Fine Silver Pocket Barometer by Negretti & Zambra No. 11249 with Provenance c.1927

A fine silver cased aneroid pocket barometer altimeter by Negretti & Zambra No 11249 c.1927 with cultural provenance. Silver pocket barometer having 1¾in silvered and die struck dial, the outer crown operated altitude ring calibrated in feet with a range from 0 – 10,000ft divided down to 100ft, inner barometric scale calibrated in inches of mercury with a range from 21in – 31in divided down to 1/20in. Fine blued steel pointer, bevelled glass, crowned pendant and bow. The conventional Vidie pattern movement driven from a single 1¼” nickel alloy capsule tensioned on a C spring, the movement dated “12.27.” All contained within a ribbed semi barrel form silver case. The verso engraved “Alys from Geoff, March 3rd 1928.” Hallmarks for silver, London, silversmith Fred Thoms, and date letter “m” for 1927. The bow with silvermaker’s mark for Charles Harris, and date letter “u” for 1915. Presented in its correct clamshell oxblood leather over timber, olive green silk and velvet lined case, snap closure on a button release. Condition: The subject of a full service, conservation, and calibration under laboratory conditions, see performance chart from dynamic test. Working well across the standard range 28in – 31in Hg, with some drift at lower pressure consistent with most antique instruments of this age. The dial clean and crisp with some signs of ageing. The altitude ring moving cleanly, slight variation of resistance again consistent with most similar instruments. The silver case essentially damage free, very minor abrasions and slight signs of wear. The leather case structurally sound with minor external losses, generally crisp and with good shine, the fabric interior sound and with good vibrancy. The closing catch working correctly. Comments: As an example of this particular instrument it would be hard to better, certainly very hard to find. Aesthetically very pleasing with good weight in the hand. A top quality piece for the collector connoisseur Provenance: Although our research continues, our initial investigations suggest that this silver pocket barometer was a gift from Geoffrey Scott, historian of architecture, close friend of Edith Wharton, and part of the Bernard Berenson Circle in Italy, to Alys Russell (nee Pearsall Smith), American born first wife of the philosopher Bertrand Russell, and an early activist for women’s political and social rights. Alys’s sister Mary was married to Berenson, and Geoffrey had an affair with Mary for a number of years.