SOLD Featured below is a rare example of pocket of Edo Period sundial used to be attached to the sash (obi) of a Japanese man’s traditional dress. The sundial was made most likely in early 1800’s. The small compass is surrounded by a red ring with 12 Chinese characters (directions of the Earthly Branches), inside has a nice compass needle in form of an arrow covered with a glass locked in place by a bezel made of twisted wire. The dial in a form of a bowl (scaphe) is divided in five-hour lines with a vertical center gnomon. The characters between the dial and the compass represent unequal double hours 5,4,9,8,7 and 9 represents midday. The dimensions of the device are: 50mm diameter and 19mm height.
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