This new armillary sphere is made from bronze, with Polar Region and tropics spheres.
This year Border Sundials are showing three new sundials at the RHS show, on a larger stand right next to some of the biggest show gardens. Actually we’re right next to the favourite to win, the Australian Garden.
It’s the first year I’ve worked with bronze and have introduced it into both the horizontal and armillary spheres. Bronze can be left au naturel to weather of its own accord, or the process can be speeded up with a Bronze finish. My new dials on display at Chelsea have the Bronze finish but can be left without, as you prefer. Bronze is a more ancient alloy than brass and it’s good to be working with a metal that has such a strong association with ancient history. Up on the hills above my workshop there’s a bronze age fort and it’s strange to think that all these thousands of years later, there’s someone – me – still working bronze in the same place.
My Bronzed armillary is a triumph of sorts. I’ve made it more complex than my antique brass or stainless armillaries. It has both Polar Regions and tropics as well as a stunning flighted gnomon. The darkness of the metal will be a great foil for sharp greens so would look excellent placed close to evergreen or beech hedging. I’d love to know what you think. If you’re at Chelsea this year, do please stop by and share a glass of wine and talk time with me.
My stand is number RGB9 located in the rockery garden bank.
