A Rare English Mahogany Angle Barometer, Whitehurst Derby, Dated 1772

View Similar Items

English George III Inlaid Mahogany Barometer

English Antique George II Mahogany Stick Barometer by Polti of Exeter

English Mahogany Stick Barometer Signed T. Taylor London

English Mahogany Banjo Barometer. Circa 1830

19th Century Antique English Georg III Mahogany Barometer

English Mahogany Prince of Wales Banjo Barometer, Circa 1820

Georgian Mahogany Wheel Barometer

Antique English Mahogany Banjo Barometer, circa 1860

19th Century Antique English Mahogany Marine Barometer signed Nixon

1820s George III Mahogany Barometer

Very Rare Wind Vane Dial in the Manner of Whitehurst

18th Century English Mahogany Cased Stick Barometer by Dolland of London

1 of 1

A Rare English Mahogany Angle Barometer, Whitehurst Derby, Dated 1772

About the Item

engraved silvered scale signed and dated 'Whitehurst Derby 1772', vernier with brass adjusting no, case veneered with well figured mahogany of rich colour surmounted by a gadrooned finial and hemispherical cistern cover. John Whitehurst (1713-1788) was a very accomplished clock- and instrumentmaker. Working from about 1736 on he soon made name for himself and got into contact with many reknown scientists. Among these were Erasmus Darwin, Josiah Wedgwood, James Watt and the later American president Benjamin Franklin. Together with a number of them he founded the Lunar Society in 1775, which wanted to implement important inventions on a practical and commercial way into daily life. In 1779 he became a member of the prestigious Royal Society and the first 'Stamper of money weights' for the Royal Mint. In 1644 Evangelista Torricelli did an experiment that would lead to the invention of the barometer. The vertically placed tube of Torricelli is filled with mercury and has a scale of circa 9 cm. In normal weather conditions the variations do not even exceed 5 cm. Ever since the first quarter of the 17th century, scientists have tried to improve the barometer and especially to enhance the scale. For example there are the wheelbarometer by Hooke and the 'contra bakbarometer' by Huygens. The angle barometer was invented by Samuel Morland in 1688 and is based on the principle that the level of mercury will remain the same even if the tube will be held diagonal. Because of this principle the scale can be made larger. The current lot is one of only a dozen known dated angle barometers by John Whitehurst and enhances the scale seven times. Their value and awkward shape may have contributed to the fact that they were never made in great numbers.

Creator:
John Whitehurst (Maker)
Dimensions:
Height: 37.41 in (95 cm)
Style:
George II (Of the Period)
Materials and Techniques:
Mahogany
Place of Origin:
England
Period:
18th Century and Earlier
Date of Manufacture:
1772
Condition:
Wear consistent with age and use.
Seller Location:
Amsterdam, NL
Reference Number:
Seller: 2391stDibs: LU99451012346