Ω A fine Regency mahogany mercury stick barometer with ivory cistern float probably for use in a lighthouse Alexander Adie, Edinburgh, early 19th century The slender figured mahogany case with brass Vernier adjustment screw to top above inset rectangular silvered Vernier scale with canted upper angles and calibrated in barometric inches to right hand margin beneath engraved signature A. Adie, Edinburgh to upper edge , the trunk with visible tube above moulded reeded square section cistern cover with ivory mercury float to right hand side and brass level adjustment screw beneath, 94.5cm (37.25ins) high. Provenance: Private collection, Hampshire (B105); purchased from Michael Sim, Chiselhurst, 12th January 2001 for £2,650 who, in-turn, had acquired the instrument directly from The Trustees of the Northern Lighthouse Commissioners. Alexander Adie is recorded in Goodison, Nicholas English BAROMETERS 1680-1860 as born 1774 and apprenticed to his uncle, the eminent Scottish instrument maker John Miller in 1789. In 1804 his uncle took him into partnership under the name of Miller and Adie which continued until after Miller's death in 1815. Adie was particularly interested in meteorological instruments and is perhaps best known as the inventor of the Sympiesometer in 1818. In recognition of his work he was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh in 1819. He was appointed optician to William IV and later Queen Victoria and took one of his sons, John, into partnership in 1835. Two of his other sons set up businesses; Robert in Liverpool and Patrick in London. Unfortunately John Adie was prone to 'fits of despondency' which resulted in him shooting himself in 1857, Alexander Adie died the following year - no doubt expediated by the stress of his son's demise. The current lot appears to be a well made but functional model from Adie's range that has practical refinements such as screw Vernier adjustment to the top of the case and ivory cistern float. Adie is known to have supplied parabolic reflectors for the Northern lighthouse Board as well as barometers which required careful calibration due to their likely use in an elevated position within the lighthouse structure; the provenance provided by Michael Sim would strongly suggest that the current lot was supplied for this purpose. Cites Regulations Please note that this lot (lots marked with the symbol Ω in the printed catalogue) may be subject to CITES regulations when exported from the EU. The CITES regulations may be found at www.defra.gov.uk/ahvla-en/imports-exports/cites
Ω A fine Regency mahogany mercury stick barometer with ivory cistern float probably for use in a lighthouse Alexander Adie, Edinburgh, early 19th century The slender figured mahogany case with brass Vernier adjustment screw to top above inset rectangular silvered Vernier scale with canted upper angles and calibrated in barometric inches to right hand margin beneath engraved signature A. Adie, Edinburgh to upper edge , the trunk with visible tube above moulded reeded square section cistern cover with ivory mercury float to right hand side and brass level adjustment screw beneath, 94.5cm (37.25ins) high. Provenance: Private collection, Hampshire (B105); purchased from Michael Sim, Chiselhurst, 12th January 2001 for £2,650 who, in-turn, had acquired the instrument directly from The Trustees of the Northern Lighthouse Commissioners. Alexander Adie is recorded in Goodison, Nicholas English BAROMETERS 1680-1860 as born 1774 and apprenticed to his uncle, the eminent Scottish instrument maker John Miller in 1789. In 1804 his uncle took him into partnership under the name of Miller and Adie which continued until after Miller's death in 1815. Adie was particularly interested in meteorological instruments and is perhaps best known as the inventor of the Sympiesometer in 1818. In recognition of his work he was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh in 1819. He was appointed optician to William IV and later Queen Victoria and took one of his sons, John, into partnership in 1835. Two of his other sons set up businesses; Robert in Liverpool and Patrick in London. Unfortunately John Adie was prone to 'fits of despondency' which resulted in him shooting himself in 1857, Alexander Adie died the following year - no doubt expediated by the stress of his son's demise. The current lot appears to be a well made but functional model from Adie's range that has practical refinements such as screw Vernier adjustment to the top of the case and ivory cistern float. Adie is known to have supplied parabolic reflectors for the Northern lighthouse Board as well as barometers which required careful calibration due to their likely use in an elevated position within the lighthouse structure; the provenance provided by Michael Sim would strongly suggest that the current lot was supplied for this purpose. Cites Regulations Please note that this lot (lots marked with the symbol Ω in the printed catalogue) may be subject to CITES regulations when exported from the EU. The CITES regulations may be found at www.defra.gov.uk/ahvla-en/imports-exports/cites
Try LotSearch and its premium features for 7 days - without any costs!
Be notified automatically about new items in upcoming auctions.
Create an alert
.jpg "Source: Christie's")
.jpg "Source: Christie's")
