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Kirby Beard & Co. Desktop Compendium, French dials

Name: Desktop Compendium | French dials
Brand: Kirby Beard & Co.
SKU: C_K250
Price: 2000.00 GBP
Availability: OutOfStock

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Price excludes 20% VAT for UK buyers. Learn more

Watchdrawer

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A practical piece that manages to remain stylish, this Kirby, Beard & Co Compendium is an excellent addition to any desk, coffee table, or mantelpiece. Dating back to the 1950s, it represents the elegance and timeless charm of mid-century design, as well as the spirit of that period.

Worth Reading

A remarkably attractive piece, this revolving compendium consists of five faces, with a function set into each visible side. A compass sits on the topmost face, with a clock, barometer, thermometer, and hygrometer on the four sides. The body of the cube is made of gilt metal, which has aged over the years and developed a lovely bronze sheen.

The dial is signed 'Kirby Beard & Co., Paris', a British house founded in 1743 which specialised in luxury goods - their shop was once located on 5, Rue Auber in Paris. Each of the dials remains astonishingly legible and are distinctly laid out. The entire cube sits on a stepped plinth, which gives the piece further character and style.

Specifications

Brand:	Kirby, Beard & Co., Paris
Model:	Compendium
Movement:	manual-winding
Function:	hours, minutes, compass, barometer, temperature (in Celsius), hygrometer
Features:	blued steel hands, revolving base
Size:	13.2 x 13.2 x 9.3 cm (L x W x H)

Condition

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 dials have slightly faded but all remain easily legible. The dials, hands and crystals are original, and retain their patina.

Warranty

This Kirby Beard & Co. Compendium has been fully serviced. It comes with a one-year mechanical warranty from A Collected Man.

We do not offer a warranty on our leather goods. This does not impact your statutory rights and your right to return a strap or accessory to us, if you are dissatisfied with your purchase.

Though every effort has been made to accommodate a wide range of watches, some our of straps of accessories may not be suitable for your timepiece. For example, not all spring bars will fit securely to all watch cases. We expressly exclude any liability, on our part, in the event of damage to your watch, should it become detached from its strap during wear.

Please be aware that any attempt to change a strap could result in unintended damage to your watch case or buckle. We cannot be held responsible for any attempt to fit a strap which is incorrectly sized for your timepiece.

Watch straps should be checked regularly to ensure they remain fully intact, particularly with quick-release spring bars, where the material is thinner on one side. Similarly, watch cases should be checked to ensure their inner holders and fasteners are free of defects and deterioration, outside of general wear and tear.

All of our leather goods are handmade products, where no two are identical. As a result, small cosmetic and size differences can be expected.

We offer worldwide delivery on our straps and accessories. If ordering from overseas, delivery will depend on the destination. All import taxes and duties are the responsibility of the buyer.

If ordering from the UK before 1 PM, your strap will be sent the same working day. For Royal Mail deliveries within the UK the expected delivery time is 1 - 3 days, and for international DHL deliveries the expected delivery time is 1 - 2 days.

You can cancel your order without giving any reason, within 14 days from the day the strap has been delivered to you.

VAT

The amount shown on our website does not include local tax rates. If this item is delivered to, or picked up from, a UK address, the standard rate of 20% VAT will be added at checkout. Otherwise, you will be responsible for paying local sales taxes and import fees.

Product price breakdown

Display Price

£2,000

20% VAT

£400

Total

£2,400

The original Compendium was designed by the visionary Paul Dupré-Lafon for Hermes. His background as an architect and a decorator can clearly be seen in the combination of Cubist philosophies and Art Deco geometric lines of the piece. The critic and designer Michel Dufet once claimed that Dupré-Lafon “understood the profound essence of luxury”, a statement which the compendium embodies with its multiple functions, aesthetic elegance, and functional details.

Read more about the designer here.