Beschreibung:

A FINE AND RARE GEORGE II WALNUT MERCURY DIAL BAROMETER JOHN HALLIFAX, BARNSLEY, CIRCA 1730 The 6 inch engraved brass break-arch dial with radial foliate scroll engraved centre within applied silvered concentric scale calibrated in barometric inches 28-31 divided and labelled in tenths and with additional further scale divided 1-30 over the same range to the outer track, the inner margin with annotations Tempestous, Rain Wind or Snow, Changeable, Fair or Frost, Settle Fair or Frost and Very Dry, with scroll-pierced steel hand and spandrels engraved with leafy sprays within a herringbone border, beneath arch centred with a domed silvered boss signed Jn:o Hallifax, Barnsley, Inv't & Fecit flanked by conforming leafy scroll infill and herringbone surround, the case in the form of a longcase clock with block upstand to the domed caddy surmount standing on cross-grain ogee mouldings over additional plinth to superstructure, with cavetto cornice and triple-line bordered break-arch frieze over the glazed dial aperture secured by screws and applied with slender three-quarter columns to front angles, the sides with conforming quarter columns to the rear, the trunk with concave throat moulding over triple-line edged book-match veneered panel infill around a central circular section fitted with a manual pointer for the engraved brass recording ring with concentric scales matching those of the barometer dial above, the box base with stepped ogee top mouldings over conforming book-match veneered panel to fascia and cavetto over ogee moulded inverted caddy to underside, the rear with slender door revealing mercury syphon tube and pulley mechanism for the dial. 124.5cm (49ins) high, 26cm (10.25ins) wide, 11cm (4.25ins) deep. Provenance: A Descendant of the Spencer Stanhope Family of Cannon Hall, Barnsley. John Hallifax is recorded in Goodison, Nicholas ENGLISH BAROMETERS 1680-1860 as the son of the local vicar, born in Springthorpe, Lincolnshire in 1694. The family name was originally Waterhouse but was changed by his grandfather during the previous century. John Hallifax moved to Barnsley and set up as a clockmaker after his father's death in 1711; he had seven children and was succeeded in his business by his fifth son, Joseph (1728-62), after his death in 1750. In addition to Joseph his fourth son, George, also became a clockmaker in Doncaster, where he later twice served as Mayor of the town. John's third son, Thomas, moved to London and became an eminent banker, he served as Lord Mayor and became a member of Parliament. The regard to which John Hallifax was held is evident in the inscription on his tombstone which reads: 'Whose abilities and virtue few in these times have attained. His art and industry were such as his ingenious inventions will be a lasting monument of his merit -- such as recommended him to the favour and esteem of all good men that knew him'. The current instrument belongs to a small series produced by John Hallifax during the second quarter of the 18th century. The glazed front panel over the dial is designed to be removable to allow adjustment whilst the instrument is being set-up but is then secured by screws to prevent tampering. The recording dial in the trunk allows any changes in the pressure to be observed without having to touch the principal dial. Dial barometers by John Hallifax have traditionally been very highly sought-after with examples residing in some of the most important collections of both clocks and instruments as well as fine furniture and objects. One such example was offered at Christie's London in their sale of the Samuel Messer Collection of English Furniture, Clocks & Barometers 5th December 1991 (lot 12) where it achieved £32,000 hammer. More recently another was sold at Tennants, Leyburn in their Autumn Catalogue Sale 18th November 2010 (lot 1404) for £40,000.