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The Dolphin Sundial

partial description of its workings...

The gnomon, or pointer, of the sundial is formed by the tips of the two dolphins' tails, which almost meet. The tails cast a shadow onto the dial plate, which is engraved with thick curved lines representing the hours. The thinner lines indicate 10-minute intervals between each hour.
The dial plate has curved lines, rather than straight ones, to allow for the variations in the Sun's apparent daily motion. The plate used in summer shows British Mean Time; that used in winter shows Greenwich Mean Time. The mid-point between the shadows of the dolphins' tail tips indicates the correct time.
The Sundial was commissions by the National Maritime Museum in 1977 to commemorate the Silver Jubilee of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. 86060209

2019 RBC Solutions | Toronto, Canada | photographed: 1982 June