Unusual and rare to find a surviving vertical declining sundial of this vintage; it is the oldest we are aware of. It was initially incorporated into the Redwood Cottage at Bar Harbor, Maine (built 1879), designed by famed American architect William Ralph Emerson (1833 - 1917). Redwood Cottage survives to this day as the earliest shingle-style cottage built in North America, its significance earning it a position on the National Register of Historic Places since 1978. This original wooden sundial can be seen in the original architectural drawings of William Ralph Emerson, themselves salvaged from a 20th century renovation at Redwood and subsequently rediscovered in a local barn at Mount Desert Island. The sundial was integrated within the seaward gable, lording above the front lawn with the same function and nearly the same form as a clock tower: the position of Redwood Cottage at the end of Barberry Lane allowed it to serve as a timepiece to vessels entering Bar Harbor. Condition: It remains in its original as-removed condition, with any accumulated wear the natural consequence of its exceptional age, prominent position and important function. The mostly denuded paint on the numerals further reinforces the simultaneously stoic and impressive character of the sundial; it remains a beautifully fortunate, exquisitely rare and historic survivor. Also included with the sundial are papers of provenance: An illustration of the cottage by William Ralph Emerson published in American Architect and Building News , Mar. 22, 1879, No. 169, with added marker highlighting the placement of the sundial; a close-up photograph of the current sundial on the cottage; and a typed letter detailing the historical context of the cottage and sundial. This is not a standard shippable item and will require 3rd party shipping or pickup arrangements to be made. Condition: (Very Good). Dimensions: 39 - 3/4" x 3" x 33 - 3/4".