Early Dominique Anel Syringue in Solid Silver, First Half of 18th Century
Located in Paris, FR
An excellent and complete example in case of the Dominique Anel-type syringue, which is considered like the first modern hypodermic syringue. The present small and solid silver ex...
Unavailable|$887
Fine Surgical Elevator in High Quality Steel, circa 1700
Located in Paris, FR
A very good example of a classic bone or skull elevator used for scraping, elevating or dissecting bones or tissues. The present example is made in excellent steel with nice and ele...
Unavailable|$6,500
Giltwood Barometer, French, 18th Century
Located in Providence, RI
This French barometer is of large size, in an excellent state of preservation, and in working condition. The gold leaf has a mellow and deep glow. This barometer is typical of French...
Wood
Unavailable|$1,450
Handsome Clock and Barometer on Wood Base
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Handsome German rare clock and barometer on distinctive wood base Mahogany wood base and trim clock and barometer with aged brass bezels and top rail trim-aged metal backs, distincti...
Brass
Impressive Papier Mâché Polypore Mushroom by Heinrich Arnoldi, circa 1880
By Heinrich Arnoldi
Located in Paris, FR
A very fine and large example (17cm height) of a rare papier model of a mushroom, more exactly a “polyporus frondosus” ei a Grifola frondosa, which a specie of polypore mushrooms. T...
Collection of Three Papier Maché Models of Morels by Heinrich Arnoldi, 1880
By Heinrich Arnoldi
Located in Paris, FR
A rare collection of papier maché models of three different species of morels (morchella): a morchella rotunda, a Morchella esculenta and the third not attributed. The models are in...
Unavailable|$2,450
Civil War Era Eye Exam Device
Located in North Beninngton, VT
This machine looks as if it were designed by Joseph Cornell. It's such a mysterious and beautiful object. I have no idea how it worked but the lines in the large white paper circle c...
Iron
Unavailable|$21,592
King Barker 1916 Hand Crank Movie Iconic Camera Wood and Brass with Tripod
By Barker Brothers Silver Ltd.
Located in Dallas, TX
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Note: This antique MAY qualify for our gallery wide ~EXTRA~ 10-25% off sale, Going on now. Please inquire. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Offered for your consid...
Metal, Brass
Unavailable|$45,000
Monumental Scottish Globe on Stand, circa 1924
By W. & A.K. Johnston
Located in New Oxford, PA
Made in Edinburgh, Scotland by W. and A.K. Johnston, Ltd. in 1924. The diameter of the globe is 30" and sits in a fine mahogany stand with brass fitting and features a compass dial i...
Paper
Unavailable|$662
Early 20th Century Plaster Death Mask
Located in Tadcaster, GB
This is a stunning yet macabre piece. It is an early 20th century plaster cast death mask. These were used for scientists to study the head and facial shapes of criminals to see if t...
Unavailable|$250,000
Wilart, 35mm Cinema Camera, One Off Factory Prototype, Circa 1919. As Sculpture.
By Wilart Camera Company
Located in Dallas, TX
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ NOTE: This Antique May Qualify For Our GALLERY WIDE ~EXTRA~ 10-20% OFF SALE, Going On NOW. Please Inquire. ~~~~...
Metal, Brass
Vintage Ampere Meter, Early 20th Century, Rare Arc Solarium Unit as Sculpture
Located in Dallas, TX
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ NOTE: This Antique May Qualify For Our GALLERY WIDE EXTRA 10-25% OFF SALE, Going On NOW. Please Inquire. ~~~~~~...
Metal
Vintage Weston Thermo-Galvanometer, Early 20th Century, as Sculpture
By Weston Manufacturing Co.
Located in Dallas, TX
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ NOTE: This Antique May Qualify For Our GALLERY WIDE EXTRA 10-25% OFF SALE, Going On NOW. Please Inquire. ~~~~~~...
King Barker 1916 Hand Crank Movie Camera Wood/Brass w Tripod, Rare. TAKE 15% OFF
By Barker Brothers Silver Ltd.
Located in Dallas, TX
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Note: This antique MAY qualify for our gallery wide ~EXTRA~ 10-25% off sale, Going on now. Please inquire. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Offered for your consid...
Metal, Brass
Unavailable|$1,900
19th Century French Empire Gilt Barometer
Located in Fairhope, AL
French Empire giltwood barometer or thermometer with lyre form over a octagonal shape.
