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Lot Essay
A Russell barometer of closely related design sold, property from a distinguished New York collection, Christie's New York, 17 October 2008 ($38,400 including buyer's premium).
Russell apparently produced only two types of barometer: a distinctive stick barometer, with brass-capped Corinthian column to protect the tube (see Christie's London, 8 July 1999, lot 76) and his 'royal' wheel barometers, such as the present example. He gave two of these to George III and the Prince Regent, later George IV. They are still hanging in Buckingham Palace (see N. Goodison, English Barometers and Their Makers 1680-1860, Woodbridge, 1977, pp. 233-235, Plates 160-162 and also C. Jagger, Royal Clocks, The British Monarchy and its Timekeepers, London, 1983, p. 217, plate 285. A similar wheel barometer by Russell is illustrated, N. Goodison and R. Kern, Hotspur, Eighty Years of Antique Dealing, London, 2004, no. 10, pp. 255, 256.
John Russell (circa 1745-1817) opened a shop in Kirk Wynd, Falkirk in 1770. He was one of the most famous watch and clockmakers of his day. Such was the quality of his work that he was appointed Watchmaker to the Prince of Wales, (later George IV), the title changing to 'Watchmaker to his Royal Highness the Prince Regent' on the establishment of the Regency in 1811. The present barometer can therefore be dated between 1811 and Russell's death in 1817.
Russell apparently produced only two types of barometer: a distinctive stick barometer, with brass-capped Corinthian column to protect the tube (see Christie's London, 8 July 1999, lot 76) and his 'royal' wheel barometers, such as the present example. He gave two of these to George III and the Prince Regent, later George IV. They are still hanging in Buckingham Palace (see N. Goodison, English Barometers and Their Makers 1680-1860, Woodbridge, 1977, pp. 233-235, Plates 160-162 and also C. Jagger, Royal Clocks, The British Monarchy and its Timekeepers, London, 1983, p. 217, plate 285. A similar wheel barometer by Russell is illustrated, N. Goodison and R. Kern, Hotspur, Eighty Years of Antique Dealing, London, 2004, no. 10, pp. 255, 256.
John Russell (circa 1745-1817) opened a shop in Kirk Wynd, Falkirk in 1770. He was one of the most famous watch and clockmakers of his day. Such was the quality of his work that he was appointed Watchmaker to the Prince of Wales, (later George IV), the title changing to 'Watchmaker to his Royal Highness the Prince Regent' on the establishment of the Regency in 1811. The present barometer can therefore be dated between 1811 and Russell's death in 1817.