Portable equatorial sundial 1716 - 1731

Curator: Ah, here we have a Portable Equatorial Sundial from the early 18th century by Johann Mathias Willebrand. Intricate, isn’t it? Like a miniature observatory you can tuck into your pocket...assuming your pockets are extraordinarily well-reinforced, that is. Editor: It really is! The details are so ornate, especially considering it's basically a time-telling device made of metal. How should we even begin to interpret it? Curator: Well, firstly, it makes me think about how much time has changed since its creation. Can you imagine navigating your day using just the sun and this elaborate, if beautiful, contraption? Editor: No, I rely heavily on my phone and about six alarms! Did people actually use these when there were larger clocks available? Curator: Oh absolutely. The portability was a huge deal, of course, especially for travellers or for those keen on accuracy. And it was a status symbol as well, of course. Like a very precise and ornate pocket watch, more science-chic than simply chic. There's a profound trust in the natural order built into this device, isn’t there? A faith that even in our travels, the sun will guide us, which I find quite comforting in an absurd kind of way. How does this faith speak to you, do you think? Editor: I suppose I see it more as an elegant fusion of craft and scientific knowledge, though you're right, there's a lot of trust implied too. Something both solid and celestial... Curator: Precisely! And those tiny, carefully engraved flourishes – that’s not just clock-making, that's a sculptor moonlighting in the time-keeping industry! Editor: I hadn't thought about the sculpting aspect, that's so interesting. Thanks for pointing that out. It gives me a totally new appreciation for this delicate device!