Lot 229

Isaac Kiening, Isny, 440 x 290 mm, circa 1580
An annual calendar of historical interest, so called pin calendar, made of Solnhofen stone, former property of the Bassermann-Jordan family
The etched relief shows the names of the months with elaborately worked capitals, the days of the months and the traditional names, all framed by fine foliate scrolls: Januarius - Jenner has 31 days / Februarius - Hornung 28 / Martius - Mertz 31 / Aprilius - Aprill 30 / Maius - May 31 / Junius - Brachmon 30 / Julius - Heumon 31 / Augustus - augstumon 31 / September - Herbstmon 30 / October - Weinmon 31 / November - Windtermon 30 / December - Christmon 30, with the additional information: "In ein idem schalt jar hat der Februarius 29 tag" (in a leap year, February has 29 days). At the lower end sits the initial "IK" and the date 1580. Black wooden frame with gold-coloured accents.
Isaac Kiening in Isny is known as a painter and a stone etcher in the second half of the 16th century, who specialised in working with the so-called Solnhofen or Kehlheim limestone. The limestone was used by the Romans for their floors but also for sculptures and roofs. During the 16th and 17th century the material was very popular among artists who created small relief pieces from it. Kiening produced a number of other pieces such as a table top dating from 1569 which resides in the magnificent Heiligenberg castle, and several prayer tablets in Ravensburg and Wangen.