This mid-century French aneroid barometer was designed for maritime use, measuring atmospheric pressure to guide sailors through changing conditions at sea. Its polished round wooden frame—possibly teak, in a warm honey tone—holds a dial inscribed with words that feel as evocative as they are practical: Tempête (storm), Pluie (rain), Variable, Beau (fair), Très Sec (very dry). At once scientific and poetic, they gesture not only to weather but also to our own states of well-being.
The design itself is classic mid-century modern: simple, functional, and elegant, with a small hook at the top for mounting. It reflects the ethos of its era, where form followed function, but with enough grace to make the everyday beautiful.
The aneroid barometer, notably, was itself a French invention: in 1843 Lucien Vidie created the first mercury-free pressure gauge, a revolution in portability and durability. Instruments like this one embody that lineage of innovation, adapted for shipboard use and, today, for domestic contemplation.
Spring Moon acquired this example in Paris, in a funky art gallery and antique dealer near the Jardin du Luxembourg. It carries with it the city’s charm as well as the sea’s restless poetry: an object of guidance, balance, and quiet beauty.
Origin: Paris, France, Mid-Century
Materials: Metal and wood
Dimensions: 5 in x 1.5 in (13 cm x 4 cm)
Weight: 12 oz (340 grams)
Condition: Good vintage condition, light wear consistent with age
This mid-century French aneroid barometer was designed for maritime use, measuring atmospheric pressure to guide sailors through changing conditions at sea. Its polished round wooden frame—possibly teak, in a warm honey tone—holds a dial inscribed with words that feel as evocative as they are practical: Tempête (storm), Pluie (rain), Variable, Beau (fair), Très Sec (very dry). At once scientific and poetic, they gesture not only to weather but also to our own states of well-being.
The design itself is classic mid-century modern: simple, functional, and elegant, with a small hook at the top for mounting. It reflects the ethos of its era, where form followed function, but with enough grace to make the everyday beautiful.
The aneroid barometer, notably, was itself a French invention: in 1843 Lucien Vidie created the first mercury-free pressure gauge, a revolution in portability and durability. Instruments like this one embody that lineage of innovation, adapted for shipboard use and, today, for domestic contemplation.
Spring Moon acquired this example in Paris, in a funky art gallery and antique dealer near the Jardin du Luxembourg. It carries with it the city’s charm as well as the sea’s restless poetry: an object of guidance, balance, and quiet beauty.
Origin: Paris, France, Mid-Century
Materials: Metal and wood
Dimensions: 5 in x 1.5 in (13 cm x 4 cm)
Weight: 12 oz (340 grams)
Condition: Good vintage condition, light wear consistent with age
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