1) As requested, the next few days posts will focus on the wall art section of the #chronicleofcuriosities exhibition currently under lockdown @whitbymuseum
The wall pieces are ink illustrations on vintage encyclopaedia pages, inspired by the extensive and often over-looked
The wall pieces are ink illustrations on vintage encyclopaedia pages, inspired by the extensive and often over-looked
2) library archive within the museum. Each piece has been expertly framed by the talented Antony Bentley, based in Kirkbymoorside.
This illustration is a leech, inspired by the Tempest Prognosticator.
Dr George Merryweather was a Whitby GP, Curator of Whitby Museum between 1840
This illustration is a leech, inspired by the Tempest Prognosticator.
Dr George Merryweather was a Whitby GP, Curator of Whitby Museum between 1840
3) and 1861, and inventor. In 1850 he invented the “Atmospheric Electromagnetic Telegraph conducted by Animal Instinct” or Tempest Prognosticator – consisting of 12 pint glass bottles, each containing a live leech, set around a circular stand under a bell which was surrounded
4) with 12 hammers. Each hammer was attached by wire to a piece of whalebone set loosely in the neck of one of the bottles.
Changes in atmospheric pressure before a storm would drive the leeches to the neck of the bottle where they dislodged the pieces of whalebone and rang the
Changes in atmospheric pressure before a storm would drive the leeches to the neck of the bottle where they dislodged the pieces of whalebone and rang the
5) bell at the top of the device. When several bells rang in succession a storm was “prognosticated”. Merryweather had tested his machine for over a year in 1850, posting a letter to Henry Belcher, President of the Whitby Literary and Philosophical Society as soon as each storm
6) was predicted. Multiple postal deliveries every day ensured that the letter would be postmarked (date and time) before the storm developed, thus proving the prediction true.
Six different versions of the Prognosticator were designed to suit differing pockets, and Merryweather
Six different versions of the Prognosticator were designed to suit differing pockets, and Merryweather
7) anticipated they would be widely used on ships and around the world. However, the device failed to catch on. In 1951 a copy was made and given to Whitby Museum
#artistinresidence
#whitby
#tempestprognosticator
#leech
#virtualexhibition
#artistinresidence
#whitby
#tempestprognosticator
#leech
#virtualexhibition
@threadreaderapp unroll please!
