Iron New Salem Sundial (#2560)

The flapping wings of the hourglass tell of the hurried pace of time. Inscription is Browning's "Grow old along with me, the best is yet to be." This 10” diameter cast iron sundial is made by Rome Industries using the ancient art of sand casting. To cast the dial, an impression of the sundial pattern is made into high quality sand. Molten iron is then poured into a hole in the sand that fills the mold. After cooling, the sand surrounding the sundial is removed and the finishing process begins. Cast iron has been a popular metal for garden décor since the 19th century. Developed as an affordable alternative to bronze, it was the metal that first brought garden art to the backyards of the middle class. While heavy and long lasting, the very real trade off with cast iron is that it rusts. The rust finish in garden art has a large following and is an important part of the French country and the shabby chic look.  Our cast iron dials are painted with a base coat, applied with a verdigris