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This copperplate engraved distance table, created by the German cartographer Matthäus Seutter in about1730, is titled Poliometria Germaniae Ac Finitimorum Quorundam Locorum Europa (Measurements of Germany and Certain Neighboring Places in Europe). The table is both a cartographic tool and a work of artistic design, combining mathematical precision with elaborate baroque decoration to serve practical, educational, and aesthetic purposes. It provides distances between major cities in Germany and other significant European locations.

The central feature of the engraving is a large triangular matrix filled with small cells containing numeric values. These numbers represent the distances, measured in German miles, between prominent cities in Germany and other parts of Europe, which are listed along the edges of the triangular grid. The distances were calculated to aid travelers, merchants, and administrators in navigating the fragmented political geography of the Holy Roman Empire and beyond. 

To the right of the table is a highly detailed allegorical scene, including a chariot drawn by two lions. The chariot is driven by a regal female figure, who represents Germany personified. In the background, pastoral and mountainous landscapes symbolize the natural and cultural richness of the region is punctuated by an active Volcano. Three cherubs measuring the distance with chains, with a compass in the foreground further reinforces the map’s theme of precision and exploration.

The cartouche below the scene, framed by a colorful baroque border, provides an explanatory note about the table’s purpose and usage. It explains that the table is designed to indicate how far various cities are from one another:

Translation: Curious City Indicator for the most prominent cities in Germany, as well as some of the most famous cities in Europe, indicating how far these cities are from each other as, for example: One wishes to know how many miles distance there is from Paris in France. One moves the index finger of the left hand straight down from the word "Paris" and the index finger of the right hand along the line next to the desired city. Where the two fingers meet, one finds the number 108, which is the number of German miles between the two cities.

Seutter, as one of the leading mapmakers of Augsburg, produced this work to appeal to a broad audience, from merchants and travelers to aristocrats and scholars. The table is not only a utilitarian tool but also a decorative object, blending function with artistry.