Antique 19th Century Italian Gold Gilded Barometer, rich in gilt detailed carving, with new interior barometer work. H:36" W:15". The history of the word barometer  More »

Antique 19th Century Italian Gold Gilded Barometer, rich in gilt detailed carving, with new interior barometer work. H:36" W:15". The history of the word barometer was derived from the Greek word "baros", meaning weight, and the Greek word "metron", meaning measure. The barometer, an instrument used to measure air pressure and it was in early 17th century Italy there were many Italian scientist independently working on the principal's of a vacuum and air pressure, however, it was a young scientist by the name of Evangelista Torricelli that first detailed his experiments with what became known as the barometer. The barometer utilizes the principal of a vacuum to measure the weight of the air. For a simple explanation of a vacuum,such as an example just consider your everyday use of a straw to sip water. The illustration of the premise is with your sucking, which removes the air out of the top of the straw, causes a vacuum near the top of the straw, and with the help of the outside air pressure, the water rises within the straw to fill this partial vacuum. Even if you stop sucking on the straw, the liquid will not fall as long as you maintain a seal of this partial vacuum at the top of the straw. It has been noted that the first publicized working barometer, dating back to 1643, has been credited to Evangelista Torricelli. Torricelli had been familiar with, and studied the writings of Galileo, just before Galileo's untimely death in 1642, and used those findings to help him construct the first barometer. Though Galileo is recognized as the first to experiment with a water type vacuum apparatus in early 1642, his primary objective was to simply ratify the "vacuum theory", and he did not extrapolate his findings to deduct that changes in the weather correspondingly caused air pressure fluctuations. Torricelli was first to notice that air pressure changes, related to weather changes, indeed caused the water level to rise and fall. Then later around 1670 that the new marketeers of barometers began producing and selling barometers as a weather instrument to be used in private homes. By the latter part of the 17th century many clock makers, furniture makers, and opticians began to become involved with detailed and magnificent ornate cabinetry and designs of these newly relished barometers. Historically, it was that for the next two hundred years, the mercury barometer became in vogue and to possess one was the symbol of great nobility. Apparently being in vogue there were records indicating over 3,500 registered barometer makers between 1670 and 1900. Today, it is a rarity to even discover a working mercury type barometer, as most were destroyed or replaced by the current day "aneroid type" barometer. Around the year 1840, a Frenchman by the name of Lucien Vidie introduced the first mechanical, or aneroid barometer, which replaced the use of mercury with a metal vacuum disc, with mechanical arms and a pointer, to measure the air pressure. Aneroids became increasingly popular due to their lower cost and their ease of transporting them from location to location. They eventually replaced mercury type barometers by about 1900. The Italian Barometer is a fine example of carved gilt floral designed case.   « Less

Decorative Brass and Wrought Iron Scale, the scale itself has Force on one side and 5 kilog on the other side underneath the brass bowls, including the brass bowls,  More »

Decorative Brass and Wrought Iron Scale, the scale itself has Force on one side and 5 kilog on the other side underneath the brass bowls, including the brass bowls, H:11.5" W:24.5" D:10 1/4". LifestyleAntiques.com is the web site where one can shop on line or if you are in the area we are an antique dealer in Summerland, California just 3 minutes south of Santa Barbara. Specializing in European Antique Furniture and our accent is antique lighting for your home, or office with handmade parchment shades adorning the selection of unique lamps. We specialize in Decorative Arts and French furniture as well as antique furniture from Spain and Italy, you will find the shop warm and inviting.   « Less

Thick walled Cigar Dish or for candy or nuts, the diameter extends from 8 1/4" to diameter of 7", height of 2". LifestyleAntiques.com is the web site where one  More »

Thick walled Cigar Dish or for candy or nuts, the diameter extends from 8 1/4" to diameter of 7", height of 2". LifestyleAntiques.com is the web site where one can shop on line or if you are in the area we are an antique dealer in Summerland, California just 3 minutes south of Santa Barbara. Specializing in European Antique Furniture and our accent is antique lighting for your home, or office with handmade parchment shades adorning the selection of unique lamps. We specialize in Decorative Arts and French furniture as well as antique furniture from Spain and Italy, you will find the shop warm and inviting.   « Less

