A FINE AND RARE GEORGE II YEW AND WALNUT MERCURY ANGLE BAROM...

Estimate

£6,000 - £8,000

A FINE AND RARE GEORGE II YEW AND WALNUT MERCURY ANGLE BAROMETERCHARLES ORME, ASHBY DE LA ZOUCHE, CIRCA 1740The long angled silvered scale with six principal units presumably representing extended barometric inches each divided into eighths, and annotated with Stormy, Much RAIN, Rain, CHAN'G'BLE, Fair, VERY FAIR, Gr't Draut observations/predictions, beneath sliding brass recording pointer applied to the silvered upper plate engraved Made by CHARLERS ORME of Ashby De La Zouch and with additional inscription Repair'd by John Stenson, Derby 1786 to the far right-hand end, within caddy moulded surround incorporating rounded end and capped with a slender cross grain walnut ogee-moulded cornice, the trunk also caddy moulded and fronted with figured yew veneer within triple-line edged crossbanded surround, over decorative half-ovoid turned cistern cover incorporating ball finial and pendant applied to the rounded base.91.5cm (36ins) high overall, 70cm (27.5ins) wide.Provenance:The Dr. Castle Collection of barometers and other weather instruments. Purchased at Bonhams, London sale of FINE CLOCKS 29th June 2017 (lot 55) for £7,150.Charles Orme is recorded in Goodison, Nicholas ENGLISH BAROMETERS 1680-1860 as the sixth son of Thomas Orme, a rector from Garesdon, Wiltshire who had relocated to Ashby De-La-Zouch prior to his death in 1715. Otherwise little appears to be known of Charles Orme's life other than his death in January 1747. It would appear that Charles Orme only made angle barometers, and is perhaps best known for developing the multiple tube angle barometer. Orme is also credited for introducing into England the practice of distilling and boiling mercury in order to remove impurities. Goodison illustrates a very similar instrument to the present lot on page 195 (Plate 130).John Stenson is recorded in Banfield, Edwin BAROMETER MAKERS AND RETAILERS 1660-1900 as working in Derby in 1782.