Perpetual Calendar clock on a jade stand, Zlatoust

The product is a rare example of functional art — the table clock "Perpetual Calendar", executed by the masters of Zlatoust in the technique of artistic metal. The base is a monumental brass composition with a dense gold coating, immersed in a complex floral ornament, scratched and engraved by hand. In the center is a miniature clock block with a white dial, neatly inscribed in a system of rotating rings responsible for displaying the day of the week, date and month. The base is carved from a solid array of deep green jade, a stone traditionally associated with prosperity and longevity, raised above a gilded pedestal by a pair of massive columns.

Each design element works as part of a single mechanism that allows the owner to set the date manually by moving thin pointers inlaid with colored inserts. The front side shows a calendar scale in a rich decorative frame, and the reverse surface forms a zodiac circle — honed, graphically clean and decorated with the same jewelry engraving. The metal looks as if it is illuminated from the inside: the density of the pattern, microreliefs and the sensual play of highlights create the impression of a museum piece made using the technique of ancient Russian workshops.

The object is addressed to collectors, whose aesthetic is close to the combination of symbols of time, stone and precious metals. It is appropriate in the office of the head, in the interior of the house, where every detail is chosen not by necessity, but by the strength of the impression. The "perpetual calendar" in a jade frame is both an accurate device, a unique art object and a sign of high status, capable of emphasizing the taste of the owner more subtly than any gesture.