A GEORGE III STICK BAROMETER

Details

JAMES AYSCOUGH, LONDON, CIRCA 1760
A GEORGE III STICK BAROMETER
The case with circular glazed dial and hemispherical cistern cover, the silvered plates, '3-27', the dial signed 'Ayscough / London', manually adjusted pointer with vernier, the scale with engraved borders, portable cistern with brass screw
Mahogany and brass
33 1⁄2 in. (85.1 cm.) high; 4 3⁄4 in. (12 cm.) wide; 3 in. (7.6 cm.) deep

Provenance

Acquired from John Carlton-Smith, London, November 1996.

Special notice

This lot will be removed to Christie’s Park Royal. Christie’s will inform you if the lot has been sent offsite. Our removal and storage of the lot is subject to the terms and conditions of storage which can be found at Christies.com/storage and our fees for storage are set out in the table below - these will apply whether the lot remains with Christie’s or is removed elsewhere. Please call Christie’s Client Service 24 hours in advance to book a collection time at Christie’s Park Royal. All collections from Christie’s Park Royal will be by pre-booked appointment only. Tel: +44 (0)20 7839 9060 Email: cscollectionsuk@christies.com. If the lot remains at Christie’s it will be available for collection on any working day 9.00 am to 5.00 pm. Lots are not available for collection at weekends.

Conditions of sale

Brought to you by

Amelia Walker Director, Specialist Head of Private & Iconic Collections

awalker@christies.com +44 20 7389 2085

Lot Essay

Sir Nicholas Goodison noted: The extended scale suggests that this barometer was conceived as a mountain barometer. Ayscough was an optician and probably did no more then sell barometers. He became a member of the Spectaclemaker's Company in 1740. A trade card in the Heal Collection (British Museum, Heal 105.4) lists barometers and thermometers among his stock at the Great Golden Spectacle. Another trade card, in the Science Museum (inv. no. 1934-101) , advertises 'barometers, diagonal, standard, or portable' (N. Goodison, English Barometers, Woodbridge, 1977, p. 131).

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