Wedgwood pyrometer with two porcelain taper gauges, and porcelain test pieces in a mahogany case.
Wedgwood pyrometer with two porcelain taper gauges, 1786. This pyrometer was presented to King George III by Josiah Wedgwood, its inventor, in 1786. Wedgwood developed the instrument to measure the high temperatures used in firing pottery. As porcelain shrinks when fired, the shrinkage of small pieces of porcelain could be used to measure kiln temperature. The pieces were fired and then placed in the gauge.
Details
- Category:
- King George III
- Object Number:
- 1927-1812
- type:
- pyrometers
- copyright:
- Unlinked Name
- credit:
- King's College, London