A DIP-PEN WITH CLOCK
Western Europe
XIX Century
Gold, silver, glass, enamel, metal (mechanism), carving
Length: 12,1 cm
Receipt: from the Russian Museum, Leningrad, 1932
Showcase 8
The dip-pen is made of gold with a retractable golden nib. The entire surface is covered with carved ornament rimmed by a thin band of black enamel - rows of arches in Gothic style. The top of the dip-pen is made in shape of a quadrangular tower, on the three sides of which is curved a floral ornament in sharp rimmed in black enamel oval stamps. On the fourth side is a clock face and indicators of months and days of the week.
Besides its direct purpose as a time meter, the watch has served and still serves as an indicator the social status of its owner. Surely a golden pen, with a clock and a calendar built into it, could have belonged only to a very wealthy and important person or could have been an expensive gift.
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