sundial

sundial

Brass sundial, used by Father Nerinckx, based on the latitude and longitude of Bardstown, KY. Constructed of a brass plate attached to an iron back, with three loose pieces to attach to cast the shadow. Engraved on lower edge "Joannis Denies Belgae / Artificis Mechliniae / Ex Pietate Gratis" ["Joannis Denies, Belgian / Craftsman Mechanic / Out of Piety, Free," rough translation]. The sundial was made in Europe and used at Little Loretto and the Loretto Motherhouse, then placed in the museum in 1965 when it was broken. Translated from the sundial inscription: “Let the sunlight here shine clear, You see the hour time for the year." See also #0377.

Information according to William Howlett's "Life of Reverend Charles Nerinckx": "A curious donation was a unique sun dial. It was constructed for the latitude and longitude of Bardstown, and it had four small dials giving the exact time at Philadelphia, Rome, Cairo and Pekin [Beijing]. A combination dial gives the time at Lima, Lisbon and Jerusalem, and a general indicator showed the differential for all the large cities of the globe. / Another piece of mechanism indicated the signs of the zodiac, and perhaps some other phenomena. This part is now lost, as also the gnomens from the smaller dials." Correspondence indicates that all the small gnomens were lost by 1929.

Joannis Denies

19th century

16.5" x 16.5"

Timepieces

0008