19th-Century Eagle-Crest Thermometer

An elegant meeting of scientific instrument and decorative art, this 19th-century thermometer features a slender glass tube and centigrade scale mounted upon a shaped wooden plaque. Gold-tone foliage surrounds the instrument, rising toward an eagle with outstretched wings and finishing below in a wreath-and-ribbon ornament.

The decoration recalls the classical vocabulary embraced by French Empire design. Eagles, leafy branches, and wreaths carried associations with strength, honor, and triumph, appearing throughout early 19th-century decorative arts and continuing into later revivals.

Here, that imagery gives an everyday measuring instrument a distinctly ornamental presence. The warm wood contrasts with the metallic detailing, while the symmetrical arrangement emphasizes the narrow vertical scale.

Marked “CENTIGRADE,” the instrument measures temperature. Its glass tube and visible column belong to the liquid-in-glass thermometer tradition, in which changes in temperature cause the liquid to expand or contract against a graduated scale.

A bronze backing to the instrument adds another material detail, as noted during inspection. The precise maker and country of manufacture remain unidentified, and its measuring accuracy has not been confirmed.

Lovely in a study, library, or collection of antique scientific instruments, this piece preserves the appeal of a time when useful household objects could receive remarkably thoughtful decoration.

Era: 19th century
Origin: Exact country of manufacture unverified; French Empire-style ornament
Materials: Wooden mounting plaque, glass thermometer tube, bronze instrument backing, and gold-tone decorative mounts
Design: Eagle crest with foliate surround and wreath ornament
Original Purpose: Measuring temperature
Function: Accuracy unverified
Condition: Good antique condition with surface wear, marks, and tonal variation to the wood and metal finishes. Our pieces have been previously loved, and we always note visible flaws identified during inspection. As an antique, this piece will show signs of age and past use that contribute to its individual character.
Measurements: 6" H x 3" W x .25" D