MoMA Gideon Dagan Perpetual Calendar, C. 1998

Details

Description

Original Museum of Modern Art Design Store Collection
A striking example of functional art from one of the world's most … Read more Original Museum of Modern Art Design Store Collection
A striking example of functional art from one of the world's most prestigious museum design collections. This perpetual calendar represents the intersection of innovative industrial design and sustainable thinking—a piece designed to be used year after year, eliminating the waste of traditional calendars.
About the Designer
Gideon Dagan has developed numerous consumer and commercial products including hand-held computers and electronic instruments, with his innovative designs exhibited in museums around the world. Based in Los Angeles, Dagan's work exemplifies the modernist principle that good design merges form and function seamlessly. His perpetual calendar, originally created for MoMA in 1998, became such an iconic piece that a smaller commemorative edition was released in 2008 to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the original design.
The Design
This unique calendar features a string-tethered Maglev (magnetic levitation) ball that is suspended in mid-air and manually moved to mark each month, while a second ball on the horizontal beam indicates the day. The ingenious magnetic system creates a floating visual effect that is both functional and mesmerizing. The calendar can be wall-mounted or placed on a desktop using its included stand.
Available in sophisticated colorways including Black/Red, Silver/Black, and Black/Silver, the calendar features clean lines and a minimalist aesthetic that has remained timeless since its debut.
MoMA's Legacy of Design Excellence
The Museum of Modern Art maintains a design store offering objects related to modern and contemporary art and design, as part of its mission to help visitors understand and enjoy the visual arts. MoMA's Department of Architecture and Design was founded in 1932 as the first museum department in the world dedicated to the intersection of architecture and design.
Since its founding in 1929, MoMA has been committed to championing design that is both beautiful and functional, accessible yet thoughtful. The museum's design collection represents the best examples of 20th and 21st-century design innovation, and products selected for the MoMA Design Store undergo rigorous curatorial review to ensure they meet the museum's exacting standards for quality, aesthetics, and cultural significance.
Sustainability Meets Style
This calendar was designed to be used year after year, making it an eco-conscious product constructed of injection-molded ABS recyclable polymer and magnets. Long before sustainability became a design buzzword, Dagan was creating products that challenged the disposable culture of calendars, offering instead a permanent, beautiful solution.
Specifications
Dimensions (Large Version):

Height: 9 inches (from base to top)
Width: 13 inches (horizontal span)
Depth: 2 inches

Materials:

Injection-molded ABS recyclable polymer
Magnetic components
String tether system

Functionality:

Wall-mountable or desktop display
Adjustable magnetic date markers
Perpetual use (no year limitations)

Condition: Vintage, circa 1998. Original MoMA Design Store piece with authentic maker's stamp.
Why This Piece Matters
This isn't just a calendar—it's a piece of design history from one of the most influential cultural institutions in the world. It represents MoMA's ongoing commitment to elevating everyday objects through thoughtful design, making it a must-have for collectors of modern design, MoMA enthusiasts, or anyone who appreciates the marriage of art and utility.
Perfect for the design-conscious home, creative workspace, or as a statement piece in any modern interior. A conversation starter that continues to function beautifully decades after its creation.

Originally designed for The Museum of Modern Art, New York, 1998. Part of the permanent MoMA Design Collection. See less