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171
A fine and rare George III mahogany
free-standing mercury pillar barometer
Nairne and Blunt, London, late 18th
century
The arched silvered scale fitted to a
rotating brass table to allow rotation
around the large bore mercury tube, with
rack and pinion adjusted vernier and
pivoted mirror behind to allow accurate
observation of the level beneath
signature NAIRNE & BLUNT, LONDON to
arch, the fluted column upright with
flared capital and moulded base with
lift-off front section secured by a clasp
formed as a dummy keyhole to reveal
interior with mercury tube of smaller
diameter packed by cotton wadding, the
two stage plinth incorporating up-sliding
cover for the sealed boxwood cistern
above moulding to waist and double skirt
to base, 167cm (67.75ins) high overall.
The collaboration between Edward
Nairne and his former apprentice
Thomas Blunt is recorded in Banfield,
Edwin BAROMETER MAKERS AND
RETAILERS 1660-1900 as established in
1774 and lasting until 1793.
Edward Nairne was born in 1726 and
apprenticed to the celebrated instrument
maker, Matthew Loft, in 1741. Latterly he
worked from 20 Cornhill and published
numerous booklets on navigational,
pneumatic and astronomical instruments.
In 1776 Nairne devised a marine
barometer with a restriction to the bore of
the mercury tube which served to
dampen the oscillation of the mercury, he
was elected Fellow of the Royal Society in
1776 and died 1806. Thomas Blunt was
apprenticed to Edward Nairne in 1760
with whom he formed a loose partnership
in 1774, perhaps for mutual convenience
as his premises were next door to
Nairne’s at 22 Cornhill. Blunt designed
some of the components for the ‘New
Barometer’ devised by the Portuguese
Scientist J.H. Magellan for measuring
altitude, and latterly became instrument
maker to George III. In 1793 he took his
son, also named Thomas, into partnership
and subsequently relocated to 136
Minories in 1814, he died in 1822.
The current lot is highly unusual as it
takes the form of a free-standing pedestal
designed to be fixed to the floor with a
scale that can be rotated for viewing from
any angle, the mirror attached to the rear
of the scale enables the level to be
sighted precisely. The non-portable and
accurate nature of the instrument
coupled with a finely executed case
suggests that it was probably
commissioned for a wealthy patron
perhaps for use in a private laboratory.
£3,000-5,000
DONNINGTON PRIORY
65