A surprising piece that marries multiple practical functions with an elegant aesthetic, this 1950’s Dunhill Compendium comprises a clock, compass, barometer, temperature gauge, and calendar in a single revolving cube design. Loved for its many uses, the piece is an tasteful objet d’art for any office desk or coffee table.
Made by Dunhill in the 1950s, this silver compendium stands on a matching plinth and is a simple revolving cube, with a function set into each side. Over time it has a developed a lovely patina, offering it a classic, vintage look.
About the brand (H6 tag) Dunhill was initially a tobacconist’s shop in 1907, but quickly expanded to include shops in New York and Paris. In addition to their tobacco business, they also commissioned various luxury goods such as lighters, pipes, and curiosities such as this Compendium.
The compass sits on the top of the compendium, and the clock, barometer and temperature gauge all have ivory dials with black numerals and hands. Each function is rimmed with gold, giving them a subtle glow. The manually-adjusted perpetual calendar shows the months and weekdays in an ivory window in French, while the dates are engraved. The clock is on the front of the compendium and bears the signature ‘Dunhill Paris’.
| Brand: | Dunhill |
| Model: | Compendium |
| Movement: | Manual-winding |
| Function: | Manual Perpetual calendar: month, day, weekday; hours, minutes; Barometer, Compass, Temeprature (in Celsius) |
| Features: | Blue steel hands, |
| Size: | 10 x 10 x 9.3 cm (L x W x H) |
| Year: | 1950s |
This Compendium remains in good condition, for an object of its age. It shows fading and slight scratches all over the case, consistent with age and use. The perpetual calendar has slightly faded but they remain fully legible. The dials, hands and crystals are original, and retain their patina.
This Dunhill Compendium has been fully serviced. It comes with a one-year mechanical warranty from A Collected Man.
