Barometer, gecombineerd met thermometer in kast van mahoniehout 1785 - 1800

This barometer, combined with a thermometer, is crafted in a mahogany case by A. Bazerga. Notice the columns flanking the instrument, crowned with Corinthian capitals, evoking classical architecture. These aren't merely decorative; they are symbolic. Such columns hearken back to ancient temples, places where humans sought to understand and appease the forces of nature. Here, this classical reference elevates the barometer beyond a mere scientific tool. It transforms it into a modern temple, a place where one seeks to understand the rhythms of the atmosphere. Think of the serpent, an ancient symbol appearing in cultures from Mesopotamia to Greece. The serpent sheds its skin, symbolizing renewal and cyclical time. Similarly, the barometer measures cycles of weather, a constant return and rebirth. This pursuit of cyclical knowledge, this desire to find patterns in the chaos, is a deeply human endeavor. It’s a recurring motif throughout history, an attempt to impose order on our world.