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Monday 17 March 2014

Sundial Sources - artists, creators designers and more

Sundial Sources


This post will begin a round the globe view of what is available from who and where.

[This 'Sundial Sources' post 06/09/14]

So you want to have a sundial?


Where can you find them to see?

Sundials are available to see in all countries of the world but what is publicly available will vary considerably.
Some countries where there are enthusiasts with an historic, artistic, aesthetic, engineering or perhaps simply a personal interest have logged and identified sundials throughout their countries.  There are even sundial trails - basically tourist routes which will enable a number of dials to be seen and often learn about their history, design, construction and other facts associated with them.

The Internet is a good source of information when trying to find out more about where to see sundials.
Types of location will include churches and other religious buildings, castles and fortified structures, ornamental parks and gardens, public spaces such as public squares and town or city centers, museums - especially in countries with more prolonged sunshine throughout the year, large garden centers and many other places.
See elsewhere in this blog for various examples in various places.

Where can you find them to buy them?

With so many sources all over the world, again the Internet is a great place to start to find the right source - from garden centers to artists studios and from specialist artisans to manufacturers in bulk.

Just a small sample of the great number of Internet sites
covering the creation and/or supply of sundials worldwide

What kind of price are they available from?

From a few pence/cents for a small paper dial through to whatever you want or are able to pay.
Just look at these 2 extreme examples to give an idea of the scope of difference:

sundial cut out paper
Paper sundial customised to your location on Earth


Sundial Bridge, Turtle Bay, California, USA
Conceived by Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava

Who makes them?

See under "Where can you find them buy them" above.

What types of sundial are there?

There are dozens upon dozens different types and styles of sundial.
See Sundial Types and Terms

Can I influence the design?

That depends upon the designer you choose but in principle you certainly can.
Just have a chat with the designer, manufacturer or even the sales person before making a purchase.

How large are they?
As small



or as large as you like.
Sundial Bridge, Turtle Bay, California, USA

How do you decide?

That really is down to you as an individual or organisation dependent upon your need or requirements.
Is this simply for your garden as a nice feature to sit beside a bird bath?

Or could it be perhaps for a prestigious property such as a National Trust stately home in the England, Wales or Northern Ireland - or the National Trust in Scotland, maybe Australia or Italy, a Royal Oak Foundation property in the United States of America, a Parador in Spain or even a town centre or public - or private - park somewhere - anywhere in the World.

The need and the requirement will certainly help you to decide what to get - and the artists, creators, designers and manufacturers will help you with your decision.


Sunday 9 March 2014

Dials Out and About

Sundials Out and About

[Last updated addition 07/09/14: "Sundial, St Thomas's Square, Salisbury"]
You may be surprised to know just how many sundials are around - including where you live.

Unless you live in the open countryside the chances are that there will be local examples on a house - for example in Salisbury, England,


This photo of Salisbury is courtesy of TripAdvisor

Here is another example, this time on the wall of a shop that can be found quite easily on the wall above a shop window as you wander around the small lanes around the City Centre.

Sundial, St Thomas's Square, Salisbury


On the wall of a church,

On the sundial trail in Oxford [Daily Telegraph]

or perhaps in your town centre.


The Armada dial, Plymouth, England
As previously written they have been about in many forms for thousands of years and today there are a wealth and variety of types in more places than ever from the traditional locations such as on churches and within castles to private houses, gardens and public spaces.

When you are out and about sundials are not always obvious, frequently being mounted on walls at high levels, sometimes 2 or 3 stories above street level, or as what seem to be artistic objects in parks it is not always obvious what they are.

Sometimes they are hidden away in the most unexpected places - you could live near one for years without even knowing that they exist.  This may not be because they are simply too small and insignificant but because of where they are.
An example of this is the one on the roof of the International Village Mall in Vancouver, BC, Canada.

Roof top sundial, Vancouver, BC, Canada
[Google Earth 150314]
























Wednesday 5 March 2014

Sculpture - and Art

Sculpture - and Art

This blog post introducing outside sculpture and artistic objects (objects d'art) has been moved to its own blog Sculpture - and Art to give it a more dedicated space in which to grow.

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Sunday 2 March 2014

Weather Vanes

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Weather Vanes / Weathervanes

This blog post originally introduced a section on weather vanes, also known as weathervanes has been moved to its own blog Weather Vanes / Weathervanes to give it a more dedicated space in which to grow.

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