German silver gilt perpetual calendar snuff box, circa 1700

This early 18th-century German snuff box is of cylindrical form, featuring a pull-off lid and ribbed sides, crafted from silver gilt. The lid serves as a complex perpetual calendar, equipped with a rotating disc and an outer calendarium perpetuum ring.

The ring is engraved with the days of the week and month, while the rotating disc features twelve readout windows. These provide a wealth of information, including the month of the year with its associated number of days, tables of important saints' and feast days, the sun’s zodiacal position, the length of day and night, and the precise times for sunrise and sunset. The piece is extensively engraved with zodiacal symbols and Latin inscriptions throughout.

The outer rating ring is decorated with flat chased foliate scrolls set against a textured ground. This sophisticated mechanical accessory measures 15.8 cm in diameter and weighs 75 grams. It stands as a refined example of early horological-inspired metalwork, reflecting the intricate craftsmanship prevalent in German silver production of the period.