A superb quality French mid 19th century thermometer in a case decorated with the bacchanalian theme. A young boy sits upon a naturalistic base hoolding the thermometer aloft. He is garlanded in vine leaves and a wine cup that he is holding spills its contents. The base is decorated with leaves and flowers that are both gilded and silvered, but not plated but by using the ormolu process and having their original surface. The surround to the thermometer itself is garlanded by flowers, again both silvered and gilded. The scale is in silvered bronze and has both a Farenheit and Reaumur scale. Superb original condition.