perpetual calendar medal;
volvelle;
instrument-case
- Museum number
- 1888,1201.332
- Description
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Silver multi-component perpetual calendar medal consisting of three discs of virtually equal sizes, secured in the centre by a screw; cutaways on outer, revolving discs reveal data on inner disc; all incised. With contemporary leather case.
Revolving outer disc, with cutaway along edge, edged with seven little points, partially revealing data fields on lower obverse; inscription along rest of edge; rectangular table of days of week with planetary symbols along its left border, to left of cutaway; circular landscape image of rolling hills with central tree and buildings left and right in other half of disc, at right angles to table; foliate decoration on shaded background in remaining spaces.
Inner disc with circular table of 31 fields along edge, numbered '1' to '31', viewed seven at a time through cutaway on upper obverse.
Revolving outer disc with five concentric circles of brief inscriptions, interrupted by two opposed cutaways revealing sections of corresponding data on lower reverse; large foliate scroll on shaded background fills half of three outer circles; flower in centre.
Inner disc reverse with five concentric circles of inscriptions giving feastdays, months, zodiac symbols, lengths of day and night, and times of sunrise and sunset, each divided into 12 segments; viewed seven fields at a time: five on one side and two on the other, through cutaways on upper reverse and in conjunction with categories incised on either sides of those cutaways.
Contemporary circular case of black leather over wooden core; red suede lining; handwritten '162' on inside of lid. White label on underside with handwritten '194'.
- Production date
- 17thC(late) (?)
- Dimensions
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Diameter: 62 millimetres
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Weight: 54.06 grammes
- $Inscriptions
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- Curator's comments
- The piece is unsigned and undated, but the style of the engraving and the execution of the scrolls and floral work suggest a production date in the late seventeenth century. Sagittarius is depicted [on the lower reverse] with a fishtail, which is normally given only to Capricorn, who is here depicted as a goat. For the feast days, see part 1 [Ackermann 2004], pp. 9, 11. For the times of sunrise and sunset and day lengths and night lengths, see part 1 [Ackermann 2004], p. 13.
[Ackermann 2005, p.11]
- Location
- Not on display
- Condition
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Latest: 2 (Mar 2017)
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3 (Feb 1996)
- Acquisition date
- 1888
- Department
- Britain, Europe and Prehistory
- Registration number
- 1888,1201.332