Analemmatic dials

Municipal Library, Ronse (Belgium)

This brilliant work of art, a glass mosaic, can be found in front of the Municipal Library in Ronse. It has been designed by the multi-faceted artist Pjeroo Robjee and has been created by Gino Tondat, a specialist of this craft. The grotesque figures in the mosaic are mostly inspired by the signs of the zodiac.

I did not yet find all of them. The crab near the number VII at left is easy, the scales between X and XI, the virgin at noon, the aquarius between III and V, and the scorpion next to the VII at right. Quadrupeds (ram, bull, lion, goat?) dwell between IV and V at left, one next to the crab, and at right between VII and VIII. I can't find the archer, nor my own pair of twins, however. And that monster at the lower left, is that perhaps a fish? Contributions are welcome!

The major axis of the dial is about 7 m (23 ft). The hour points run from IV to VIII hr local time. An analemma is drawn around the date line. The names of the calendar months are written alongside. I can't quite read them, but it doesn't look like Dutch to me.
The gnomonic aspects of this artwork seem to have sunk into the background a bit. The setting of the hour points clearly is somewhat shaky. An analemma around the date line doesn't provide adequate correction for the equation of time, as every insider knows; cf. my comment on the dial at Brou.

The initiative for this dial stems from the Dr. Ovide Decroly School. They consider this object as an educational-didactical concept. It is being used extensively with most of the subjects, ranging from experiencing colors and learning to tell time by the youngsters up to Roman numerals and - of course - geography.

I am grateful to Mr. Willy Leenders for providing the drawing and additional information!

Location: 50.7° N, 3.6° E
Design: Pjeroo Robjee
Construction: Gino Tondat
Inauguration: 1984