Unavailable|$946
19th Century Magnifying Glass on Stand
Located in Vienna, Vienna
Magnifying glass with wood stand and darkened iron frame, on base on inventory label.
Pathe 28mm Hand Crank Movie Projector, circa 1918, with Film, Vintage Sculpture
By Pathe Freres
Located in Dallas, TX
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ NOTE: This Antique May Qualify For Our GALLERY WIDE ~EXTRA~ 10-25% OFF SALE, Going On NOW. Please Inquire. ~~~~...
Metal, Brass, Copper, Sheet Metal, Wire
Unavailable|$1,299
Rare Hoyt Voltammeter, Mahogany All Original, as Sculpture, circa 1920
Located in Dallas, TX
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ NOTE: This Antique May Qualify For Our GALLERY WIDE EXTRA 10-25% OFF SALE, Going On NOW. Please Inquire. ~~~~~~...
Chrome
Unavailable|$18,650
Pathe Hand Crank 28MM Cinema Projector, circa 1912 with Vintage Film
Located in Dallas, TX
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ NOTE: This Antique May Qualify For Our GALLERY WIDE ~EXTRA~ 10-20% OFF SALE, Going On NOW. Please Inquire. ~~~~...
Metal
Moviola Bullseye 35mm Film Editing Viewer Designed 1919 Built in 1932. Sculpture
By Moviola 1
Located in Dallas, TX
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ NOTE: This Antique May Qualify For Our GALLERY WIDE ~EXTRA~ 10-20% OFF SALE, Going On NOW. Please Inquire. ~~~~...
Metal, Brass
Unavailable|$1,265
Vacuum Thermocouple Circa Early 20th Electrical Device, As Sculpture
Located in Dallas, TX
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ NOTE: This Antique May Qualify For Our GALLERY WIDE 10-25% OFF SA...
Brass
Unavailable|$355
19th Century Belgian Chocolate Scale
Located in Antwerp, BE
This 19th century scale has marble plates to weigh chocolates. Made of cast iron with the original marble plates.
Unavailable|$5,325
Rare Cast Iron Scale, circa 1900
Located in Saint Ouen, FR
Rare model of antique cast iron scale, made around 1900. Decor lions. Can weigh up to 100 kg with lions decor. Beautiful aged patina for this ancient object. Large dimensions
Iron
Unavailable|$450
Antique Spencer Brass Microscope
Located in Austin, TX
A brass and iron microscope by Spencer of buffalo, New York. circa late 19th century. This microscope is in very good working condition, the brass dials on each side easily glide the...
Weston Thermo Galvanometer Sculpture Circa 1922 W/ Electric Thermocouple ON SALE
Located in Dallas, TX
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ NOTE: This Antique May Qualify For Our GALLERY WIDE 10-25...
Unavailable|$349
Antique Syringe by Gentile Paris
Located in Ulft, Gelderland
Antique Syringe by "Gentile Paris”. Comes in the original wooden box. Name and measures are engraved in the glass. With nice wear and patina on the chrome, This Syringe remains in go...
Unavailable|$362
Pocket Microscope, circa 1880
Located in Umberleigh, Devon
A nice English brass pocket microscope/magnifier in cylindrical protective box with adjustable screw-top lens, circa 1880. Measurements: Diameter across base: 3/4" (approx 1.75cm...
Brass
Unavailable|$3,400
William IV Period Painted Wood Barometer
Located in San Francisco, CA
Of typical banjo form, enclosing a hydrometer, thermometer, convex “bull’s eye” mirror within a reeded frame, ten inch dial centering an engraved stylized compass and using an bone k...
Metal
Unavailable|$1,050
Double Horizontal Microscope
Located in Hudson, NY
Double horizontal microscope on goniometer stand with case by Hall & Benjamin, NY. circa 1880. Ex. Elli Buk Museum Collection, NYC.
Brass
Unavailable|$1,183
Square Shape Sundial, 18th Century
Located in Paris, FR
Sundial in wood and papier with fines watercolors, Germany.
Unavailable|$41,002 / set
Pair of Early 19th Century English Terrestrial and Celestial Globes
Located in Roma, IT
Inscribed: ‘Terrestrial Globe delineated from the best authorities extant exhibiting the late discoveries towards the North Pole, and every improvement in Geography to the present ...
