This impressive brass cased barometer is signed 'Jos Neuhöfer in Wien', who was an eminent Austrian optician based in Kohlmarkt, a prestigious shopping street in the centre of Vienna.

Initially partnering with Carl Gross in 1853, he later went on to run the business by himself in 1860 and later received the honorary title of Kaiserlich-Königlicher Hoflieferant of the Austro-Hungarian Empire (Purveyor to the Imperial and Royal Court).

By 1880, Joseph and his son Carl became partners, and the business was renamed Neuhöfer & Sohn A.G. for Geodetic Instruments and Precision Mechanics. On the brass case underside is engraved 'PHBN', indicating that this would have been made by the firm of Pertuis, Hulot, Bourgeois & Naudet, which was founded in Paris in 1860, showing that the barometer was made sometime between 1860 and 1880 for retailing by Neuhöfer.

The open face silvered dial numbered 9925, is in good condition, with two curved thermometers, one with a Fahrenheit scale and the other a Centigrade Réaumur scale, both of which are intact and working although the red colour of the spirit thermometer has faded over the years making it a little harder to read the line.

This is much larger than similar examples of the time, measuring 8½" (215 mm) in overall diameter, with a dial face diameter of 8⅛" (205 mm), it sits securely on an elegant mahogany scroll stand, which measures 10⅞" (275 mm) wide, by 8½" (215 mm) high, and has a depth of just over 3¾" (95 mm).

Although the brass case has some age tarnishing on the reverse and the wall hanging ring is no longer present, it is nevertheless a high quality instrument in good working order.
A fine statement piece, it weighs just over 1.3 kg on its own and 2.8 kg with the stand.