Universal ring sundial 18th century

This universal ring sundial, with a diameter of just over 7 inches, was crafted by Jonathan Sisson in the 18th century. Sisson, an instrument maker, lived in a time of immense social and intellectual change. During the Enlightenment, there was a shift toward reason and scientific inquiry, which emphasized empirical observation as a means of understanding the world. But who had access to this understanding? Scientific instrument makers such as Sisson emerged as key figures in mediating this new knowledge. Sundials were not just about telling time; they were symbolic objects of status and learning. The sundial reflects both a universal understanding of time and the limited social circles in which it could circulate. Consider the elegance and precision involved in its construction. The sundial embodies a tension between the universal and the particular, echoing the complex social dynamics of the Enlightenment.