Weather Glass Barometer
These weather glass barometer examples combine practical forecasting with cabinet-making skill, offering traditional timber cases and silvered dials.
Weather Glass Barometer
A weather glass barometer measures atmospheric pressure to anticipate changes in weather, taking several traditional domestic forms across the Georgian, Victorian, and Edwardian periods. The selection on this page centres primarily on wall-mounted timber instruments, including banjo barometers, stick barometers, and wheel barometers.
Makers housed these mechanisms in cases shaped from mahogany, oak, walnut, rosewood, and carved wood. Alongside domestic wall pieces, the listings include desk-bound barographs featuring brass fittings, thermometers, and chart drawers.
Origins span English workshops and Black Forest production centres, moving through styles that range from Regency austerity to ornate Victorian carving and Edwardian simplicity. Buyers encounter everything from mercury-filled stick barometers to aneroid dials and skeletonised movements.
Materials and Construction
Cases rely heavily on dense hardwoods such as mahogany, oak, walnut, and rosewood, often enhanced with shell inlay, mother-of-pearl, or satinwood banding. Carved wood versions utilise elaborate foliage and animal motifs, particularly within Black Forest styles.
Functional components combine glass tubes and bevelled viewing panels with brass bezels, silvered metal scales, and porcelain dials. Barographs and barometer cases frequently incorporate working thermometers and small storage drawers for recording charts.
Weather Glass Barometer Retail Price Guide 2026
Typical asking prices for weather glass barometer among the pieces listed under this phrase on Sellingantiques today, from the lower quarter to the upper quarter. They describe what is for sale here now, not the wider market.
Listings feature timber cases shaped from mahogany, oak, walnut, rosewood, and carved wood, spanning Georgian, Victorian, and Edwardian eras.
Evaluating Quality and Craftsmanship
Quality rests upon the crispness of the timber case carving, the depth of any shell or mother-of-pearl inlay, and the legibility of the engraved silvered scale. Superior pieces display harmonious proportions and architectural pediments, whereas simpler examples rely on plain timber framing.
The sophistication of the internal mechanism also divides the range, distinguishing standard aneroid or mercury movements from skeletonised designs that expose the brass works behind a glass dial.
GAUPP & CO HONGKONG & SINGAPORE·P. Caminada Taunton·George Adams London·B. Besozzi of Weymouth·Elliott Brothers London·G & L Guanziroli London·Negretti & Zambra London·Short & Mason
The Weather Glass Barometer Glossary
- Aneroid barometer
- An instrument that measures atmospheric pressure using a flexible metal capsule rather than liquid mercury. Changes in pressure cause the capsule to expand or contract, moving a pointer across the dial.
- Stick barometer
- A tall, narrow wall instrument containing a vertical glass tube filled with mercury. It provides a direct reading of atmospheric pressure against a calibrated scale.
- Banjo barometer
- A domestic wall barometer housed in a case shaped like a banjo, typically featuring a circular dial at the top and a thermometer or humidity gauge on the stem.
- Barograph
- A recording meteorological instrument that plots barometric pressure over time onto a rotating paper chart using a pen mechanism. These are usually enclosed in a glazed oak or mahogany case with a drawer for spare charts.
- Silvered scale
- A metal plate, usually brass treated to achieve a silvery finish, inscribed with weather descriptions and pressure numbers. The fine engraving dictates the clarity of the reading.
Weather Glass Barometer: Frequently Asked Questions
What is a weather glass barometer?
A weather glass barometer is a meteorological instrument designed to measure atmospheric pressure to help forecast local weather changes. These pieces combine scientific utility with decorative cabinetry.
They utilise enclosed mercury columns or mechanical aneroid capsules to register rising or falling pressure. The results appear on engraved silvered dials or porcelain scales mounted inside timber cases.
Where should I hang a wall barometer?
Hang your barometer on an interior wall away from direct sunlight, radiators, and exterior doors. Sudden temperature fluctuations can affect the internal mechanics.
Stable indoor conditions ensure the timber case remains protected and the pressure readings stay as accurate as possible. Secure fixings are essential, particularly for heavier mahogany and carved oak models.
How do I read an aneroid barometer?
Tap the glass lightly before reading to release any friction in the mechanical linkage. The primary hand points to the current atmospheric pressure.
Set the movable pointer directly over the primary hand. Observing whether the main hand moves above or below this marker later indicates if pressure is rising or falling.