Nautical Brass Magnetic Compass with Original Box by E. Vion Paris, Early 1900
Located in Milan, IT
Antique and rare magnetic surveying compass, brass with original wooden box, signed E.
Brass
English Ship's Binnacle Compass of Brass with Side Burner Light
Located in Austin, TX
A binnacle is the housing that protects the compass and helps stabilize it despite the ship's movements, designed to shield the compass from the magnetic influences of the ship's str...
Metal, Brass
1900s Brass Bakelite Magnetic Topographer Compass Surveyor Measurement Instrumen
Located in Milan, IT
Magnetic topographer compass from the early 1900s, brass and bakelite base; instrument consisting of a magnetized needle free to rotate on a horizontal plane, marking with its tip th...
Brass
CHINA Song Dynasty 960 AD Celadon Glazed Vase With Cylinder Handles
Located in Miami, FL
It saw the invention of gunpowder, magnetic compasses, and movable type printing. The dynasty was divided into the Northern Song (capital: Bianjing) and Southern Song (capital: Lin'a...
Ceramic, Wood
Antique 19thC Pair Of Cary's 12 Inch Terrestrial & Celestial Globes c.1821
Located in Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent
The globes are supported on finely turned mahogany columns terminating in tripod bases, united by stretchers centred with inset magnetic compasses. The terrestrial globe details the ...
Wood
AZIMUTH Circle E.S. Ritchie & Sons US Navy Maritime Compass Bronze & Wood Box
By E.S. Ritchie & Co
Located in Miami, FL
Today still privately held by the Sherman Family in Pembroke, MA, Ritchie Navigation continues to be the Marine Industry leader in the manufacture of recreational and commercial magn...
Brass, Bronze
Antique Surveyor's Circumcompendium Signed Brand Frères, 1850-1880
Located in Bilzen, BE
This fine example of Belgian precision craftsmanship features: A large magnetic compass with finely engraved brass dial and degree scale Beautifully preserved cardinal directions a...
Brass
Large Silver Butterfield Dial French Early 18th Century
By Butterfield Paris
Located in Firenze, IT
Signed Butterfield, Paris, mid-18th century, the octagonal dial engraved with four hour scales and mounted with hinged gnomon with bird pointer, inset with magnetic compass with engr...
Silver
Unavailable
H 2.37 in Dm 2.56 in
Early 19th Century English Inclining Sundial by William Hawks Grice London
Located in Firenze, IT
The base frame consists of a circular brass plate containing a magnetic compass with degree scale engraved on a silvered plate.
Brass
Magnetic Compass for Topographers Made of Brass
By Peigné
Located in Milan, IT
Rare and particular ancient magnetic compass for topographers, made of brass; instrument consisting of a magnetized needle free to rotate on a horizontal plane, marking with its poin...
Dry Magnetic Compass Signed J. S. Stockholm, Early 19th Century
Located in Milan, IT
Dry magnetic compass placed in its original wooden case green painted, compass card with eight winds on paper, signed J.
Wood
Sold
H 5.12 in W 7.88 in D 7.88 in
1900s Sestrel Antique Nautical Magnetic Compass in its Original Wooden Box
Located in Milan, IT
Magnetic compass on universal joint in its original wooden box with slot lid, signed Sestrel in the early 1900s.
Brass
Sold
H 0.71 in Dm 2.09 in
1918 Survey Magnetic Compass for U.S. Engineer Corps Antique Nautical Objects
Located in Milan, IT
Rare magnetic compass for nautical detection, of brass, signed Cruchon & Emons Berne n. 67770 of 1918 made for the U.S Engineer Corps.
Brass
Sold
H 4.8 in W 4.8 in D 7.4 in
1900s Brass Magnetic Compass Signed Sestrel Antique Maritime Navigation Tool
Located in Milan, IT
The compass is made of a brass and glass case on the bottom of which a metal stem is fixed, on which is supported the eight-wind compass card.
Brass
Sold
H 9 in Dm 4.13 in
Early 1900s Magnetic Compass Signed Henry Browne & Son Antique Navigation Device
Located in Milan, IT
Hand-held magnetic bearing compass, signed Henry Browne & Son Ltd Sestrel Made in England, early 1900s.
