Japanese Sundial Compass

[Cypress Bayou]

Japanese Sundial Compass

 

This is one of those things that even the most dedicated sundial collector will never see .....

 

The design is late 15th to mid 17th century continental European ....from the sundial, down to the case, even the Scythe Closure Clasps. The sundial dates to about 1750

 

The second picture shows proper orientation with Magnetic North ....The time of day, is given by a scale,

starting at 9am with 7-1/2 & 15 minute increments to 3pm

 

Two adjustable flip-up appendages;

 

The long pointed "needle" is the gnomon ....it casts the shadow for time of day

 

The other appendage is the plumb level ....as the sundial must be plumb & level before it is used

 

More Pictures, Full Details & Measurements Available at http://www.fleaglass.com/index.php?a=2&b=2702

 

or http://www.fleaglass.com

[Bugyotsuji]

Fascinating stuff.

[IanB]

James, What a delightful object. Thank you for posting images of it.

Ian Bottomley

[Ford Hallam]

wouldn't it be brilliant if you found a name inscribed on the underside? Some thing like, William Adams

[IanB]

Ford, Oh wouldn't that be wonderful, but I suspect much later. Nevertheless a superb item. Similar ones were being made in the West as late as the 1920's by the Ansonia Clock Co. There are the remains of a small Nuremberg clock in Nikko in the form of a bear that held the dial in its paws and opened and shut its mouth in time with the verge, but sadly much of the mechanism is now damaged. There is also a small Spanish clock, made in Madrid, in the Toshogu Shrine in Shizuoka that was given to Ieyasu. Why so much of his stuff is lost I do not know. John Saris gave him a very expensive double flintlock gun encrusted with gold but like much else there seems to be no trace of it.

Ian Bottomley