Museo Galileo
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Watch
    • Setting:
      Room XVIII
    • Maker:
      unknown
    • Place:
      France
    • Date:
      ca. 1795-1800
    • Materials:
      gilt brass, enamel
    • Dimensions:
      diameter 58 mm
    • Inventory:
      3856
    • Watch (Inv. 3856)

French watch. The case is smooth and the enamel dial has four separate small dials for duodecimal hours (bottom), decimal hours (top), 31-day date (left), and 30-day date of revolutionary month (right). The dial rim displays the days of the French revolutionary calendar (primidi - duodi - tridi - quartidi - quintidi - sextidi - septidi - octidi - nonodi - décadi) indicated by the long hand. Some revolutionary symbols are depicted in the space between the dials: square and compass, clasped hands, skull, and cap. The movement has a fusee and verge escapement. The decimal hour and Republican calendar were introduced on October 5, 1793, and were abolished on January 1, 1806.