ENAMEL
Made of stainless steel, these wall sundials are emamelled in any colour. The dial furniture is usually in 23½ carat gold leaf, which is hand sign-written.
HAND-PAINTED
Normally painted directly on to a rendered surface of a house, these sundials can also be painted on to a more durable material before being placed on a wall.
STONE
Any stone can be used, but for good definition of letter cutting, the density and grain of the stone are key. Hour lines and all the lettering are filled with 23½ gold leaf.
SLATE
Riven or smooth, slate is hand-letter cut and can be gilded with 23½ carat gold leaf for definition before being placed on a wall.Back to top
COPPER
The face of this wall sundial can be hand sign-written in either 23½ carat gold leaf or a coloured enamel.
STRIP
Developed by David himself, these dials are made solely of brass, bronze, copper or stainless steel strips which are attached directly on to the surface of the wall.Back to top
GLASS
Made of clear blue or green glass, these modern dials offer an added dimension — reflecting sunlight as well as casting a shadow on to the etched surface.
NOON DAY ANALEMMA
Moorish vertical sundial from 600 AD, this tracks noon throughout the year with an analemma - the shape traced out by the Sun over the course of a yearBack to top
MOSAIC
Made of either marble or Venetian glass the mosaic is set onto a cement panel with a metal frame which is attached directly onto the wall. The hours and hour lines are indicated with 24 carat gold mosaic glass.
LEAD
A very smooth material where the dial furniture and hours are sign-written in 23½ carat gold leaf. The surface can either be oiled to maintain its dark colour, or left to oxidise to a silver finish.Back to top
EXAMPLES OF
WALL SUNDIALS
The declination of the wall will decree the layout of the dial. Where a site visit is impractical, we will supply a simple kit to let you take that measurement yourself.
The scale of the wall, the position of windows and other architectural features are factors in the ultimate design of the dial face, as are the details you choose to include, such as the Winter and Summer solstice lines, the Spring and Autumn equinoxes, or any personalisation.
The style and material of the gnomon (the part that casts the shadow) can be tailored according to the design of the dial.