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189
late 19th century
conventional movement tensioned on a C-spring
brass, glass, nickel silver, steel, wood
This Rosewood-Cased Rectangular Barometer from the late 19th century, retailed by the prominent German dealer of scientific instruments Alexander Vennemann, represents a characteristic example of the applied design of its era, where the restrained form of the rosewood case emphasizes the instrument’s status as a premium object that combines scientific precision with aesthetic value. The case is made from solid rosewood of a deep brown hue and shaped as a strict rectangular casket with slightly projecting top and bottom planes, reminiscent of architectural cornices. Its concise geometry, free from carved ornamentation, gives the barometer an almost modernist appearance.
The dial of the barometer is designed in an unusual way: the main plate is square, made of brass, with German weather terms painted in black around the edges. At the center, a smaller circular dial with a barometric scale in centimeters of mercury, ranging from 68 to 79, is superimposed. The distinctive feature of this circular dial is that it can be rotated, aligning the barometric values with the textual weather indications, particularly the term “Veränderlich” (“Changeable”), which could be adjusted for local conditions—thus allowing the barometer to be used in different regions.
The dial is protected by a matching square brass bezel fitted with a thick square mineral glass, beveled at the edges. At the center of the glass, a ribbed brass knob is mounted, enabling the user to operate the trend indicator hand.
The mechanism of the barometer is based on a conventional movement tensioned on a C-spring, manufactured by the Hamburg firm Heinrich Fröbel. A four-centimeter sensitive aneroid capsule made of nickel silver transmits the motion of its walls via a lever amplification system to the pointer shaft.
In its combination of refined materials, functional ingenuity, and restrained elegance, this barometer stands as both a reliable scientific instrument and a testament to the artistry of precision craftsmanship at the end of the 19th century.
