Sterling Silver, Antique Flintlock Shotgun, Collectibles Estate Sale Auction
Lot 90:
Description
A decorative cast metal garden pedestal sundial featuring a circular dial plate and a figural gnomon. The dial is constructed from a copper-based alloy, likely bronze, exhibiting a natural verdigris patina. It is decorated with a central relief figure of Father Time carrying a scythe, flanked by the inscribed block letter quote GROW OLD ALONG WITH ME THE BEST IS YET TO BE. The perimeter of the dial face is marked with Roman numerals from VI to XII to VI. The gnomon is cast in the form of a bird, possibly an eagle or hawk, with folded wings perched atop a branch that functions as the style. The sundial is mounted to a cast metal faux-bois pedestal designed to resemble a weathered tree trunk, terminating in a flared base with four root-form feet. No maker marks, signatures, or country-of-origin stamps are visible on the dial or pedestal.
Total Height: 19.5 inches
Pedestal Height: 14 inches
Dial Diameter: 10.5 inches.
Condition report:
The item is in weathered, as-found condition consistent with long-term outdoor exposure. The bronze dial and gnomon show significant verdigris oxidation and dark patination across all surfaces (photo 1). The dial face exhibits scattered surface pitting and small spots of iron oxide staining (photo 6). The faux-bois pedestal base is heavily encrusted with accumulated soil, moss, and surface oxidation, particularly concentrated around the root-form feet (photo 4). The bird-shaped gnomon appears slightly misaligned or tilted from the vertical axis (photo 5).
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