Sundial Clocks

Sundials were used to tell the time before people had watches or clocks. Sundial clocks today act not only as a utility item but also as a decorative or gift item. Sundial clocks are wonderful garden ornament to add to your landscape.

What is a sundial?
Sundial is an instrument that indicates the time of day by the shadow, cast on a surface marked to show hours or fractions of hours, of an object on which the sun's rays fall. Both stationery and portable sundials were developed in Egypt or in Mesopotamia.

The most commonly seen designs, such as the 'ordinary' or standard garden sundial, cast a shadow on a flat surface marked with the hours of the day. As the position of the sun changes, the time indicated by the shadow changes.

Designs and styles of sundial clocks
Sundials can be used for garden or yard décor as well as for home décor. There are sundial clocks in varied styles, made of different materials and given different finishes. A sundial can be made of various materials, but brass is very common. Many craftsmen have come up with unique designs. Sundial clocks come in weather durable rust free metallic finish to protect them from extreme weather conditions.

Accuracy of sundial clock
There are different ready-made sundial clocks available for purchase. However for a sundial to tell sun time accurately, it has to be designed and made for the sundial's exact location in regards to the longitude and latitude.

Types of sundial clocks

• Armillary sundial: This clock is in the shape of a sphere with concentric circles. It can be placed on a pedestal or plinth in a garden.
• Horizontal sundial clock: The most common type which should be placed on a pedestal.
• Vertical garden sundial: This clock should be placed on various types of vertical surfaces. For example, it might be attached to a garden shed, or it might be perfect for a narrow blank wall on your house.