A QUEEN ANNE ANGLE BAROMETER

Details

JOHN PATRICK, LONDON, CIRCA 1705
A QUEEN ANNE ANGLE BAROMETER
Of 'sign-post' form, with spirit thermometer with paper Royal Society scale set on right side, flanking a mirror plate, with moulded borders and seaweed marquetry scrolls, silvered plates with engraved edging, cistern tube, turned walnut cap to end of tube, walnut domed cistern covers, the plates signed 'Made by John Patrick in the Old Baily London'
Walnut, seaweed marquetry, brass and mirror glass
36 1⁄2 in. (92.7 cm.) high; 31in. (78.7 cm.) wide; 3 3⁄4 in. (9.5 cm.) deep

Provenance

The Property of a Gentleman; Christie's, London, 27 June 1985, lot 95.
with Norman Adams Ltd., circa 1990.
Acquired from Norman Adams Ltd., January 1994.

Literature

G.H. and E.F. Bell, Old English Barometers, 1952, pl. XXVII.
NACF Review, 1990, p. 30 (Norman Adams advertisement).

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: Patrick appears to have been the first instrument-maker to have specialized in barometers (N. Goodison, English Barometers, Woodbridge, 1977, pp. 46-50 and pp. 197-203).
John Patrick (fl.1686- circa 1720) published a pamphlet 'A New Improvement of the Quicksilver Barometer' (before 1704) accompanied by an advertisement which illustrated a 'sign-post' or diagonal barometer of this type. His barometers, according to the contemporary historian, Charles Leigh, were 'much more exact than any other'. The Duke of Somerset bought one of Patrick's angle barometers together with a pendant barometer in 1701.

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