Armillary Sphere Sun-Moondials
The Armillary Sphere is a representation of the Celestial Sphere and its various rings signify the Great
Meridian, The Horizon line, the Equatorial (time line) and the Ecliptic. It was the precursor to the
Astrolabe and Sextant. In its early forms it was used for land navigation and the taking of bearings from the heavens. Now it is largely decorative and fairly common in gardens and parks. Often the
gnomon rod takes the from of an arrow and the signs of the Zodiac and other Planetary symbols are
traditionally engraved on the respective rings.


Diameter 190mm
Height 260mm
Weight 2.2 kg
Complete with easy set up
Instructions, brass fixings and a plaque of the Equation of Time and Moondial
R1620.00 plus shipping costs
Pedestal not included

This sphere is constructed from solid copper and brass and stands on a spun copper base. It bears the signs and symbols of the Zodiac and the planetary symbols. It can be made for any latitude in either
northern or southern hemisphere formats.

Mini Spheres

Diameter 80mm
Tortoise mounted


One such dial I made now stands at Yellowknife in Northern Canada, 62.5° north, a few degrees outside the Arctic Circle

Diameter 80mm
Spun copper mounted

These perfect working miniature Armillary Spheres are of solid copper and brass and designed for
marketing purposes. Wording of your choice or a logo can be etched into the Horizon line.
Mythology tells that the World rides on the back of a tortoise which daily and slowly travels across the heavens from the East into the West so the sphere on the left is presented doing just that.

Larger Armillaries
Ideal for the bigger garden, Town House complexes, Golf Courses and Corporate Buildings these spheres are purpose made, usually of solid brass in diameters from 300mm to 1000mm. Engravings of your choice and logos can be inserted on any ring.
Enquire from sundials@sundials.co.za
The sphere on the far right is one of a pair made for the Blue Train. One is set for Pretoria and the other for Cape Town, the usual destinations of that well loved and World famous South African icon, the Luxury Blue Train

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