Apter-Fredericks

Important 18th & 19th Century Antique Furniture

Miscellaneous

A Rare Victorian "Huntsman and Hound" Cast Iron Stick / Umbrella Stand, Probably by W.H. Micklethwait Foundry.
A Novelty Silver Plated Cigar Lighter & Cutter
A Silver Plated Spirit Barrel
A George III Tea Caddy of Urn Form
An Exceptionally Large Romanticised Cork Picture of Gripsholm Castle, Sweden
A Regency Period Japanned Fire Bellows,
A Nineteenth Century Oak Post Box in the Form of a Sentry Box.
A Novelty Brandy Glass Warmer in the Form of a Steam Engine
A Most Unusual Oak & Silver Mounted Spirit Barrel on Stand
A Pair of Bronze Gladiators
A Pair of Late 18th Century Pontypool Chestnut Urns
A Pair Of Chinese Painted Clay Nodding Figures
An Outstanding Nineteenth Century Chinese Lacquer Screen
An Unusual Chinoiserie Cream Ground Screen
A George III Sheraton Period Oval Tray
A Rare 'Penfold' Hexagonal Oak Letter Box
An Eighteenth Century Chinese Export Reverse Painted Mirror
A 19th Century Mahogany Presentation Wheelbarrow and Spade with Silver Plated Mounts by Elkington & Co.
An Eighteenth Century Wine Jug Decorated With The Royal Coat of Arms
A Nineteenth Century Tole Watering Can
A Victorian Oak and Silver Plate Caddy
A Regency Period Brass Tea Caddy
An Unusual Silver Cigar Table Lighter
A Regency Period Painted Tole Basket with Pierced and Gilded Decoration
A Pair Of 'Chinese' Painted Clay Nodding Figures
A Pair of George III White Marble & Ormolu Candle Vases By Matthew Boulton
A Rare Pair of George III Mahogany Plate Buckets
A Nineteenth Century Mahogany Tobacco Jar
An Unusual Regency Period Mahogany Cellaret
A Silver Plated Double Wine Coaster in the Form of a Clinker-Built Dingy and inscribed "The Jolly Boat" on the stern
A Pair of Chinese Qing Dynasty Cloisonne
A Pair of Small 'Lacca Povera' Hanging Shelves
A Nineteenth Century Decorated Tole Tray
A Rare Pair of George III Sheraton Period Satinwood Pole Screens
A Rare and Unusually Large Early 19th Century Nodding Figure of a Chinaman Attributed to Giovanni Domenico Gianelli
A George III Mahogany Oval Wine Cooler
A Garniture of Three 19th Century Bloor Derby Porcelain Bough Pots
A Novelty Victorian Silver Atomiser
A Pair of Louis XVI Ormolu and White Marble Paper Weights
A Pair of Canton Enamel Dishes With Handles
A Rare Mahogany Miniature Dumbwaiter
A Most Unusual Tea Caddy
A Nineteenth Century Country House Post Box
A Fine Pair of Canton Enamel Flasks
A George III Period Personal Weighing Machine or 'Sanctorius's Balance'
A Charming Nineteenth Century Flower Press
A Mid Nineteenth Century Decorated Tole Jardiniere
A Rare George III Mahogany and Brass Champagne Cooler
A Regency Period Rosewood Tray
A George III Mahogany and Cross-banded Barometer
A Set of Three Cut Glass Decanters with a Claret Jug Ensuite
A George III Period Personal Weighing Machine or 'Sanctorius's Balance'

A George III Period Personal Weighing Machine or 'Sanctorius's Balance'

Height: 53" 135cm

The scales veneered in satinwood with tulipwood bandings. The column has a sliding height adjustment and recessed folding brass height marker with a suspended copper weight bowl. Below are two hinged weight trays. The box below with a leather inset platform which is counter-balanced. The scales retaining their original cased set of graduated brass weights and stamped Made at Week's R'L Museum, Tichborne Street.

English, Circa 1790

The Personal Weighing Machine was invented by John Joseph Merlin, although the mechanism itself was invented by Wyatt all be it on a grander scale for the weighing of vehicles after the enactment of the Turnpike Act of 1741, Merlin was responsible for scaling it down.

A number of scales are known and some are stamped Merlin. Others like this one were made by Thomas Weeks and sold from his museum in Tichborne street.

The idea of weighing one's body seems to have been due to the Italian Physician Santorio Santorio ( 'Sanctorius') 1561 - 1626, who used a large steelyard for the purpose. In Paris in the mid-eighteenth century a public weighing machine was maintained for people to weigh themselves and it was likely that Merlin knew of it from his time spent in Paris.
Sanctorius' work was known in England, but the use of a convenient weighing machine suitable for household use was novel.