Why are the costs of sundials not published?
Prices are not listed because the website does not function as a catalogue from which sundials can be ordered, but rather as a showcase of previously completed works that may serve as inspiration for your own.
Given the great variety of sundials, it would be extremely difficult to offer a catalogue that includes every type and time system, especially when considering the many materials, finishes and possible dimensions for each individual piece.
All works are created exclusively on commission, and since nothing is pre-made or ready for sale, it is preferable for clients to request a personalised quote for the specific sundial they wish to commission.
Why is the website called “Orologi Senza Tempo” (Timeless Clocks)?
It may seem paradoxical, but it is simply a play on words which reminds us that sundials and solar clocks are instruments whose origins disappear into the dawn of time, while at the same time forming an oxymoron that captures the many apparent contradictions embodied in these works.
Just think of the two opposing elements—light and shadow—which, sliding across an unmoving dial, reveal the movement of the Earth in space and its rotation. They mark a time that humankind has bent to its own needs in order to suit the rhythms of modern society—a concept of time which modern physics has taught us does not truly exist, at least not in the way it was understood until the last century.
Through the inscriptions, verses and imagery often associated with sundial dials, this “time” takes on a new and different dimension each time.
Why is a bespoke sundial better than a mass-produced one?
Mass-produced sundials are generally decorative imitations, sold to be installed anywhere, at any latitude and longitude, without any intention of accuracy.
I often say that if a sundial works “everywhere”, it is because it works nowhere.
Some claim that a broken clock tells the right time twice a day—but this is not even true for sundials. If a sundial is incorrect, its shadow will still move, but it will never show the correct time.
There are, of course, beautiful mass-produced ceramic or decorative pieces of excellent craftsmanship, but they are purely ornamental and will always show the wrong time. A true sundial indicates time to within a minute and is the mathematical projection of the sky above (or in front of) its dial. Such sundials must be designed for the latitude and longitude of their installation site; only in this way can the dial correspond precisely to the portion of the celestial sphere it is meant to represent.
In keeping with Italy’s long-standing sundial tradition, all my works are created exclusively on commission (each accompanied by technical documentation and instructions for correct reading), without compromises dictated by commercial mass production.
Every sundial is designed according to the client’s geographical coordinates and specific requests, turning this apparent “constraint” into an extraordinary opportunity to personalise the work in every aspect: dimensions, materials, finishes, time diagrams, birthdays and anniversaries, decorative elements, verses, dedications and more.
The result is a piece designed to meet expectations and endure over time.
What is the process for creating a frescoed sundial?
For traditional frescoed sundials, an on-site inspection is carried out to assess, according to the client’s wishes, which type of sundial best suits the wall. If the location is too far away, the evaluation can be done via email by exchanging photographs and ideas until an ideal solution and a quote are agreed upon.
Afterwards, I carry out an on-site survey to determine the exact orientation of the wall. The actual design process takes place in the studio, and once the final drawing is approved and prepared to scale, I return to the site to complete the work: frescoing the dial and installing the gnomon.
What is the process for creating a garden sundial?
For all types of garden sundials, only the latitude and longitude are required. With this information, the desired sundial can be designed and built. It may then be collected directly from the studio or conveniently shipped together with installation instructions.
If needed, installation can also be provided.
How do I order a sundial for my garden?
To design a garden sundial, I require the geographical coordinates—latitude and longitude—of the location where it will be installed. Usually, providing the home address is enough.
Coordinates can be obtained by opening Google Maps (or similar apps), right-clicking on the exact point on the map and reading the displayed coordinates. Alternatively, a GPS device or smartphone app can be used.
How does a sundial work?
A sundial works by using the apparent daily rotation of the Sun across the sky. Throughout the day, the shadow cast by the gnomon—a vertical or inclined element, usually a steel rod—moves across the dial, indicating:
• true solar time at the location
• time according to the local time zone
• hours passed since sunrise
• hours remaining until sunset
• canonical or Benedictine hours
• the Sun’s transit across the meridians of other cities
• the sun’s azimuth angle
• the Sun’s altitude above the horizon
The varying height of the Sun across the seasons allows the design of calendar diagrams ranging from the winter solstice to the summer solstice, and vice versa. On these diagrams, the gnomon’s shadow can indicate the days of each month or, more commonly, the changes of zodiac sign.
They may also show the length of days and nights in hours and minutes.
This variation in solar altitude can also be used to trace commemorative lines on the dial marking anniversaries, birthdays or other special dates—so the Sun itself becomes a reminder of the occasion.
A sundial can also be designed to indicate the four cardinal points.
Which payment methods are accepted?
Payments by bank transfer or PayPal are generally accepted. In any case, all payment methods are agreed in advance with the client.
What are the payment terms?
For frescoed sundials: Once the preliminary sketch and quote have been approved, and the timing of the work agreed, a 40% deposit is required to confirm the commission.
Further payments are arranged according to the complexity and duration of the project.
For garden sundials:
Once all characteristics are defined and the preliminary design and quote approved—as well as the agreed production and delivery schedule—a 40% deposit is required to confirm the commission.
Photos or videos documenting the creation process are provided until completion and packaging. The balance is required before shipment or personal collection at the workshop.
How do you read the time on a sundial?
All time indications are read through the movement of the shadow cast by the gnomon on the dial.
The shadow moves along the lines of the diagram like the single hand of a traditional clock. Its daily rotation around its base shows the hours, while its varying length throughout the year—on sundials equipped with this feature—allows the date and other indications to be read on more complex dials.
Where should a sundial be placed?
Frescoed sundials are usually placed in the most visible areas of a building, sometimes at the expense of optimal sunlight—after all, it is better to see a sundial working slightly less accurately than to hide it away on a sunnier but less visible wall.
Garden sundials, on the other hand, offer endless possibilities: terraces, patios, courtyards, gardens, along a pathway or at its end, within a flower border, beside a seating or relaxation area, at the centre of a lawn, near the entrance of a house, and so on.
What is the difference between an armillary sphere and a sundial?
Armillary spheres, with their intricate structure of meridians and parallels, represent the entire celestial sphere in three dimensions, with the hours marked along the lower semicircle of the celestial equator.
Sundials, however, represent on their dial only the mathematical projection of the portion of the celestial sphere that lies above or in front of them.
Whether frescoed or designed for the garden, sundials can be seen as faithful mirrors of the sky, where the shadow of the gnomon precisely reproduces the apparent movement of the real Sun.