{"product_id":"19th-century-eagle-crest-thermometer","title":"19th-Century Eagle-Crest Thermometer","description":"\u003cp\u003eAn 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHere, 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMarked “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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eLovely 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eEra:\u003c\/strong\u003e 19th century\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eOrigin:\u003c\/strong\u003e Exact country of manufacture unverified; French Empire-style ornament\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMaterials:\u003c\/strong\u003e Wooden mounting plaque, glass thermometer tube, bronze instrument backing, and gold-tone decorative mounts\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDesign\u003c\/strong\u003e: Eagle crest with foliate surround and wreath ornament\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eOriginal Purpose\u003c\/strong\u003e: Measuring temperature\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFunction:\u003c\/strong\u003e Accuracy unverified\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCondition:\u003c\/strong\u003e 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.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMeasurements: \u003cmeta charset=\"UTF-8\"\u003e\n\u003cspan data-sheets-root=\"1\"\u003e6\" H x 3\" W x .25\" D \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"soul fed home","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":67883452236097,"sku":null,"price":295.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0773\/9549\/3185\/files\/6DBBDF36-3869-4EE1-A367-5A6E2F441F0A.png?v=1792029802","url":"https:\/\/soulfedhome.com\/products\/19th-century-eagle-crest-thermometer","provider":"Soul Fed Home","version":"1.0","type":"link"}