Personalised Inscriptions

Whether you’re buying a classic piece, or commissioning a bespoke one, your David Harber will be unique to you. If you would like to add a personalised inscription, we will work closely with you to make sure you get exactly what you want.

Sundials and Armillary Spheres

From brass sundials to stainless steel Armillary Spheres, our custom sundials are perfect for personalisation and custom engraving. We’ve had family mottos, lines of poetry, family names and dates of birth, and distances and bearings in nautical miles for locations of personal significance.

Hydra

Lines of text can be added to two of the branches of Hydra sculptures. Engraved mottos in Latin and English, or fragments of prose or poetry work beautifully.

Engraved gifts

Popular with clients buying wedding gifts or retirement gifts, most of our sculptures can be personalised with bespoke etchings or engravings to create a more meaningful piece.

Mantle and Quill

Mantle and Quill sculptures can incorporate a few words on a discreetly located petal as a subtle mark of remembrance for a special someone or an important anniversary.

“We commissioned a sphere as a fitting memorial to a special man. My husband. And I wanted to say a final thank you to all your team who provided seamless expertise. The whole exercise has been exciting and a pleasure for me.”

Client, England.

Every sundial is made to order, and is unique to you. Our sundials and Armillary Spheres are working timepieces and we calibrate our spheres and dials precisely to their latitude and longitude. If you’re looking to place an order, email enquiries@davidharber.co.uk. Our team will take you through all the bespoke options available to ensure your personalised sundial will be a treasured keepsake for years to come.

Yes, but the accuracy varies throughout the year. To tell the time, the sundial gnomon needs sunlight to create a shadow. In the winter, when sunlight hours are reduced, it can be harder to read the time on the dial.

Add one hour to the time shown on the dial. Read our series, The Art of Ancient Timekeeping, to learn how to set a sundial and read a sundial.

A working timepiece and scientific instrument, sundials should be built with precision, care and skilled craftsmanship. To survive the elements, sundials must be made from high-quality metals such as solid brass, bronze or marine-grade stainless steel. Armillary Spheres and Horizontal Sundials on a plinth need solid and secure fixings.

Sundials make for perfect gifts. Not just striking garden sculptures, sundials are working timepieces and modern heirlooms for future generations. We offer several sundial designs available in a variety of sizes, materials and finishes. So, you can make your sundial gift truly unique.

Yes. We design sundials for addresses worldwide, not just in the United Kingdom. Our specialists will calibrate each dial to your specific location and timezone.

Yes. Garden sundials are thoughtful anniversary gifts or retirement gifts, and a custom engraving will make the piece even more memorable. If you would like a David Harber sundial to celebrate a special occasion, email enquiries@davidharber.com and our team will be delighted to help you bring your unique gift to life.

made for a specific location. You can then choose to add extra engravings or inscriptions to memorialise someone important to you, mark an important milestone, or remember a special place.