Large Naire-pattern Electrostatic Machine c.1830

This Naire-Pattern electrostatic machine dates to around the 1820s-30s and is a particularly large example of its type. As the first common means of generating an electrical charge they were used not only for public and private experimentation, but also for medical treatments. Often found quite small, the larger size of this example makes it perfect for display. See the image with the wine bottle for scale! Looking closely this does not look like a commercially manufactured model but was possible home-made instead. The turned mahogany frame the large glass drum sits in has been mounted somewhat crudely onto a base board which itself may have been modified from another piece of furniture.  There is no evidence it ever had a direct handle mounted to the frame and instead the cut-out on the base suggests it was belt driven (possibly leading to a larger handle below a desk etc). Larger Naire-Pattern electrostatic machines don't turn up too often. Therefore as a complete and larger-sized set up this grouping is nice for display.