Honouring an ancestor
David Harber has been building up an international reputation as a sundial maker for 17 years, but until now he was unaware that he was a direct descendant of the great sixteenth century mathematician and dialist John Blagrave. To celebrate this serendipitous link of sundial makers we are using Blagrave's own illustrations to recreate an armillary sphere that follows as faithfully as possible the great man's original design.
The Blagrave Dial is made of solid bronze. The cast elements which form the cradle to the dial are sculpted to mimic the mythical creatures supporting the sphere, although we decided to
give these beasts a slightly less menacing demeanour.
These elements were originally handsculpted
in clay, from which a mould was taken for the final bronze castings.
At the very centre of the sphere, on the gnomon, is a bronze globe with relief land masses
depicting the rudimentary understanding of the continents of that time.
The land, in burnished
bronze, is surrounded by seas that are oxidized to a blue-green verdigris.
Among the other original features are a calibrated scale of time and an azimuth correction scale which allows the dial to be used at any latitude. We have also incorporated a 360° horizon chapter ring which enables the dial to be rotated to true south within the cradle frame.
The Ecliptic ring is engraved with the name and symbol of the twelve signs of the zodiac in
their true relative positions. This is also in keeping with the original, although David very much
shares John Blagrave's preference of astronomy over astrology.
The hour band is divided into 15 degree one hour intervals and calibrated down to one minute,
and all the engraving is in an italic script similar to that in Blagrave's design.
The Blagrave armillary sphere can be personalised in several different ways.
For example,
the bronze can be finished to a highly polished reflective surface, more suited to an indoor
installation, or oxidized to a weathered verdigris.
The dial can also be engraved with your choice
of motto, quotation or dedication.
More about John Blagrave » | More sundials »