Brass
Sold
H 12.21 in W 5.71 in D 5.91 in
Magnetic Compass Signed Henry Browne & Son Ltd Sestrel, Early 20th Century
Located in Milan, IT
Hand magnetic bearing compass, signed Henry Browne & Son Ltd Sestrel n. 4359 Made in England, made in the early 20th century.
Brass
Sold
H 0.59 in Dm 1.77 in
1916s Pocket Magnetic Compass for the Raf Officers Antique Surveyor Measurement
Located in Milan, IT
The compass has a snap-on cover with release button inside the ring.
Brass
Sold
H 0.6 in Dm 1.97 in
1900s French Manufacture Antique Pocket Magnetic Compass Made of Turned Brass
Located in Milan, IT
Small travel compass made of turned brass with lid, eight winds compass card of engraved and chromed brass, complete with needle block for calculating horizontal angles. French manuf...
Brass
1918s Small Pocket Nautical Brass Magnetic Compass Signed F.L French Limited
Located in Milan, IT
Prismatic bearing bush in brass; it is a small compass, signed F-L (French Limited) N. 246378 produced in 1918.
Brass
Survey Compass Swiss Made in 1918 for U.S. Engineer Corps
Located in Milan, IT
Vintage nautical bearing magnetic compass, pocket made of brass, signed Cruchon & Emons Berne n. 24345 of 1918 made for the U.S.
Brass
Brass Binnacle for Lifeboat, 1920s
Located in Milan, IT
It's a magnetic compass with gimbals, mounted in a lifeboat binnacle, brass and glass, with light for night illumination.
Sold
H 55.12 in W 32.29 in D 18.51 in
English Compass Ship's log, 40's, teak and brass, 19th century compass. XIX
By Ainsley South Shields
Located in Valladolid, ES
Inside it presents a magnetic compass or compass original from the late 19th century, by Ainsley Cardiff & Barry.
Bronze, Iron
Sold
H 0.79 in W 2.76 in D 2.76 in
19th Century Antique Oakwood Magnetic Surveyng Compass English Manufacture
Located in Milan, IT
Magnetic surveying compass, oakwood with brass hinges and closing hooks, instrument consisting of a magnetized needle free to rotate on a horizontal plane, marking the direction of m...
Brass
1915s Magnetic Pocket Compass Short & Mason Antique Scientific Instrument
Located in Milan, IT
The compass is equipped with a lid with snap closure with release button inside the ring.
Brass
1920s Antique Brass Magnetic Pocket Compass Antique Nautical Objects
Located in Milan, IT
Brass nautical pocket compass, equipped with a lid with glass and viewfinder for checking the direction of a ship, beautiful compass card with eight winds on paper complete with goni...
Brass
Sold
H 0.79 in Dm 3.55 in
XIX century Antique Brass Magnetic Topographic Compass with Goniometric Circle
Located in Milan, IT
Magnetic topographic compass, of brass, an instrument consisting of a magnetized needle free to rotate on a horizontal plane, marking the direction of magnetic north with the tip of ...
Brass
Sold
H 1.25 in Dm 2.1 in
1918s Barke's Magnetic Nautical Pocket Compass Antique Marine Navigation Device
Located in Milan, IT
It is a small vintage compass typically used in recreational sailing, therefore on boats less subject to magnetic deviation.
Brass
Sold
H 1.25 in Dm 2.1 in
1918s Barke's Magnetic Nautical Pocket Compass Antique Marine Navigation Device
Located in Milan, IT
It is a small vintage compass typically used in recreational sailing, therefore on boats less subject to magnetic deviation.
Brass
Sold
H 0.6 in Dm 2.15 in
1907s Pocket Magnetic Crome Plated Brass Compass Antique Scientific Instrument
Located in Milan, IT
Pocket compass chrome plated brass with the shape of a pocket watch, with lid engraving K.F.
Brass
Sold
H 9.06 in W 11.82 in D 7.49 in
American Mahogany Wood Antique Magnetic Binnacle Nautical Compass, circa 1896
Located in Milan, IT
Rare mahogany wood binnacle compass. Inside there is a liquid compass mounted on a universal joint signed D.
Brass
Sold
H 1.97 in W 5.71 in D 5.32 in
Equinoctial Sundial Engraved Brass and Glass Time Measuring Instrument UK 1840
Located in Milan, IT
It is an ancient time measuring instrument whose orientation is given by the magnetic compass located at the base and allows you to orient the sundial, while two levels and three lev...
