How to Select Sundials and Armillary Spheres for the Garden

Sundials are one of the earliest inventions of the world, created to measure time by ancient Egyptians around 1500 BC. Before the invention of the clock, every local community had one or more sundials in their town. They became so well developed that they were both accurate timepieces, as well as important town ornaments.

While sundials are no longer used to keep track of time in modern times, they are still very much present as classic design elements in parks, gardens, and landscapes across the world. Their beautiful designs make them a perfect decorative piece, a dedication in memory of, or a symbol of honor for a notable event or individual.

We invite you to take a look at our Estate Elements collection of garden ornaments, where you’ll find a variety of sundials and armillary spheres of all sizes, styles, and designs. Take a look at some tips to consider when selecting a sundial for your outdoor space:

Style

Sundials are versatile and customizable in their design, which makes them a great choice for all garden types. The style of your outdoor space will ultimately help you determine the type of sundial that will be the best fit and what decorative features it should include.

When choosing a style, there are three main types of sundials:

• Horizontal Sundials, which are flat with a vertical gnomon that casts a shadow to tell time
• Armillary Sundials, which are composed of a set of interlocking metal rings (referred to as “armilla” in Latin) that create a spherical design
• Hemispherical Sundials, which are designed as half of a sphere

Sundials typically include detailed ornaments such as Roman numerals, zodiac symbols, inscriptions of traditional mottos, decorative arrows, and other unique features. These design features can be customized based on your vision. Our team can work with you to customize decorative features and the column, pedestal, or base on which the sundial will be installed.

All sundials at Kenneth Lynch & Sons are constructed of bronze or steel. Our sundial designs include the most essential rings including the horizon, equatorial, and prime vertical. Our larger models may also include the Arctic and Antarctic circles.

Pictured: Hare and Tortoise Sundial; Classic Armillary Sundial; and a Trunnion Sundial.

Size

Sundials come in many different sizes, making them one of the easiest elements to incorporate into all different types of outdoor spaces, from large estate gardens to small courtyards. Before deciding on the size of your new sundial or armillary sphere, it is important to determine where in your garden you’d like to place the sundial. Large spaces can often incorporate larger armillary spheres as a main focal point, whereas smaller areas with limited space are typically best suited for small armillary spheres or horizontal sundials.

Our sundial and armillary sphere sizes range from as small as 10 inches in diameter all the way up to 72 inches in diameter. Our team can work with you to determine the right sundial size for your unique space and vision.

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Pictured: Traditional Horizontal Sundial; Classic Armillary Sundial in medium; and a large Armillary Sundial with Signs of the Zodiac.

Symbolism

Sundials are often used as a symbol for the passage of time. In fact, writing sundial mottos was a favorite pastime of dial designers for centuries. Several of the sundials in our collection incorporate these traditional mottos, or our team can assist with adding your own motto, quote, or dedication as part of your sundial in the form of a plaque. The plaque with your desired inscription would be finished in the same patina as the sundial.

Take a look at some of the sundials with mottos in our collection:

• French Motto Sundial, designed by Josef Kuthmayer, is decorated with ornamental dolphins and the motto "L'heure passe, l'amitie reste" meaning "Hours pass, friendship remains"
• Horizontal Memories Sundial features the motto "Time takes all but memories"
• Father Time Sundial features the motto “Grow old along with me, the best is yet to be"
• Hare and Tortoise Sundial depicts one of Aesop's Fables, featuring a delicately sculpted tortoise moving across the hours as the hare sleeps beneath the gnomon
• Storms and Showers Sundial features the motto "Let others tell of storms and showers I'll only mark your sunny hours"

“Writing sundial mottos was a favorite pastime of dial designers for centuries.”

Pictured: Hare and Tortoise Sundial

Ordering Your Sundial

Kenneth Lynch & Sons has decades of expertise in producing sundials and armillary spheres in our workshop. Our team will work with you to determine the specifics of your sundial of choice or create a custom design. All our models are made to order, allowing our craftsmen to set the angle of the gnomon or armillary to the proper latitude based on where the sundial will be installed. Even if the sundial is used primarily as a design element, we want to ensure the functionality of the piece as well.

The best way to get started with ordering your sundial is by contacting our team at info@klynchandsons.com. We will provide you with customization options, design details, and production times based on your vision.

Learn more

We invite you to explore all of our collection of sundials and armillary spheres and get inspired by the beautiful garden elements in our Project Gallery.
Explore all sundials in our Estate Elements Collection and view our Sundial Product Information and Tips.