“It is commonly observed, that when two Englishmen meet, their first talk is of the weather; they are in haste to tell each other, what each must already know, that it is hot or cold, bright or cloudy, windy or calm."
Johnson: Idler #11 (June 24, 1758)

There is of course an uncomfortable truth in Dr Johnson’s words and it is commonly assumed the barometer was born out of man’s peculiar obsession with the weather. However, in actual fact, the barometer was originally used for measuring the weight of the air and not indicating the weather. Early in the seventeenth century the barometer was the preserve of scientists concerned with measuring atmospheric pressure. The barometer assumed its role as weather glass later, once Torricelli recognized a correlation between alterations in the weight of the air and changes in the weather.

The increasing demand for domestic barometers from around 1690 onwards precipitated a stylistic evolution in barometers and over time designs developed to make the instrument more accurate and simpler to read.

The quality of workmanship and the finesse of the best examples is consistent with the excellence of English longcase and bracket clocks. In terms of materials and styles there are clear parallels between developments in barometers and longcases. The earliest barometers were made principally in walnut to complement the furniture of the period, though some had lacquered cases with chinoiserie decoration. Occasionally one comes across examples made of bone or ivory, most famously the portable pillar barometers by Daniel Quare. Raffety and Walwyn specialise in English and Scottish barometers and we have a number of very fine examples in our collection.