Perpetual calendar

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A perpetual calendar is a calendar which can be used, theoretically, forever. This silver example was made in Germany in the 18th century.

The calendar is composed of three leaves. This side gives the time of sunrise, time of sunset, length of day, length of night, the zodiacal sign in which the sun is to be found, and the principal Saints' Days.

All the information this pocket instrument could give would have been of interest in a more religious, agricultural society. Today, this type of information is often found in pocket diaries.

Record details

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• Online ID: 000-100-102-678-C
• Image Rights Holder: National Museums Scotland
• Project: National Museums Scotland
  Project description   View all records in project
• Ref: National Museums Scotland  T.1926.70
• Date: 18th century
  
• Material: Silver. Inscription: Zodiacal signs; principal Saints' days
  Calendar, perpetual
  
• Dimensions: 2.38" D
  
• What: Calendar, perpetual
  
• Subject: 20. TIME MEASUREMENT (Departmental Classification)
  
• Who:
• Where: Germany
  
• Event:
• Description: Silver perpetual calendar composed of three leaves, Germany, 18th century
  
• References:
  • For the calendar and its importance, see Duncan, D.E., The calendar: the 5000-year struggle to align the clock and the heavens, and what happened to the missing ten days. London: 1998 
• Translations:
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