Sundials by Robert Foster Commission a dial

A unique range of fine professionally handmade sundials.

From this family business of some twenty years standing, Robert's sundials, and especially the armillary spheres in which he specializes have found their way to all quarters of the globe.

See the armillary spheres or talk to Robert about a commission

A horizontal sundial drawn after Robert Foster's Classic dial, its hour lines cut for the latitude of the workshop at Jackfield, with the shadow of the gnomon falling across the Roman numerals. VVIVIIVIIIIXXXIXIIIIIIIIIIIIVVIVII

The dial above is drawn after Robert's Classic and cut for the workshop at Jackfield, latitude 52.6 degrees north. Its shadow is worked out from the position of the sun, and with JavaScript running it follows the real one, minute by minute.

Three collections

21 pieces in all, in brass, in bronze weathered to an antique patina, and in anodised aluminium. Every one is made to order, and most of them have a surface that will take an inscription.

The Celeste armillary, its bright sky-blue anodized sphere held between Taurean horns in brass. Armillary spheres Splendid range of unique craftsman made armillaries in brass, bronze and aluminium. 13 pieces, from £210 The Presentation sundial bedded into a rough stone block on a lawn, its darkened bronze-toned plate engraved with Roman numerals and hour lines inside a black rim, fitted with a decorative openwork brass gnomon that casts a shadow across the face. Horizontal dials Beautifully engraved in brass, most embodying a space for your personal inscription. 5 pieces, from £175 The Green Man wall dial: a landscape brass plate carrying a foliate face cast in high relief, its hair and beard formed from leaves, ringed by a horseshoe-shaped band finished in green verdigris and numbered in Arabic hours from 7 on the left, round through 12 at the foot, to 5 on the right, with leaf sprays at the lower corners. Wall dials A vertical sundial fixed to a suitable wall will enhance almost any type of building. 3 pieces, from £225

A few of them

The all-brass Classic sundial resting on the top of a pale stone pedestal, its face engraved with a compass rose, Roman numerals, the Equation of Time scale and the motto SIC VITA DVM FVGIT STARE VIDETVR around the lower rim, with a curled brass gnomon casting a shadow and passion flowers growing behind it. Classic £235 The all-bronze Taurus armillary, its pivoting globe held between two Taurean horns. Taurus £595 to £658 The Auguste south-facing wall dial mounted on a red brick wall: a tall brass plate with a raised sun disc and projecting gnomon at the top, rays radiating out to ball tips, Roman numeral hours set around and beneath them, and at the foot an engraved Equation of Time chart flanked by two small cast figures, one carrying an umbrella and one with its arms raised. Auguste £405 The Umbra upright sundial standing on an octagonal stone pedestal in a garden, a tall black crescent moon holding a small round engraved brass dial with a long brass gnomon rod passing through its centre, with lawn and shrubs behind. Umbra £175 The all-bronze Europa armillary, its open Equator crossed by a full Solstitial Colure. Europa £396 The Azure armillary in sky-blue anodized aluminium and brass, fitted with brass ball tips at the poles. Azure £235 to £270 The all-brass Ecliptic armillary sphere, showing its banded rings, mounted Roman numerals and arrow gnomon. Ecliptic £375 The Cygnus sundial, a swan in black-stoved aluminium with brass gnomon and Roman numerals set along its outstretched wings. Cygnus £210

The rest are here: armillary spheres, horizontal dials and wall dials.

Robert Foster standing in the workshop doorway, holding up a brass armillary sphere, with two more armillaries on pedestals beside him.
Robert in the workshop doorway, holding one of the brass armillaries.
A pierced and scrolled brass gnomon standing on a round engraved dial plate on a stone pedestal, its shadow falling across the Roman numerals.
A pierced gnomon on its plate. That shadow is the only part of it that tells the time.

Robert Foster

Every dial is made by hand at the workshop at Maw's Craft Centre in Jackfield, near Ironbridge, and has been for over twenty years. Robert cuts the numerals, sets the gnomon to the latitude the dial will stand at, and engraves the inscription himself.

Some of them he then delivers in person and sets up in the garden they were made for. Several of the letters he has kept thank him for exactly that. It is not a service he advertises and it depends where the dial is going, so it is worth asking when you call.

Thank you so much for coming all that way to install our new sundial. We are thrilled with it and it has been much admired by family and friends.

From a letter to the workshop, published without a name.

Just to let you know that the armillary we ordered from you has arrived today as promised. It is gratifying to know that in these days of mass production, craftsmen like yourself are still producing traditional work of such quality.

From a letter to the workshop, published without a name.

71 letters like this one are kept on the site, exactly as they were written and with no names attached. Read them.

Commissioning a dial

Nothing here is taken off a shelf. You choose the piece, the size and the finish, and most dials have a surface that will take an inscription: a name, a date, or one of the Latin mottoes Robert cuts. Brass and bronze engrave well, aluminium less so. The guide price for an inscription is £65.

Orders are taken by telephone, by post with the printed order form, or at the showroom at Maw's Craft Centre. When you plan a visit, please phone first to make sure someone is on hand.

Commission a dial or telephone the workshop on 01952 884057

Delivery is £20.00 for an armillary or a wall sundial, and £15.00 for a horizontal dial. Pedestals are not sent long distance, though a few are usually standing in the showroom. The office is on 01746 783714 and Robert reads his own email.