Barometers Realm

Presented here is the Burgundy Weather Column, a tabletop meteorological column manufactured by G. Lufft Metallbarometerfabrik GmbH, Stuttgart, dated 29 April 1956. It is a complete domestic weather station combining an aneroid barometer, thermometer, hygrometer, and compass for determining wind direction within a single architectural composition. Lufft designed these weather columns not merely as decorative interior objects but as fully functional forecasting instruments: the owner could simultaneously observe atmospheric pressure, air temperature, relative humidity, and wind direction, using these combined observations to make short-term weather predictions.

The instrument is built around a tall brass column enclosed by a cylindrical glass housing and mounted upon a distinctive octagonal base. This base, in turn, rests on a circular lacquered wooden plinth supported by three turned feet, emphasizing its tabletop character while lending the entire composition an architectural presence. The central cylinder is made of mineral glass and contains the pointer thermometer in its upper section and the hygrometer below, allowing both instruments to be viewed from every direction. The upper cap incorporates a small magnetic compass, while the lower portion of the housing contains the barometric mechanism beneath a broad mineral-glass viewing window for reading the pressure scale.

The finish is particularly striking. The entire body is coated in a translucent burgundy lacquer applied over a gold-toned brass ground. This multilayer finish creates remarkable depth of colour with subtle tonal transitions, giving the surface the appearance of fine jewelled enamel. Depending on the thickness of the lacquer and the angle of the light, the colour shifts from warm ruby-red highlights to deep wine-red and almost brownish tones along the edges and recessed surfaces. Areas of wear reveal the underlying golden metallic layer, vividly demonstrating the multilayer construction while contributing an attractive historical patina.

The barometer dial takes the form of a sculptural semi-annular conical screen fabricated from thin stamped sheet metal. Rather than forming a complete circle, it consists of a broad truncated sector of a cone inclined toward the observer while leaving the rear of the mechanism open for the aneroid capsule and lever transmission. This unusual construction allows the scale to emerge organically from the base of the column, creating a wide panoramic reading surface. The satin-gold background, imitating finely finished matte brass, is applied to the prepared metal substrate and protected by a clear lacquer. Graduations, numerals, and inscriptions were produced by serial printing, most probably by silk-screen printing, with a separate pale scale track contrasted against sharply printed black lettering.

The barometric scale is calibrated in millimetres of mercury, covering a range from 740 to 780 mmHg. Instead of conventional descriptive weather terms, the scale employs the German inscriptions TIEF and HOCH, indicating low and high pressure together with the general weather tendency. A substantial knurled brass setting ring fitted with a fine marker pointer enables the user to record the previous pressure reading and easily observe whether atmospheric pressure has risen or fallen.

At the heart of the barometer is a nickel-silver aneroid capsule tensioned by a C-shaped steel spring finished in gold paint. Motion from the pressure-sensitive capsule is transmitted to the pointer spindle through a miniature fusee chain, allowing the minute displacement of the capsule to be transformed into a precise and easily readable movement of the pointer. The mechanism is compact, elegantly engineered, and entirely characteristic of Lufft’s refined post-war instrument construction.

Of particular historical interest is the engraved trademark found on the brass bridge: the famous emblem of the French instrument maker Léon Maxant, depicting an anchor enclosed by the initials L M. Léon Maxant was a well-known manufacturer of scientific and meteorological instruments, including barometers. The presence of this mark on a Lufft weather column is especially significant, as it may point to industrial cooperation, export adaptation, or licensed manufacture. Lufft had been active on the French market since 1925, when it acquired the French firm E. Hue to strengthen its presence in France. Following the Second World War, many German manufacturers preferred to distribute their products through local partners, and it is entirely possible that Maxant served in such a capacity. Equally plausible is that Maxant manufactured either the movement or the complete instrument under licence or from Lufft technical documentation.

Mounted in the upper section of the glass cylinder is a pointer thermometer calibrated in degrees Celsius, reflecting the instrument’s intended Continental European market. The lower section houses a pointer hygrometer calibrated in percent relative humidity, supplemented by the descriptive zones TROCKEN, NORMAL, and FEUCHT, allowing the user to assess dry, normal, or humid atmospheric conditions at a glance. The compass incorporated into the upper cap is fitted with a magnetised needle pivoting on a ruby jewel bearing, ensuring exceptionally smooth, low-friction movement and accurate directional indication.

The Burgundy Weather Column represents an outstanding example of post-war German instrument design, successfully combining technical sophistication with striking decorative craftsmanship and carefully considered architectural form. The octagonal base, transparent central column, panoramic barometer dial, and richly coloured translucent burgundy lacquer over its golden metallic ground together create an instrument of remarkable visual presence. At the same time, the engraved Léon Maxant trademark provides an intriguing insight into the international manufacturing and commercial relationships that characterised the European precision instrument industry during the mid-twentieth century, making this weather column not only an elegant domestic meteorological station but also a historically significant collector’s piece.