Vertical Dial

Sir Christopher Wren is among the many architects who have embraced the three-dimensional challenge of the vertical dial — a union of latitude, longitude, and the angle of the ecliptic. Humble yet historic, this piece embodies quiet elegance, providing a thoughtful and dynamic embellishment to any vertical surface.

While clocks keep time, the vertical dial historically set it. Like the armillary sphere, sundials have marked the passage of time since as early as 1500 BC, shaping the rhythm of public life in the ancient world. These early instruments recorded the changing seasons, the rising and setting of the sun, and the hours of prayer within monasteries.

Each Vertical Dial is entirely site-specific — designed for your wall, your home, your latitude and longitude, your world. The wall’s declination to the sun is carefully measured to ensure accuracy. A south-facing wall is generally ideal, particularly in the United Kingdom, where it enjoys the greatest sunlight throughout the day.

Our Vertical Dials offer far more than a standard garden sundial. They may be personalised with what is known as dial furniture — the name of your home, the year it was built, a family motto, or a meaningful quotation — transforming an ancient instrument into a truly personal expression of time and place.