Jean Pierre Vitrac Perpetual Calendar “Imbroglio” , France 1960s 1970s

• item. wall calendar
• designer. Jean-Pierre Vitrac
• maker. In-Line
• model. Imbroglio
• period. 1970s
• country. France
• material. painted metal front with applied graphic, plack painted wooden frame, plastic magnetic day marker, plywood / pressed board back
• dimensions (cm). 50 x 50 x 2.
• conditions. very good vintage condition, with minor signs of age on the structure and frame, consistent with its period.
• art. #1904

This Jean-Pierre Vitrac perpetual calendar, known as “Imbroglio”, was designed and produced in France between the late 1960s and early 1970s – a striking example of European abstract and conceptual graphic design of the period.

The painted metal front features a bold black-and-white graphic composition, reflecting the experimental visual language developed in Europe during those years. The plastic magnetic day marker allows the current date to be highlighted, turning a functional object into a dynamic visual system.

The front bears the inscription “Wettig gedeponeerd / IN-LINE®”, written in Dutch/Flemish and indicating a legally registered model. IN-LINE® is generally understood as referring to a registered name or distributor associated with the graphic system, rather than to the designer himself.

The calendar is framed in black-painted wood and finished with a plywood / pressed board back. Both essential and experimental in character, Imbroglio stands today as an iconic and increasingly rare design object, fully representative of the radical graphic research of the late 1960s.

The Jean-Pierre Vitrac calendar features a white perforated metal front with stylized numerals from 1 to 31, allowing a magnetic black disc to mark the current day — a simple yet powerful visual gesture. The back is made of black plastic and clearly marked “Piranha – design Vitrac S.A. – Made in France”.

This Jean-Pierre Vitrac perpetual Calendar is a standout example of mid-century modernism in motion, blending modular graphic systems with everyday use. It adds a sophisticated, intellectual layer to any interior — be it studio, office, or contemporary home.

Perfect for lovers of typographic design, French modernism, and 1970s visual culture.

A previously sold example of this Jean-Pierre Vitrac Imbroglio perpetual calendar is documented in our archive and can be viewed here.