Maison Boin-Taburet Inkstand with Latin Calendar Dials

This late 19th-century French desk accessory combines a perpetual calendar and an inkwell, made by the renowned Parisian silversmith firm Maison Boin-Taburet (active from 1873 to 1901 by Georges Boin and Émile Taburet).

Maker’s Marks & Attribution

The hallmarks provide classic indicators of French manufacture from that era:

• The punch marks include traditional French maker’s marks and guarantee stamps in shaped cartouches.
• The oval maker’s punch clearly shows the initials B & T (Boin-Taburet) flanking a central symbol associated with the firm (frequently incorporating their workshop insignia).

Design & Perpetual Calendar Mechanics

The piece is structured as a flat, circular rotating calendar base styled with Latin and Romance-language calendar indicators:

• The Rings: Concentric rings rotate or align to display the days of the week in Latin/French (Dies Martis, Mercredi, Jovis, etc.), months (Septemb, October, Aprilis), and numerical dates (1 through 31).
• Aesthetic: Cast in a pewter-like alloy, it marries utility with the scholarly, neoclassical aesthetic favored by late-19th-century Parisians.