Pillar dial

Art Historical Context

Nestled in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's European and Decorative Arts collection this delicate *Pillar dial* from 18th-century southern France exemplifies the artistry of horology—the craft of timekeeping. Carved from wood and measuring just 3 × 7/8 inches (7.6 × 2.2 cm), its petite scale suggests portability, allowing users to carry a personal sundial for precise solar timekeeping. The unknown artisan skillfully shaped the pillar form, a classic sundial design where a gnomon casts shadows onto a marked surface, revealing the hour based on the sun's position. In an era before widespread me...