Silver Perpetual Calendar Notebook. Germany, Early 18th Century.

A Silver Perpetual Calendar Notebook.

Germany, Early 18th Century.

Measures 8.7 × 5.3 cm.

This finely crafted notebook features silver outer covers intricately engraved with fruit and foliage motifs emerging from lion’s heads. One cover bears the inscription “CALENDARIUM PERPETUUM,” while the other is engraved with “MONAT DES JAHRS” (Month of the Year).

Inside, the notebook contains five wooden leaves, one of which has been restored. One silver cover is fitted with a volvelle and apertures displaying the length of day and night, sunrise, and sunset. The reverse side features a perpetual calendar, including the days of the week and a lunar volvelle with an aperture indicating the moon phase.

Provenance:

Christies, 29th September 1994, lot 107

The Victoria and Albert Museum, London holds two similar examples in its collection, accession number; M.137-1923 and 800-1891.

https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O91850/calendar-notebook-unknown/

https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O325460/perpetual-calendar-and/