1733 Colonial Sundial Found and Restored

[SC Keith]

I found this sundial, the earliest in the Carolinas, last year. It is one of the earliest from southern colonial America. When I found the piece it had been bent and damaged so I sent it to an expert in restoring metal objects.
It has been the best find of my relic hunting career. I hope to get some detailed info from people who know about sundials.
Thanks for looking! Keith

 

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[RonNH]

That's a nice piece and looks hand-etched. They did a great job restoring it too, could you post the place where you had the work done?

 

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[Doubter in MD]

 

[SC Keith]

That's a nice piece and looks hand-etched. They did a great job restoring it too, could you post the place where you had the work done?

Thanks! I got the work done by Newman's LTD. They are in Newport RI.

 

[Hawks88]

Amazing find. Newmans LTD did a fantastic job on the restoration. Thanks for sharing all the pics and info with all of us.

 

[SC Keith]

Another compass rose detail image.

 

[stewielouie]

That turned out great!! One of the coolest relics I have seen since I have been on TNet

 

[cdickrun64]

Why isn’t the gnomon attached?

 

[SC Keith]

Why isn’t the gnomon attached?

The gnomon was broken to a stub when found. There was silver soldier used to attatch gnomon during 1700s and the soldiering was done in a sloppy manner. I had the soldier and broken gnomon removed to reveal the beautiful engraving.
So at this time, I will not put another gnomon on it. I do have the broken gnomon piece that was removed from it.

 

[tamrock]

Wow! I'd be so happy with a find like that.

 

[PetesPockets55]

Fantastic find and thanks for sharing the conserved piece with us.

Would the sundial have been attached to a granite/stone stand?

 

[SC Keith]

Fantastic find and thanks for sharing the conserved piece with us.

Would the sundial have been attached to a granite/stone stand?[/QUOTE

I have seen pictures in some online books of this type sundial ( a horizontal dial ) on a pedestal type stone stand like you mentioned. A lot of them were in gardens.

 

[PetesPockets55]

Thanks.
If I remember correctly you said you found it in a marshy area. Maybe it met a plow at some time from the looks it. I wonder if it might have been a field related sundial or if there could be a structure associated with it nearby.

It appears to still have the outline of the heads of the screws used to fasten it to whatever base was used. Makes me think it was removed intentionally and not ripped from the base.

 

[Professor of Engineering]

Beautiful restoration!

 

[Whyme]

That looks fantastic! They did a great job restoring it.

 

[DetectorMoe]

Looks really good.. They did a good job...

 

[Switchblade]

That's pretty sweet!

 

[Siwash]

You need to find the gnomen.

 

[A2coins]

Thats is freakin cool thats a museum piece absolutley amazing

 

[GeoW]

Very significant date for Georgia natives.

g

 

[MAILITY]

SC Keith,
Thanks for re-posting the pic of that amazing find. When you originally posted it in june(?) 2018, I had just recently joined tnet and didn't even know how to vote for a banner find - until I saw this piece. Your picture of this sundial was one of the major reasons why I continued on tnet. Among the hundreds of great finds, including the gold coins I've seen here, this one artifact remains my very favorite.

Here's one that is reminiscent of yours... 100 years older that sold at Christies while ago... don't know price.