19TH CENTURY ANTIQUE BOW FRONT BAROMETER BY J. SOMALVICO & CO OF LONDON

England, circa 1835-1840

H 39 inch (99 cm) W 4³/₈ inch (11 cm) D 3¹/₈ inch (8 cm)

A good William IV period rosewood and mother-of-pearl bow fronted stick barometer with its original bowed glass thermometer by this fine London maker.

The cushion topped case is veneered with figured rosewood and flower and foliage inlays in mother-of-pearl. The turned ebonized urn cistern cover is flanked by chamfered corners and has a molded base.

The finely proportioned register plate is signed by both the maker and a later retailer above the states of the weather, which are graduated from 27-31 inches.

Along the middle section of the trunk a silvered brass mercury thermometer reads from 0 to 140 degrees Fahrenheit. It is set within a framed molded box behind a bowed glass.

Date: circa 1835-1840

J. Somalvico & Co. are listed on page 202 of Edwin Banfield’s ‘Barometer Makers and Retailers: 1660–1900 as working in London between 1800 and 1900.
They were a highly re puted firm of instrument makers.

Condition Good

MATERIALS Rosewood