Accession No

1767

Brief Description

perpetual calendar and pendant, by Gertrud Pöpping, German, 18th Century

Origin

Germany

Maker

Pöpping, Gertrud

Class

horology

Earliest Date

1700

Latest Date

1800

Inscription Date

Material

metal (silver, brass)

Dimensions

length 44mm; breadth 42mm; thickness 9mm

Special Collection

Holden-White collection

Provenance

On loan from The Fitzwilliam Museum, University of Cambridge. Donated by Charles Holden-White to the Fitzwilliam Museum. C. Holden-White collection. 1935.121.

Inscription

‘GERDRUD PÖPPING’ (side)
‘Calendarium Perbetuum’ (calendar disc)

Description Notes

Silver. In form of a trilobate pendant with attachment point on one side and three dishes folding into the case. Cusp points decoratively engraved.
Obverse has silvered brass calendar disc with days of the week marked by German name and symbol. Rotatable disc cut away to reveal date scale divided 1 - 31, numbered by 1.
Reverse has circular table giving times of sunrise and length of day. Outer circle marked by zodiac symbol. Next circle gives months with the number of days in each. Next circle is for length of day and is numbered 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 14, 15, 15, 15, 14, 12, 11, 10, 9. Inner circle gives times of sunrise and is numbered 8, 7 1/2, 7, 6, 5, 4 1/2, 4, 4 1/2, 5, 6, 7, 7 1/2.

Condition good; complete.

References

Events