A mahogany mercury wall thermometer Dollond, London, circa 1800 The rectangular silvered Fahrenheit scale divided for every degree between minus fifteen and two hundred and twenty with annotations at ten degree intervals, the right hand margin with seven temperature descriptions beneath engraved signature Dollond, London to upper border, the mahogany case with shaped extension pierced for hanging to backboard over domed pediment and moulded surround to the glazed front panel, 56cm (22ins) high. Peter Dollond is recorded in Banfield, Edwin BAROMETER MAKERS AND RETAILERS 1680-1860 as born 1730 and died 1820. He was the son of John Dollond, a Huguenot silk weaver and started business as an optician in 1750. He was joined by his father in 1752 until his death in 1761, and then by his brother, John, until his death in 1804. The family business was continued by Peter Dollond's nephew, George Huggins, who changed his name to Dollond. George Dollond became instrument maker to William IV and Queen Victoria, exhibited at the Great Exhibition in 1851 and died 1856. A closely related instrument to the current lot resides in room XVIII of the Museo Galileo, Florence.