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Object Overview
In the image you can see an elegant example of mid 20th century navigational craftsmanship — a cabin sympiesometer made by the renowned maker Denis Dingens between 1965 and 1985. This refined piece merges craftsmanship and materials into a unique blend of form and function.
The sympiesometer's case, crafted from rare burlwood, captivates with the intricate patterns created by nature. The wood’s texture, formed over years of environmental interaction, appears as a frozen record of unknown natural processes. Deep curves and fine lines create a pattern that mesmerizes with its natural chaos, yet it remains harmonious. Burlwood, used only in the most prestigious creations, not only adorns the case but also emphasizes the instrument's high status, as if the material itself recalls ancient maritime adventures embedded in its fibers.
Measuring 36 centimeters in height and 16 centimeters in width, the sympiesometer’s compact size allows it to be easily accommodated in the limited space of a ship’s cabin, where every centimeter is precious. Despite its modest dimensions, this instrument holds an important place among navigational devices due to its precision and engineering finesse.
n/a
thermobarometer
brass, glass, plastic, wood
The front of the sympiesometer features a glazed door with brass hinges, adding a sense of protection and completeness to the instrument, as if each time the door is opened, the captain is not merely accessing its mechanics but engaging with the essence of nature itself, trying to predict its whims.
At the heart of the instrument is a large brass dial containing several measuring devices, each precisely crafted and functionally beautiful in its own right. The alcohol thermometer on this scale, framed by delicate engraving, plays with light reflections, hinting at the constant temperature changes of the environment. However, the true star of the instrument is the siphon-like barometer tube filled with tinted oil. This tube, resembling an elegant snake, symbolizes the precision and interconnection of physical processes, where each millimeter of oil represents the movement and force of atmospheric pressure.
A small hygrometer, added for completeness, allows for tracking air humidity, adding another layer of observation detail. However, the key feature remains the scale for measuring atmospheric pressure, expressed in hectopascals, which, like a cipher, must be deciphered by the skilled hands of a navigator. This is a later variation of Adie's original barometer, where pressure readings are not taken directly from the scale but by comparing the difference between the alcohol level in the thermometer and the oil level in the barometer tube.