Hi everyone,
Following on from my recent post asking about the method of manufacture
of early New England pewter dials, now I have a question about a pattern
that appears on several examples.
The following links are all photos of different dials and yet they all
share a set of circles inscribed in the middle of the dial. There are
loads of other examples in Google Images (but to confuse things, some
may be modern reproductions).
The theme that I refer to is the set of concentric circles that seem to
be centred about half way between the centre of the dial face and the
toe of the gnomon. There are are usually 3 or 4 circles, but sometimes
more, Outside them is an arc, with a different centre, which has its two
ends touching the outermost of the concentric circles so that it
outlines a lune.
Is there some significance to these circles and arcs?
Is it just a case of makers copying/stealing designs? (Josiah Miller
seems to be the preeminent maker using these features and his examples
are quite fine, so perhaps there was a market for cheaper knockoffs).
Thanks,
Steve
Maker "D.L":
https://www.freemansauction.com/auction/lot/34-pewter-sundial/?lot=441293&sd=1
Maker unknown: https://images.nypl.org/index.php?id=1160659&t=w
Maker unknown: https://www.skinnerinc.com/auctions/3278M/lots/451
Maker "Josiah Miller":
https://thumbs.worthpoint.com/zoom/images1/1/1212/23/wonderful-18th-early-american-pewter_1_ddfc0b18e848cd4e170fed601710a3b2.jpg
Maker "Josiah Miller": https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/8027
Maker "Michael Ryan": https://www.antiquepewtershop.com/item-9862
Maker unknown:
https://www.freemansauction.com/auction/lot/36-small-pewter-sundial/?lot=441297&au=4547
(many rings, no lune)
///workers.exist.lookout
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