WATKINS, CHARING CROSS

Object Description

An exceptional late George III period mahogany and ebony and brass strung banjo barometer by this famous maker.

The elegantly proportioned case has a central brass finial set on a pedestal in the middle of the swanneck pedimented top. The 10-inch silvered brass round dial shows the States of the Weather concentrically and the maker’s signature Watkins, Charing Cross is in the centre. It retains its original pierced brass setting hand and counterpoise blued steel pointer.

Set within the trunk above the main dial there is a brass moulded arched top rectangular case for the mercury thermometer with a Fahrenheit scale indicating the temperature.

This is a very original high quality piece designed on an unusually large scale. It predates the later more conventional banjo barometers and is a very rare model.

Date: circa 1800 – 1810

Height: 43 ½ (110.5 cm) including finial
Width: 11 ¾ in (29.75 cm)
Depth: 1 ¾ in (4.5 cm)

Object Literature

* This fine instrument was most probably made by Jeremiah Watkins after he split up with his brother Walter in 1798. He worked on his own from circa 1799 until 1819 at 5 Charing Cross, London. After that, he formed a longer term partnership with Hill in 1819. Jeremiah Watkins was instrument maker to the Duke of York, the Duke of Clarence and the East India Company.

Object Details