Louis XV Period Barometer

Magnificent hight Louis XV period barometer, made of carved, chiseled, and gilded wood, according to Torricelli's principles. This rare and decorative piece features a thermometer and a finely watercolored dial, adorned with cornucopias and foliage scrolls, all signed “Legalois, rue des Francs Bourgeois,” and dated 1735. The case features a refined decoration of palmettes and scrolls, and is topped with an elegant fruit bowl. The whole measures 110 cm high by 38 cm wide, providing a beautiful wall presence. This barometer perfectly illustrates the scientific ingenuity of the 17th century, when Torricelli, a disciple of Galileo, perfected this instrument by replacing water with mercury to measure atmospheric pressure. His discovery helps explain why columns of water never exceeded 10 meters in height, thus revealing the force of the air. A collector's item that is as much scientific as it is aesthetic, a precious testimony to decorative art and the history of science.