Kensington Palace Wind Dial

A wall-mounted wind dial in a square foliate gilt wood frame over the fireplace in the King's Gallery at Kensington Palace. The dial has spandrels painted with figurative scenes depicting the continents and, in the centre, a circular map of northwest Europe; between the spandrels and map is a chapter ring with compass points and a metal pointer at the centre. The pointer is connected by means of chains and pulleys to a wind vane on the roof which is in the form of a gilt metal swallow tailed pennant.

The dial was made for William III. He could determine from the dial the way the wind was blowing, where his navy was likely to be heading and when the posts were likely to arrive. The outer frame and pediment superstructure date from William Kent's redecoration of the Gallery in 1725 for George I.