Brass
Sold
H 5.8 in W 7.75 in D 7.75 in
1900s Antique Magnetic Nautical Brass Liquid Sestrel Compass in Original Box
Located in Milan, IT
Liquid magnetic nautical compass on universal joint signed Sestrel from the 1900s, in its original oak wood box with lid.
Brass
1917s Prismatic Magnetic Pocket Compass Signed F-L Antique Marine Navigation
Located in Milan, IT
Prismatic bearing bush in brass; it is a small compass, signed F-L N. 183801 produced in 1917. It can also be held in the hand and therefore away from magnetic fields.
Brass
Sold
H 7.29 in W 9.65 in D 9.85 in
19th century Antique Magnetic Nautical Compass W.T. Fisher English Manufacturer
Located in Milan, IT
Compass in its original wooden box with slot lid. Signed W. T. FISHER Great Yarmouth, mid 19th century. The compass is made up of a copper container with a lead and glass counterweig...
Brass
Sold
H 1 in W 3.1 in D 3.1 in
End 19th Century Antique Magnetic Topographic Compass Made in Brass and Oak
Located in Milan, IT
Magnetic topographic compass, of oak and brass; instrument consisting of a magnetized needle free to rotate on a horizontal plane, marking with the tip of the needle the direction of...
Oak
Antique and vintage collectibles and curiosities can bring whimsy and wonder to any interior.
Decorating with old scientific instruments, historical memorabilia and vintage musical instruments, as well as other authentic collectibles and curiosities that can be found on 1stDibs, presents an opportunity to create a unique, natural history museum-like atmosphere in your home that can provoke conversation as often as it pays tribute to how far we’ve come in understanding our world.
And bringing collectibles and curiosities into your space is actually on trend — Wunderkammern, or curiosity cabinets, were all the rage in Europe during the 1500s and continued to have adherents there and in the U.S. in the following centuries. Today, however, they’re experiencing a real surge in popularity and influencing how many interior designers are furnishing and decorating homes — combining contemporary with antique, scientific with tribal, earthly with extraterrestrial, Les Lalanne tables with Flemish tapestries.
The original Wunderkammern were entire rooms filled with objects demonstrating their owners’ worldly knowledge: A proper one included artificiala or preciosa (objets d’art); naturalia (such as skeletons, shells, minerals); exotica (taxidermy or dried plants); and scientifica (scientific instruments), frequently alongside religious relics and ancient artifacts.
Pay tribute to a history of rich and diverse musical traditions that have taken shape all over the world by decorating your home with a collection of antique and vintage musical instruments — with a little help from strong hanging wire or some wall hooks, vintage brass instruments such as a gong, French horn or trumpet can help elevate a home office or complement the efforts you’ve made to ensure a welcoming vibe in your home’s entryway. Bells or antique wind instruments can add provocative metallic contrasts to dark woods as tabletop decorative objects.
Create an intriguing focal point with Georgian scientific instruments, such as stick barometers with mahogany cases or lacquered brass telescopes. These items stem from an era named for the monarchies of the four King Georges, who ruled England in succession starting in 1714 (plus King William’s reign, which lasted until 1837). Just as there was beautiful jewelry produced during the period that today is coveted by collectors, there is much to be found in the collectibles and curiosities realm too.
Wanderlust, nostalgia and a shared love of good design are contributing factors to certain trends in decorating — just as vintage trunks and luggage have reappeared as furniture or home accents in a bedroom or foyer, decorating with globes, maps or nautical objects is similarly rooted in the allure of travel and a penchant for the stylish finishing touch that collectibles bring to our homes.
Find a wide range of antique and vintage collectibles and curiosities on 1stDibs.
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It’s never too early for good design. These interiors combine elevated furnishings and a youthful spirit, resulting in spaces that are at once elegant and whimsical.
Produced in 1843, the well-preserved volume is evidence of the author's exacting specifications.
New or old, the coverlets add old-time charm to any space.
Get into the games! These items celebrate the events, athletes, host countries and sporting spirit.
French trendsetter and serial collector Daniel Rozensztroch tells us about his obsession with objects related to seafaring men.
The sought-after designer worked with the team at Hoffman Creative to produce a monograph that beautifully showcases some of Studio Shamshiri's most inspiring projects.
Italian writer and collector Umberto Pasti opens the doors to his remarkable cave of wonders in North Africa.