Decorative 19th Century Ships Decanter from the Harvey Frey Collection, from England, H:11" Diamerter of base:7.5" This wonderful Ships Decanter is in fine  More »

Decorative 19th Century Ships Decanter from the Harvey Frey Collection, from England, H:11" Diamerter of base:7.5" This wonderful Ships Decanter is in fine condition and Harvey Frey collection was quite well known in England. The Ship Decanter is well cut glass whose surface has been cut into facets, grooves and depressions aided by a large, rotating wheel. Wheel cutting glass decoration was developed in the 8th C. BC, but the technique of faceting wasn't perfected util the 18th Century in England. Although cutting glass is a costly and difficult process, the brilliant effects are extraordinary. This would make a fine gift for entertaining in ones home. Lifestyle Antiques is a Summerland antique dealer near Santa Barbara who specializes in European antique furniture and antique lighting for your home and garden. Among some of our specialties are home lighting, home furnishings and garden statues. There are several Summerland antique shops in the area, 3 minutes south of Santa Barbara. We specialize in French furniture as well as antique furniture from Spain and Italy.   « Less

English Arts and Crafts era spectacles case fashioned from green shagreen with sterling silver trim. London, 1915, maker's hallmark 'E.A.J.' This case  More »

English Arts and Crafts era spectacles case fashioned from green shagreen with sterling silver trim. London, 1915, maker's hallmark 'E.A.J.' This case demonstrates the fine craftsmanship of the maker, exhibiting a very desirable paling of color and the shagreen (sharkskin) specially selected for the spine of larger scales running along the center of the cover. The silver edging is enhanced with pronounced rivets and bears a complete set of London hallmarks. Excellent condition. Size: 7 1/8" length x 2 1/8" depth x 3/4" ht.   « Less

George III wine jug of classical urn form, decorated with bands of bright-cut foliate engraving. London, 1791, by John Robins. The jug is further adorned with an urn finial,  More »

George III wine jug of classical urn form, decorated with bands of bright-cut foliate engraving. London, 1791, by John Robins. The jug is further adorned with an urn finial, bent wood handle, and with an engraved shield-shaped cartouche with family monogram. Size: 12 1/8" ht. x 6" length x 4 3/4" diameter. Excellent antique condition.   « Less

A Georgian horn snuff mull fashioned from an animal's hoof, with hinged brass cover. Circa 1820. English or Scottish origin. Size: 4.25" length x 1.85" high x  More »

A Georgian horn snuff mull fashioned from an animal's hoof, with hinged brass cover. Circa 1820. English or Scottish origin. Size: 4.25" length x 1.85" high x 1.75" deep. Excellent condition.   « Less

This elegant chatelaine pencil is by the noted New York manufacturer, Mabie Todd and Company, and dates from around 1925. It is about 4-1/2 inches in length and its mottled  More »

This elegant chatelaine pencil is by the noted New York manufacturer, Mabie Todd and Company, and dates from around 1925. It is about 4-1/2 inches in length and its mottled body is mounted in filled gold.   « Less

The swirling baroque design of this early Eighteenth Century boxwood snuff-box embraces nineteen faces: elegant figures in profile, full-faced cherubs and couple of stylized  More »

The swirling baroque design of this early Eighteenth Century boxwood snuff-box embraces nineteen faces: elegant figures in profile, full-faced cherubs and couple of stylized masks. One of the most beautiful examples of carving I have ever owned, it is Continental and measures approximately 3-1/2 inches across. The heavy engraved silver hinge is magnificent.   « Less

This excellent Sheffield plate wine coaster will hold a bottle or canister with a base as large as 4-1/2 inches in diameter. An elaborate Neo-Rococo sterling overlap border  More »

This excellent Sheffield plate wine coaster will hold a bottle or canister with a base as large as 4-1/2 inches in diameter. An elaborate Neo-Rococo sterling overlap border graces the rim and there is an exquisitely detailed crest on a inset sterling sterling section below the border. The 7-3/4-inch piece dates from circa 1830 and is is extraordinarily fine condition. and   « Less