There's something about perpetual calendars that's at once comforting and unnerving. Maybe it's the physical representation of time continuing to move forward, in the words of David Byrne, "same as it ever was." When you look at a calendar that's been counting the days for fifty years or more, you really feel the march of time...
This pseudo-philosophical intro might not seem like the best pitch for buying vintage, but the longevity of old objects adds to their complexity. In an piece designed to mark time, we see the continuity between past and present as a plus. Good, long-lasting design has many layers.
FIRST ROW
• 1 Perpetual Calendar from Sweetshorn, $34
• 2 Perpetual Calendar from Sweetshorn, $38
• 3 Perpetual Desk Calendar from 26 Olive Street, $42
• 4 Perpetual Desk Calendar from This Old House Dress, $14
• 5 50-Year Perpetual Calendar (1980 - 2030) from Modish Vintage, $20
SECOND ROW
• 6 Gold-Toned Perpetual Calendar from Finding Fabulous, $36
• 7 Tin Perpetual Calendar from Ruby Lane, $25
• 8 Faux Bois Perpetual Desk Calendar from Vintage Avocado, $24
• 9 Wooden Perpetual Calendar from Vintage Suburbia, $16
• 10 Apple Perpetual Calendar Blocks from the Cottage Cheese, $24
MORE VINTAGE RESOURCES
• Search for "Vintage Perpetual Calendar" on Etsy
• Search for "Perpetual Calendar" at Ruby Lane
• Search for "Perpetual Calendar" at Three Potato Four
NON-VINTAGE RESOURCES
• How To: Make a Perpetual Photo Wall Calendar
• Roundup: Perpetual Calendars
© 2009 Apartment Therapy
I have a perpetual hundred-year calendar that my Dad got for me when I was born. It was during World War II and he was stationed in India, so, of course, it's of beautiful brass work. It works because it carries pieces of information that were positioned specifically for my birth year. It's a circle covered by another circle, with cutouts that display information on the underlying piece, on a stand. You rotate the outer part to align the month you're in with the year you're in, and voila! - you have an accurate calendar for each month of your life - unless you live past 100!
view mei-ling's profile
The gold tone one is great, my day had one like that in pewter.
I found these on Etsy the other day, nice desk accessory and nice holiday gift.
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=32935849
view LoriSF's profile
mei-ling- wow that is cool
view LoriSF's profile
Crazy--I just posted your lead image as one of my fave Etsy office items :)
http://augustvintage.blogspot.com/2009/10/five-plus-one-great-etsy-finds-for-your.html
view augustvintage's profile