An unusually shaped and well proportioned mahogany wheel barometer, the silvered barometer dial engraved with rococo decoration to the centre and having a blued steel hand and brass pointer, operated via the bone knob below, with a cast brass bezel. With a silvered and engraved hygrometer to the top underneath which is a bow fronted barometer with mouldings top and bottom, with to the base of the case is a silvered level engraved with the maker's name 'A. Fagioli, 65 Red Lion Sq, Clerkenwell'. The mahogany case is of lovely colour and with a shield shape centre and curved moulding top and bottom.
Height: 36" (92 cms)
A. Fagioli is recorded as working at 68, Red Lion Square, Clerkenwell, London from before 1820 until 1840. This may be the recorder mis-reading the records at some point as the barometer shows him at number 65, or he may've moved premises. Red Lion Square was in the heart of the horological and scientific making world at this time. William Frodsham had his clockmaking premises there as did the famous John Harrison of longitude fame. Dominic Fagioli and J. Fagioli are also recorded as working as barometer makers in nearby Great Warner Street at numbers 3, 9, 10 and 30, sometimes shown as 'and Son'.
This shape would seem to be peculiar to the Fagioli family as another of an almost identical design is illustrated in 'Barometers' by Bert Bolle but made by D. Fagioli & Son of 3, Gt Warner St, Clerkenwell. Dominic Fagioli went into partnership with his son in 1840 and the firm moved to Great Warner Street in 1851. As A. Fagioli is not mentioned after 1840 it is quite probable that he was the son who went with his father, especially seeing the use of identical, but unusual, case designs by both firms.
£1,850.00