The Sundial, Sculptural sundial in Frogner Park, Oslo, Norway

The Sundial is a metal armillary sphere on a light gray granite pedestal in the Vigeland installation in Frogner Park, Oslo. Its green-brown frame holds a gold-colored band with engraved numbers, a central vertical pointer and a small toothed wheel, while the faceted base shows circular carvings of a fish, a lion and human figures.

Gustav Vigeland created this piece around 1930 as part of the large sculptural program that fills the park with a single artist's work. In 2003 someone damaged it, and after that the municipality had to assess repairs and later increased surveillance in the area.

The carved fish, lion and human figures on the base follow the language of the nearby stone people and animals that populate this part of the park. Visitors often pause here to turn around the pedestal and match the small reliefs with the larger bronze figures farther down the lawns.

You can find this clock on a grassy stretch between two taller stone works, with a pinkish path curving nearby and trees providing shade on warm days. The terrain around the pedestal is flat and open, so it is easy to walk up and view the reliefs from all sides.

This is one of only two sundials in Frogner Park, the other sitting in front of Frogner Manor and connected to Benjamin Wegner. Many visitors walk straight past without noticing that the metal band is not just decoration but an instrument meant to show the hour.