Mercury Barometer in Walnut and Floral Marquetry Case

The arched cresting at the top is raised upon a pair of later columns inset with thermometers around a foliate-inlaid frieze on a floral-inlaid body with molded edge and later brass calibration plate with a molded tapering base.

The design of this cistern barometer relates closely to examples produced by the leading London specialist barometer-maker John Patrick (1686–c.1720). Patrick was unusual in that he was a barometer specialist unlike many of his contemporaries who also manufactured clocks and mathematical instruments. His favorable reputation earned him the title Torricellian Operator, so-named after Toricelli, a disciple of Galileo, who created the first mercury barometer in 1643. He produced a pamphlets and advertising of a design similar to this example. A similarly arched walnut barometer was supplied for the Queen's Gallery at Hampton Court Palace, Middlesex.