Lot 148. A rock crystal, silver, corallium rubrum and black and red lacquer Demi-Mystery Barometer by Cartier. Estimate £30,000 - £40,000. Courtesy Bonham's. 

The dodecagonal dial within a red and black lacquer bezel, mounted on a fluted rock crystal column and stepped black and red lacquered silvered base, the dial with English weather inscriptions 'Better, Fair and Calm, Very Dry and Still, Worse, Wind and Rain, Much Rain and Wind, Very Stormy', also indicating 'Atmopsheric Pressure relative to Sea-Level', graded scales and arrow shaped metal hands with a cabochon corallium rubrum central button, dial signed Cartier, numbered 2725, 15.5cm x 8.0cm x 8.0cm.

Provenance: Accompanied by a certificate of authenticity from Cartier, dated 18 June 2008.

Property from a European Private Collection.

Note: This barometer is in the style of the second mystery clock model produced by Cartier, where a single axle runs up the main shaft. These models were often made up of onyx bases and hexagonal dials decorated with red lacquer, enamel, coral, or turquoise.