Vintage wooden stick thermometer originating from Braine-le-Comte in Belgium.
Dating from the Victorian era, it served as a floating thermometer, designed for use in hospitals as well as in domestic and commercial kitchens. Its purpose was to measure the temperature of water in baths and laundry vats—an important precaution to avoid scalding patients during bathing or one’s hands while handling hot wash water. Made from fine-grained beechwood, the thermometer’s body is naturally lightweight, allowing it to float easily on the surface.
