Portable barometer 1690 - 1700

This is a portable barometer, made by Daniel Quare, an English instrument maker, during the late 17th or early 18th century. Quare, a Quaker, navigated a society marked by religious and political strife. The barometer, more than a mere scientific tool, embodies the intersection of science, status, and identity. Barometers became fashionable status symbols among the wealthy elite. Consider how this object reflects the intertwined nature of scientific advancement and social identity. The barometer allowed individuals to assert a sense of control over their environment, aligning with Enlightenment ideals of reason and order. What does it mean to measure and predict? What are the implications of having or not having access to such technologies?