Unavailable|$680
French Antique Wooden Prosthetic Leg, Late 19th Century
Located in Ulft, Gelderland
Antique wooden prosthetic leg. Quirky item and very decorative. This prosthetic leg is made of high quality. With sign of used this item remains in fair condition. Size of this a...
Wood
Unavailable|$1,742
Early 19th Century Mahogany Wheel Barometer by J Gatty
Located in Cambridge, GB
Early 19th century mahogany wheel barometer by J. Gatty, 104 High Holborn, London; the 8" silvered dial contained in a Sheraton style case, inlaid with two attractively stylised sea-...
Mahogany
Unavailable|$3,431
Remington Vertical Adder Model 22 Type Writer
By E. Remington and Sons
Located in Amsterdam, NL
Remington typewriter with table on wheels. Type: Remington vertical adder model 22. The right part of the table can be removed or folded down. Type writer can be removed. Used in...
Steel
Unavailable|$698 / set
Tramway or Bus Conductor Set with Bag Hole Puncher Horn Money Changer, 1900
Located in Diest, Vlaams Brabant
Very original and unique complete set from a tramway or bus conductor Leather bag measures: 25 x 18 x 22 Hole puncher Horn Money changer circa 1900 Included old Belgian cents f...
Leather
Unavailable|$5,800
French Mid-18th Century Painted and Parcel-Gilt Barometer
Located in Mississauga, ON
A French mid-18th century painted and parcel-gilt barometer with delicate floral carving.
Unavailable|$3,690
English Refracting Telescope
By Thomas Harris and Son
Located in Savannah, GA
Working brass telescope on mahogany tripod base. Signed "Tho. Harris and Son Opticians to the Royal Family, 52 Gt. Russell Street, London 1880" Brass tube is adjustable as is tripod ...
Brass
Unavailable|$820 / set
Surveyors Levels
Located in Oxfordshire, GB
A collection of three telescopic surveyors levels to include three early 20th century levels of painted oak. The measurements (non extended) respectively. Measures: 240 cm long x...
Unavailable|$3,500
19th Century Shopkeeper's Leech Jar
Located in North Egremont, MA
Monumental impressive ceramic leech jar with hand-colored transfer decoration and gilt handles. Outstanding example of English ceramic art originally used for counter sales of medic...
Unavailable|$2,050
George III Period Barometer
Located in Witney, OXFORDSHIRE
A very good George III period mahogany and shell inlaid eight inch dial wheel barometer signed Bernascheni & Monli, Leicester with silvered dial and thermometer scale. Literature...
Unavailable|$3,250
18th Century French Barometer
Located in Houston, TX
Very fine 18th century French barometer and thermometer. Hand-carved giltwood garland of scrolling leaves surrounding dark green, poly-chromed wood body with an exceptionally beautif...
Gold
Unavailable|$5,680
Big Anatomical Head Model in Paper-Mâché by Dr. Auzoux
By Dr. Louis Auzoux
Located in Madrid, ES
Louis Thomas Jerôme Auzoux. (Saint-Aubin-d'Écrosville, Paris 1797-1880). Detachable anatomical head model in paper-mâché. Measures: 45.5 x 28 x 11 cms. Louis Auzoux obtained th...
Paper
Unavailable|$23,668 / set
Pair of Great Barometers and Thermometers from the 18th Century
Located in Paris, FR
Pair of gilt and lacquered wood barometers and thermometers decorated with doves, horns of plenty, torches, arrows, laurels. Work from the 18th century. Dimensions: 123 cm H...
Thermometer in Black Marble, Inlaid with Various Marbles, Italy, 19th Century
Located in Madrid, ES
Thermometer in black marble, inlaid with various marbles and bordered in malachite, 19th century.
Malachite, Marble
Unavailable|$591
Early 19th Century Hourglass
Located in Fossano, IT
Hourglass of 15 seconds , Italy early 19th century.
Brass
Unavailable|$2,050
George III Period Mahogany Wheel Barometer
Located in Witney, OXFORDSHIRE
A good George III period mahogany, double line and shell inlaid wheel barometer, the 8” dial signed “A. Rivolta, Chester,” the whole surmounted with a broken arch pediment.
