Armillary Sphere

ARMILLARY SPHERES

David Harber's fascination with space and the solar system inspired him to create the astronomically intriguing Armillary.

The Armillary Sphere is one of David Harber's earliest and most appreciated works and is enjoyed throughout the world in a variety of settings. As well as being a fully functioning sundial, this handmade piece is crafted and calculated to a specific location making it a highly accurate time piece.

All spheres are available in a 60cm, 70cm or 80cm diameter. Other larger sizes available on request.

Bronze 

As well as being strong and highly durable, a bronze verdigris patina on these armillary sundials gives the impression of timelessness.

Included as standard with the bronze armillary sphere:

• Extra rings marking the Tropics of Capricorn and Cancer and the North and South Polar Circles
   
• A calendar showing the progression of the months and a client-specified date

• Arrowhead and tail

Prices start from £11,250 including VAT (AUD20,578.00 including GST). The price also includes delivery and installation to mainland UK.

Stainless steel

Made from marine-grade stainless steel, these armillary spheres are mirror-polished to ensure high visibility and lifelong brilliance.

Additional features like a calendar or an arrowhead and tail can be added.

Prices start from £8,568 including VAT (AUD15,673 including GST). The price also includes delivery and installation to mainland UK.

Brass

A lighter material than bronze, brass has a real sense of weight and a patina that matures well, darkening with age.

A calendar, an arrowhead and tail, and other additional features can be added to brass armillary spheres.

Prices start from £5,664 including VAT (AUD10,361 including GST). The price also includes delivery and installation to mainland UK.

FINISHES AND COLOURS

The Armillary Sphere can be made from bronze (either antique tan or with a Verdigris patina applied), 316 marine grade mirror polished stainless steel or brass.

PERSONALISATION

A personalised sundial creates a beautiful gift to mark an important anniversary or memorialise a person. Dials can be engraved with words and phrases of personal resonance, such as mottoes and quotations; family names and dates of birth; commissioning statements; house names with latitude and longitude; and the distances and direction to locations significant to the client.

The sphere can have rings representing the tropics of Capricorn, Cancer and the Polar Circle, an arrowhead and tail and a calendar band can also be included to highlight a memorable date of the year. The bronze Armillary includes these adornments as standard.

DIMENSIONS

The Armillary Sphere is available in a 60cm, 70cm or 80cm diameter, however other larger sizes are available on request.

INSTALLATION

To work as a functioning time piece, the Armillary should be in a position that benefits from direct sunlight throughout as much of the day as possible. If the Armillary is not being fixed to an existing plinth and David Harber are supplying one, the client must provide a suitable, level, concrete pad foundation for the plinth to be fixed to. The Armillary is fixed to the plinth with a resin fixed bolt and then aligned for it to read the correct time. Alignment requires sunlight, in its absence, clear instructions will be provided.

We can supply a variety of stone plinths at an additional cost, although these can also be sourced separately should a local stone, for example, be required.

Installation and delivery are included in the price for UK commissions and for overseas, shipping quotes can be obtained and charged at cost.

CARE INSTRUCTIONS

David Harber Armillary Spheres are neither lacquered nor coated. To clean them, we would suggest the use of warm water and a soft cloth. We do not recommend the use of metal cleaner as this may scratch and dull the surface. The stainless-steel variant can be best cleaned with glass cleaner and a soft lint free cloth. Maintenance instructions will be issued on installation.

TECHNICAL DRAWINGS

Available on request