Lot Essay
This pilaster barometer with Grecian-stepped cornice is wreathed with Urania's starred diadem in alternating bands of Apollo sunflowers, revealing Night and Day, while the frieze bas-relief portrays the nurturing of plants by a water-pouring Amorini and also recalls the growth of knowledge. The base of the mercury column depicts the Venus-shell badge, while Ceres' corn-sheaf provides the finial and the coil is supported Atlas-fashion by an Amorini.
The inscription on the barometer almost certainly refers to L'école de Châlons, which was established at Compiègne in 1806 and then moved to Châlons-sur-Marne in 1813. However, it was only from 1815, after the Bourbons returned to power that these ébéniste were invited to contribute to the Garde-meuble. The quality of their work was unquestionable, to the extent that at l'Exposition des produits de l'industrie in 1819, l'école de châlons was presented with a gold medal for the quality of their cabinet-making and mounts, which had succeeded in 'se faisant remarquer par une exécution parfaite et par le meilleur goût', (D. Ledoux-Lebard, Le Mobilier Français du XIXiem Siècle, Paris, 1989). As the date 1802 on this barometer would appear, however, to predate the recorded establishment of this school in 1806, it may well be that a group of ébénistes was working at Chalon earlier than was previously thought.
The inscription on the barometer almost certainly refers to L'école de Châlons, which was established at Compiègne in 1806 and then moved to Châlons-sur-Marne in 1813. However, it was only from 1815, after the Bourbons returned to power that these ébéniste were invited to contribute to the Garde-meuble. The quality of their work was unquestionable, to the extent that at l'Exposition des produits de l'industrie in 1819, l'école de châlons was presented with a gold medal for the quality of their cabinet-making and mounts, which had succeeded in 'se faisant remarquer par une exécution parfaite et par le meilleur goût', (D. Ledoux-Lebard, Le Mobilier Français du XIXiem Siècle, Paris, 1989). As the date 1802 on this barometer would appear, however, to predate the recorded establishment of this school in 1806, it may well be that a group of ébénistes was working at Chalon earlier than was previously thought.