Unavailable|$39,635
Early 18th Century Long Case Clock
By John Webster
Located in Froxfield, Wiltshire
An early 18th century walnut long case clock with satinwood and boxwood marquetry by John Webster of London.
Walnut
Unavailable|$450
19th Century Brass and Iron Beam Scale
By Perry & Warmington LTD
Located in Miami, FL
Brass and iron beam scale. Marked: 10 lb Class B and Berry & Warmington Limited, Liverpool & Manchester.
Berlin Iron, Brass
Unavailable|$2,200
Louis XVI Barometer
Located in Chicago, IL
This exquisite Louis XVI period giltwood Barometer with birds and acanthus leaves is perfect for those who have a collection. There are minor repairs that have been done.
Glass, Wood
Unavailable|$6,863
Imposing King-Size Wheel Barometer by "Tarelli" New Castle, circa 1840
Located in Amsterdam, Noord Holland
An imposing king-size wheel barometer by "Tarelli" New Castle, engraved silvered plates Mercury thermometer and separate hygrometer, signed "Tarelli New Castle," ...
Unavailable|$5,739
English Regency Banjo Barometer with Mercury Tube, circa 1820
Located in Amsterdam, Noord Holland
An English Regency Banjo barometer with mercury tube, circa 1820. Made by "Salope London" lovely satinwood case, marquetry inlaid with shell motives.
Unavailable|$5,680
Good English Mahogany Marquetry Inlaid Stick Barometer, J. Hicks London
By J. Hicks, London 1
Located in Amsterdam, Noord Holland
A good English mahogany marquetry inlaid stick barometer, J. Hicks London bone scales with double vernier, mahogany inlaid case with the thermometer. Concealed tube with bone sca...
Wood
Unavailable|$307
Small Edwardian Oak Aneroid Barometer
Located in Buckinghamshire, GB
A solid carved oak wall barometer. It has a banjo shaped case, with a top milk glass thermometer window, a 4 inch milk glass dial with a bevel edge glass.
Unavailable|$4,142
18th Century French Barometer
Located in Paris, ile de france
18th century French barometer re-gilded in gold leaf.
Unavailable|$800
Medical Scarificator, 19th Century
Located in Houston, TX
The scarificator, which was a devise that held a series of 12 blades, was commonly used throughout the 18th century, this device would cock and the trigger would release, causing spr...
Unavailable|$4,500
Astrolabe, Late 19th Century
Located in Houston, TX
Astrolabe, North African, late 19th century. The astrolabe is an ancient astronomical computer for solving problems relating to time and the position of the Sun and stars in the ...
Unavailable|$2,650
19th Century English Brass Telescope and Stand
Located in Alexandria, VA
Antique refracting brass and mahogany four-draw telescope with a brass tripod table stand, and having slides to cover both lens and eyepiece, English, late 19th century. Provenance: ...
Brass
Decorating with vintage, new and antique scientific 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.
The Age of Discovery (or the Age of Exploration) refers to a period during the 15th to 18th centuries that saw Europeans taking to the high seas to explore, trade and conquer various regions of the world. What we know about geography, the advancement of sea vessels and the development of scientific instruments all broadened significantly during this time.
With every new finding about our world, scientists invented tools to measure and record. While many of these objects are now obsolete, they are essentially works of art and have a rich history. Scientific instruments of a bygone era represent how far science and technology have advanced.
If you’re interested in introducing antique scientific instruments and tools to your decor to add contrast or draw attention to otherwise unexplored corners of your living room or dining room, there are many options to consider as far as textures and colors go. Like any curious decorative object that draws attention to your home library or mantel, vintage scientific instruments will likely add spirit to any conversation that might take place over cocktails or dinner.
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.
Mid-century modern scientific instruments also capture a period of rapid progress, representing groundbreaking discoveries that defined the 20th century. Wouldn’t antique anatomical models of the 1950s pair well with your eye-catching abstract paintings, George Nelson clock or Florence Knoll sofa?
Whether you’re looking for a way to showcase your passion for chemistry or aviation or are making room in your foyer for a breathtaking industrial-style electronic time tower manufactured by Patek Philippe, 1stDibs offers a collection of vintage, new and antique scientific instruments that includes topographic tools, laboratory equipment and more.
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.
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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.
Hollywood A-listers, ex-pat aristocrats and art collectors and style setters of all stripes appreciate the allure of the coastal California hamlet — much on our minds after recent winter floods.