{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O1744864"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O1744864/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2024NV7558/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2024NV7558/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2024NV7558","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2024NV7559","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O1744864/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O1744864","accessionNumber":"WE.8157-2014","objectType":"Pyrometer","titles":[],"summaryDescription":"In 1783, Josiah Wedgwood was awarded Fellowship of the Royal Society for inventing the pyrometer, a tool for measuring kiln temperatures. Before this, the only available tool for measuring heat was a mercury thermometer, limited to 356 degrees centigrade or 673 degrees fahrenheit. With kilns reaching around 1000 degrees centigrade, ceramics factories depended upon the estimated temperatures of skilled workers to fire their goods, which led to inconsistent results. \r\n\r\nAs Josiah Wedgwood sought perfection in the development of his clay bodies and glazes, he developed the pyrometer to bring accuracy to production. Clay shrinks in high temperatures, and Josiah’s device allowed the user to measure small cylinders of clay along a sliding scale indicating the temperature in ‘degrees Wedgwood’. His findings were published in the 'Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London'.","physicalDescription":"Brass Pyrometer, untarnished surface, with three straight-edged bats and two gaps inbetween which narrow slightly towards one end as the incised scale increases, gap at the top has scale on one side from 0 to 120 and is slightly wider than the lower gap which has a scale from 120 to 240.","artistMakerPerson":[],"artistMakerOrganisations":[{"name":{"text":"Josiah Wedgwood and Sons","id":"A1450"},"association":{"text":"Inventor","id":"AAT25845"},"note":""}],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"Brass","id":"AAT10946"}],"techniques":[{"text":"cast","id":"AAT53104"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Cast brass with incised measurements","categories":[{"text":"V&A Wedgwood Collection","id":"THES276060"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"WED","id":"THES270009"},"images":["2024NV7558","2024NV7559"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"SHLN","id":"THES49063"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"pyrometer","id":"AAT199983"}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"London","id":"x28980"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"1782-1786","earliest":"1782-01-01","latest":"1786-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"V&A Wedgwood Collection. Presented by Art Fund with major support from the National Lottery Heritage Fund, private donations and a public appeal.","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"10","unit":"mm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"66","unit":"mm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Length","value":"174","unit":"mm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[],"objectHistory":"","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Pyrometer, brass with incised measurements, London, ca. 1782-1786","bibliographicReferences":[],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[],"partNumbers":["WE.8157-2014"],"accessionNumberNum":"8157","accessionNumberPrefix":"WE","accessionYear":2014,"otherNumbers":[{"type":{"text":"Wedgwood Museum Accession number","id":"THES269972"},"number":"16056"}],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2026-02-02","recordCreationDate":"2023-02-27","availableToBook":false}}