Ivory Barometer
A portable barometer, ivory and brass, Daniel Quare (1649-1724), London, c.1700.
Ivory Barometer
Height: 95cm NT1984.047
The origins of mercury barometers can be traced back to 1643 when experiments by Evangelista Torricelli, a pupil of Galileo, revealed that the level of a column of mercury would rise or fall subject to variations in climatic conditions.
This type of barometer was introduced in Britain in around 1660, but the earliest examples to survive date from about 1680. They were designed to be hung on a wall, by means of a bracket placed at the back of the instrument, as in this case, or to stand on a table using legs which splay out at the bottom.
The brass base with bracket feet on our barometer is unusual and may in fact be a later addition, fitted when the original cistern was replaced with the present leather-based one.
The development of ‘portable’ barometers in England is attributed to Daniel Quare, who, in 1695, was granted a royal patent for the design of a new type of portable barometer. This instrument had an enclosed end on the tube, which could be overturned without spilling the mercury inside and satisfactorily replaced the ‘open cistern’ found in earlier examples.
Some credit for the development of the portable barometer may also be given to Thomas Tompion, the leading clockmaker of the age.
The origins of mercury barometers can be traced back to 1643 when experiments by Evangelista Torricelli, a pupil of Galileo, revealed that the level of a column of mercury would rise or fall subject to variations in climatic conditions.
This type of barometer was introduced in Britain in around 1660, but the earliest examples to survive date from about 1680. They were designed to be hung on a wall, by means of a bracket placed at the back of the instrument, as in this case, or to stand on a table using legs which splay out at the bottom.
The brass base with bracket feet on our barometer is unusual and may in fact be a later addition, fitted when the original cistern was replaced with the present leather-based one.
The development of ‘portable’ barometers in England is attributed to Daniel Quare, who, in 1695, was granted a royal patent for the design of a new type of portable barometer. This instrument had an enclosed end on the tube, which could be overturned without spilling the mercury inside and satisfactorily replaced the ‘open cistern’ found in earlier examples.
Some credit for the development of the portable barometer may also be given to Thomas Tompion, the leading clockmaker of the age.
This object is located in the Hallway
It is categorised as Clock or Barometer
This page was last updated on 10 May 2007