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M041 · Mercury
early 19th century
Object Overview
A unique early 19th century barometer, combining two entirely different instruments within a single banjo-shaped case — the wheel barometer and the cistern-bulb barometer. This masterpiece, crafted by the Belgian artisan P. Barella from Louvain in the early 19th century, represents a remarkable blend of refined craftsmanship and engineering excellence, all housed in a solid mahogany case. The wood forms an original pattern of annual rings, giving the instrument a natural, unique texture that emphasizes its longevity and organic connection to nature.
Inside the case are two separate glass tubes containing mercury. The first is a siphon tube for the wheel barometer, which precisely reflects changes in atmospheric pressure on a round dial, making the process of measurement visually straightforward and easy to understand. The second is the bottle barometer tube, also known as the control tube, which shows the mercury column’s height changes along a register plate. This complex dual-instrument design within a single device makes it particularly valuable and rare, as such combinations are exceptionally uncommon.
The register plate for the bottle barometer’s readings is made of paper and features a scale in Paris inches, with the top mark reaching 29 inches of mercury, equivalent to almost 31 London inches. The weather indicators on the scale are in French, underscoring its regional origin and connection to the cultural context of its time.
n/a
sifon
glass, iron, paper, wood
The dial of the wheel barometer, also made of paper, impresses with its scale and dual-language display — readings are shown in both French and Flemish (a Dutch dialect). This bilingual approach was rare and highlights the uniqueness of the barometer, intended for a multilingual region. The dial is protected by flat glass set in a wide wooden bezel, sharply contrasting with the more common brass bezels of the time. The wooden bezel adds a sense of weight and completeness to the barometer, making it not only functional but also an aesthetically significant object.
Despite its imposing case, which securely protects the two mercury tubes, the barometer is crafted with remarkable finesse, which the artisan achieved through careful attention to detail. Features like the original annual ring pattern on the mahogany veneer, the strict, straight pediment, and the neatly integrated wooden bezel highlight the maker’s skill, transforming a functional instrument into a refined and harmonious device. It seems as if the barometer playfully challenges the notion that something so large cannot be elegant. Bulkiness doesn’t have to mean a lack of style. For all its size and technical complexity, this barometer retains the elegance characteristic of the finest examples of engineering artistry from its era.