Sundial

Artist/Maker
Chandlee, Goldsmith
Place Made
Winchester Virginia United States of America
Date Made
1775-1821
Medium
pewter
Dimensions
WOA: 5-3/16″
Accession Number
4144
Description
DESCRIPTION: Sundial decorated with roman numerals and inscriptions. Screw holes at all four corners. According to conservator Meg Craft’s 1994 report, the metal used for the sundial is heavily leaded and may actually be “pot metal” which is a combination of many different metals.

INSCRIPTION: Engraved “CHANDLEE WINCHESTER” on face.

MAKER: Goldsmith Chandlee (1751-1821) was born in Nottingham, Maryland, a border town which at the time of his birth was in Pennsylvania but was resurveyed and assigned to Maryland in 1768. The Chandlee family were prominent Quaker clock and scientific instrument makers including Goldsmith’s father, Benjamin Chandlee Jr. (1723-1791) and brothers Ellis (1755-1816) and Isaac (1760-1813). Goldsmith Chandlee’s son, Benjamin Chandlee III (1780-1822) also became a clock and scientific instrument maker. Goldsmith Chandlee was recorded as a silversmith in Winchester by 1779 when he took two apprentices. In 1801 and 1808 he took two more apprentices to learn watch and clockmaking. Chandlee apparently did not advertise except on his watchpapers and actual work, which indicates that he was a successful artisan. His work was exported as far as Baltimore, for in 1807 Abraham Patton and Samuel Jones announced in that city that they had just recieved “Surveyors’ compasses AND CHAINS, Complete, made by Goldsmith Chandlee, Winchester Virginia, warranted equal in quality to any ever offered for sale in Baltimore, at the Manufacturer’s prices.”

Artist Biography
Goldsmith Chandlee (1751-1821) was born in Nottingham, Maryland (at the time of his birth, the location of Nottingham was in Pennsylvania; the town did not become part of Maryland until 1768.) The Chandlee family were Quakers and included a number of clock and scientific instrument makers including Goldsmith’s father Benjamin Chandlee Jr. (1723-1791) and brothers Ellis (1755-1816) and Isaac (1760-1813). Goldsmith Chandlee’s son, Benjamin Chandlee III (1780-1822) also became a clock and scientific instrument maker. Goldsmith Chandlee was recorded as a silversmith in Winchester by 1779 when he took two apprentices. In 1801 and 1808 he took two more apprentices to learn watch and clockmaking. Chandlee apparently did not advertise, for none of the surviving newspapers carry any notices bearing his name. The fact that he did not advertise, except on watchpapers and his actual work, indicates that he was a successful artisan. His work was exported as far as Baltimore, for in 1807 Abraham Patton and Samuel Jones announced that they had just recieved “Surveyors’ compasses AND CHAINS, Complete, made by Goldsmith Chandlee, Winchester Virginia, warranted equal in quality to any ever offered for sale in Baltimore, at the Manufacturer’s prices.”
Artist Working Dates
1771-1821
Credit Line
MESDA Purchase Fund