Local ring dial 17th century

This small, unsigned ring dial is made of brass. The sundial is a potent emblem of time's relentless march, yet it's also a tool offering control over its measurement. This duality evokes a deep connection to mortality. The ring form, unbroken and continuous, symbolizes eternity and the cyclical nature of life. We find the circle echoed in countless manifestations: halos crowning saints, ancient solar disks, even wedding bands, each embedding a promise of unending continuity. Consider how the serpent Ouroboros, devouring its own tail, embodies time's perpetual return. The use of brass lends a further layer to our meditation on time. Brass, a human-made alloy combining copper and zinc, marries base metals into something enduring and beautiful. It is a metaphor for our own transformations: the relentless turning of moments into memory. In gazing at this instrument, we are prompted to contemplate not merely the hours of the day, but the grand, overarching cycles of existence itself.