Portable equatorial sundial 1767 - 1795

Editor: So, this is a portable equatorial sundial, dating from 1767 to 1795, crafted by Lorenz Gräsl. It's a striking geometric sculpture made of metal, residing at the Met. The detail is amazing! What do you see in this piece, beyond its obvious function? Curator: I see it as a manifestation of Enlightenment ideals – reason, observation, and a desire to quantify and understand the world. It reflects a period obsessed with categorization, mirroring contemporaneous efforts in classifying race and defining societal hierarchies. Editor: Classifying race? That's not something I would have associated with this object. Curator: Exactly! We must critically examine how scientific advancements like precise timekeeping intertwined with the social and political agendas of the time. Who benefited from this new found precision, and whose labor allowed for such refined instruments to exist? It's more than just telling time, isn't it? Editor: Absolutely! So it becomes less about scientific achievement in isolation and more about how these objects played a role in reinforcing existing power structures? Curator: Precisely. Consider its "portability." Who could afford such a luxury? Whose worldview was being centered by the design? By asking these questions, we unlock the sundial’s potential as a commentary on privilege and access during the late 18th century. Editor: That completely shifts my perspective. It’s fascinating to consider the hidden narratives embedded in seemingly straightforward scientific tools. Curator: Indeed. Recognizing the connection between science, art, and social power is key. What started as geometric and interesting takes on a totally new direction. Editor: It certainly does! Thanks for broadening my view. I’ll never look at a sundial the same way again.