zodiac lore.

Chinese Wooden Sundial

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Chinese Wooden Sundial


I actually bought this in Beijing - and of course it is a genuine antique. Having said that I defy you to prove otherwise, but I'm claiming nothing. It looks old and used, anyway. It has the Chinese compass markings which include many extra rings including the trigrams from the I Ching. There is a compass set in the base, too.

Hinge up the piece with the gnomon on it to the required latitude and it fixes in place with a brass strip at the back. It is a fascinating item worthy of some more research.
163mm by 75mm. 15mm high when folded, 98mm when unfolded. Weighs 106g.
£125.00
This is an extraordinary piece - sold as mammoth tusk, possibly ivory, most like cow bone. Beautiful inscription.

Chinese Scrimshaw Sundial

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Chinese Scrimshaw Sundial

Bought from China I'm guessing it isn't ivory - but is more likely to be cow bone. The lid has a delightful sea scene with sailing boat and angels playing, trumpeting and apparently riding a missile!
Inside there is a standard sundial alongside an easy to read compass. A pretty hand made item that makes an attractive paper weight.
79mm diameter. 23mm high. Weighs 158g.
£325.00
Antique book type sundial complete with full instructions and clip to close.

Wooden Diptych

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Wooden Diptych
This is a diptych type sundial - which means 'book' in greek. It opens, the string is then taut and you simply read the time. It is in good conditionand probably from late Victorian times.
73mm long by 55mm wide. 20mm deep closed & 80mm when unfolded. Weighs 56g.
£75.00
Sundials can tell remarkably accurate time using only your local star or sun, on whatever planet you're from. Many types exist - pillar, diptych, equatorial and more.
The earliest sundials are the obelisks (3500 BC) and shadow clocks (1500 BC) from ancient Egyptian and Babylonian astronomy. Presumably, humans were telling time from shadow-lengths at an even earlier date. In roughly 700 BC, the [Old Testament] describes a sundial — the "dial of Ahaz" mentioned in Isaiah 38:8 and II Kings 20:9 (possibly the earliest account of a sundial that is anywhere to be found in history) — which was likely of Egyptian or Babylonian design. Sundials are believed to have existed in China since ancient times.
Wikipedia