Sheraton Banjo Barometer
A sheraton banjo barometer brings neoclassical proportion and practical weather-glass mechanics into domestic spaces.
Sheraton Banjo Barometer
A sheraton banjo barometer is a domestic wall instrument shaped like the stringed musical instrument, combining a dry-and-wet thermometer, hydrometer, spirit level and main dial. You are most likely to meet mahogany versions framed by boxwood stringing and shell marquetry from the Georgian and Victorian periods.
The layout typically positions a hygrometer and thermometer at the top beneath a broken-scollop pediment, leading down a slender neck to the large circular dial below. Surviving examples reflect workshop traditions from London as well as regional makers working across the provinces.
Materials and construction
Cabinetmakers constructed the distinctive shaped bodies using solid and veneered timbers such as mahogany, rosewood and satinwood. These wooden carcasses received delicate decorative treatments including boxwood inlay, marquetry, and brass fittings around the dials and hygrometers.
Internal mercury or aneroid mechanisms were housed behind protective glass faces, often accompanied by inscribed brass scales and spirit levels marked with the maker's name and town. The integration of contrasting wood veneers created the characteristic linear borders associated with the style.
Several provincial makers travelled great distances by foot or cart to sell their weather glasses across nineteenth-century counties.
Distinctions in quality
The standard of a sheraton banjo barometer rests on the precision of its cabinetwork, notably the crispness of the shell marquetry and the fineness of the boxwood stringing. Richness of timber grain and the depth of the original polish distinguish superior examples from plain utility pieces.
Legibility and execution of the engraved brass dial plate indicate the hand of a skilled artisan rather than standard workshop production. Surviving signed dials from recorded makers carry more weight than anonymous or later replacement faces.
B Besozzi of Weymouth·L Casatelli of Liverpool·Vecchio and Co of Shaftsbury·J Groce York·Luisetti of London·Walter Gough London·Maples of London
The Sheraton Banjo Barometer Glossary
- Banjo barometer
- A wall-hanging weather glass featuring a narrow neck and a bulbous lower case resembling a banjo.
- Aneroid barometer
- A weather instrument that measures atmospheric pressure using a flexible metal capsule rather than liquid mercury.
- Stringing
- Thin lines of contrasting timber inlaid into the surface of the cabinetwork for decorative border effect.
- Marquetry
- Elaborate pictorial patterns formed by fitted veneers applied to the wooden ground of the barometer body.
- Pediment
- The decorative architectural cresting mounted at the very top of the barometer case.
Sheraton Banjo Barometer: Frequently Asked Questions
How do I read a banjo barometer?
The main circular dial shows barometric pressure in inches of mercury, indicating general weather tendencies from storm to change to fair.
Auxiliary dials at the top provide supplementary readings for humidity and temperature alongside a spirit level at the base.
Where should I hang a wall barometer?
Hang the instrument on an interior wall away from direct sunlight, central heating radiators, and exterior doors to prevent wood warping.
Ensure the mounting screw fastens securely into a wall stud or solid anchor, as these wooden cases carry significant weight.
Are aneroid barometers different from mercury ones?
Mercury barometers rely on liquid columns responding directly to atmospheric pressure fluctuations.
Aneroid versions use internal sealed metal chambers that expand and contract with air pressure changes without using liquid.
How do I date an antique banjo barometer?
Examine the timber species, inlay style, and the construction methods visible on the reverse of the wooden case.
Signed brass dial plates bearing recorded makers help narrow the manufacturing period alongside stylistic clues like pediment shapes.