battery jar
Date: 1870-1910
Inventory Number: DW0058a
Classification: Battery
Subject:
Maker: Charles Chardin (fl. 1870 - 1940)
Cultural Region:
Place of Origin:
Dimensions:
20.6 x 15.6 x 8.4 cm (8 1/8 x 6 1/8 x 3 5/16 in.)
Material:
Accessories: one of two batteries (a and b)
Description:
A rectangular white porcelain jar with a rectangular base that narrows in one step about 1/3 of the way up to have a square cross-section. The space freed by this narrowing has a vertical porcelain column that extends to the top of the jar on one of its sides. All plates composing the battery are missing.
Signedaround vertical porcelain column: Charles CHARDIN, / Ingénieur Electricien, / CONSTRUCTEUR / PARIS
FunctionThis is likely the jar that would contain the acidic solution of a battery. An array of metallic plates would be lowered into the solution to create a voltage difference between plates of different metals.
Curatorial RemarksIt is uncertain whether there is any relationship between the two batteries DW0058a,b and the electrostatic machine DW0058. The (DW) card that exists refers to the batteries only.
