Wheel barometer 1710 - 1720

Editor: Here we have a Wheel Barometer crafted by John Hallifax sometime between 1710 and 1720. It’s a striking sculpture made of wood. It feels so imposing and stately! How do you interpret its significance beyond just telling time? Curator: I see it as a commentary on power and control. Consider the Baroque era: a period of rigid social hierarchies where knowledge, like the ability to predict the weather, was a privilege held by the elite. The barometer becomes less about atmospheric pressure and more about who has access to information and, therefore, power. Editor: That’s interesting! I hadn’t thought about it that way. So, the barometer is more than just a scientific instrument? Curator: Absolutely! Think about it in the context of colonization, too. The ability to predict weather patterns could be used to control trade routes or even influence military campaigns, cementing colonial dominance. This object, seemingly benign, becomes a symbol of the West’s technological and epistemological advantage. The form, of course, amplifies this read! How might a plain box convey those meanings? Editor: It is a beautifully made object! It sounds like understanding the history surrounding something like this helps uncover more layers. I was really drawn to its shape but now know that there is much more to consider beyond appearances! Curator: Exactly! We must interrogate how objects like this participated in and perpetuated social inequalities and power dynamics that reverberate to this day. That approach gives this wooden object a truly important voice.