Five 19th C. French Bronze Metric (Apothecary ) Weights, Original Wooden Block
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Set of 5 Antique French Bronze (Apothecary) Metric Weights with Original Wooden Block, Circa 1880 A handsome and authentic set of 19th-century French bronze metric weights, housed i...
Bronze
Nautical Brass Magnetic Compass with Original Box by E. Vion Paris, Early 1900
Located in Milan, IT
particular compasses and marine instruments. Because of renowned quality, Vion instruments equipped many
Brass
End 19th Century Ophthalmic Steel Surgery kitJ. Weiss & Son and Dixey England
Located in Milan, IT
. Instruments length circa 13 cm - 5.11 inches. Shipping is insured by Lloyd's London; our gift box is free.
Steel
Brass aneroid table and wall barometer England late 19th century.
Located in Milan, IT
Brass aneroid or holosteric barometer, table and wall-mounted, late 19th-century English manufacture. Good condition, signs of use fully functional. Measurements cm 5x12.5 - 1.9x4....
Brass
19th century Danish carved walnut barometer
Located in Debenham, Suffolk
19th century Danish carved walnut barometer circa 1890. Beautifully carved from a solid piece of wood. Thermometer set in the top. Barometer with paper dial in danish. Some losses ...
Brass
19th Century thermometer in original case
Located in Debenham, Suffolk
19th century thermometer in original case circa 1890. Fine quality thermometer which measures between -45 degrees centigrade and +50. In fully working condition, complete in its ori...
Glass, Paper
EARLY 19th CENTURY MARBLE SUNDIAL
Located in Firenze, FI
Ancient sundial in carved white marble, from a historic Florentine palace. The sundial features the famous Florentine lily carved at the top right, while the sculptor's monogram is a...
Marble, Iron
Brass Surveyors Level by Troughton & Simms, London
By Troughton & Simms London
Located in Norwich, GB
Instruments Ltd. The partnership made a large number and variety of barometers, including stick and wheel
Brass
Antique Pocket Poco by the Rochester Optical Co. Folding Camera c.1903
Located in San Francisco, CA
ABOUT The original Pocket Poco was manufactured by the Rochester Optical Co. from approximately 1893 to 1905. Designed as a small compact camera, the camera took 3 1/4 x 4 1/4 (qu...
Brass, Nickel
$1,540Sale Price|20% Off
Antique George III Quality Mahogany Shell Inlaid Banjo Barometer
Located in Suffolk, GB
Antique George III quality mahogany shell inlaid banjo barometer having a quality mahogany banjo shaped case with satinwood shell inlay, brass bezel, silvered engraved dial, original...
Other
French Opera Glasses
Located in Tampa, FL
A refined and elegant pair of late 19th century French opera glasses, crafted by the esteemed maker Lefils Paris. Exquisitely detailed in bronze doré and inlaid with glowing mother o...
Bronze
Celestial Table Globe, Charles-François Delamarche, Paris, 1791
By Charles Francois Delamarche
Located in Milano, IT
Celestial table globe Charles-François Delamarche Paris, 1791 It measures: 17.13 in in height, Ø max 27.7 in; the sphere Ø 7.09 in (h 43.5 cm x Ø max 27.7 cm; the sphere Ø 18 cm). W...
Metal
$204Sale Price|20% Off
Vintage Handmade Egg Timer Hourglass in Wooden Textile Bobbin Spool 3min Timer
Located in Bishop's Stortford, GB
Vintage Handmade Egg Timer Hourglass in Wooden Textile Bobbin Spool 3min Timer. Crafted with precision, the hourglass features fine sand that flows smoothly, symbolizing the passage ...
Glass
Antique 19th century pewter hourglass
Located in Bilzen, BE
A 19th century 4-column hourglass made entirely of pewter. Height 17.5 cm, base 10 x 10 cm.
Pewter
French 19th Century Iron Pharmaceutical Corker
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
glass bottle and the original wooden lever handle. A maker’s or owner's mark on the instrument’s side is
Iron
Antique Mahogany Buck Saw c.1910-1930
Located in San Francisco, CA
ABOUT A Mahogany buck saw with steel tension rod and blade. CREATOR Unknown. DATE OF MANUFACTURE c.1910-1930. MATERIALS AND TECHNIQUES Steel, Mahogany. CONDITION ...
Steel
$125Sale Price|50% Off
Art Deco Copper German Perpetual Desk Calendar c.1930
Located in San Francisco, CA
ABOUT An original German perpetual desk calendar. Change the day of the week and date by pressing the Bakelite handle on the side. A knob in the back allows you to adjust the date t...
Marble, Copper
Victorian Marquetry Wall Barometer and Thermometer
Located in London, GB
demonstration of the taste for scientific knowledge that prevailed during the period. The piece is traditionally
Wood
Carved Wooden Antique French Barometer with Thermometer, Number 9432 1910s
By Black Forest
Located in Verviers, BE
Carved wooden antique French barometer with thermometer Unusual antique carved wooden barometer in a lovely carved case, working order. Number 9432 With best wishes, Geert ...
Fruitwood
Wall-Mounted Weather Station in Art Nouveau Style Carved Walnut G.Tart Belgium
Located in Verviers, BE
Wall-mounted weather station in carved walnut made in Liege Belgium by G.Tart. High quality mechanism with jeweled movement barometer and thermometer (in centigrade) Unusual design ...
Walnut
Antique Telescope, Large, Single Draw Refractor, Cary London, circa 1820
Located in Hele, Devon, GB
, arguably one of the finest instrument makers in England, and went on to produce Fine instruments himself
Brass
$2,280Sale Price|20% Off
Large Antique French Neoclassical Brass Scale
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
not just an early scientific tool but a masterwork of both functionality and aesthetics. Standing at
Brass
$1,914Sale Price|20% Off
Grande Bilancia da Terra Italiana 1800 in Legno Scolpito e Ferro a Due Piatti
Located in Milano, MI
Alta quasi 51 inches, questa grande bilancia italiana da terra del XIX secolo è realizzata con un capitello corinzio capovolto intagliato a motivi fogliati, scolpito con foglie di a...
Iron, Metal
Antique Brass Plumber's Blowtorch c.1900, Made in England
Located in San Francisco, CA
ABOUT An antique brass Heathware No: 66 English plumber's blowtorch with a Bakelite handle. Original sticker. Shown with life size hand model for scale. CREATOR Heathware Pr...
Brass
Antique Brass Three Crown's Plumber's Blowtorch c.1900, Made in Sweden
By BCA Eskilstuna
Located in San Francisco, CA
ABOUT An antique solid brass plumber's blowtorch with a wooden handle. Stamped "The Swedish Lamp" and "Three Crowns Original Swedish". Shown with life size hand model for scale. ...
Brass
Torricellian barometer French manufacture from the second half of the 19th century
Located in Milan, IT
Torricellian mercury barometer, French manufacture from the second half of the 19th century, made of mahogany veneer wood with cedar wood edge threading complete with rare thermomet...
Wood
Bronze Mortar - Italy - 16th Century
Located in Brussels, Brussels
Superb Italian Renaissance bronze mortar with his pestle - 16th century Very beautiful model with AN in its center surmounted by a cross below . The mortar is decorated with several...
Bronze
Large 19th Century English Brass Scale with Weights and Bull Finial
Located in Atlanta, GA
This monumental 19th-century English brass scale presents a rare double-tiered configuration, combining technical function with sculptural elegance. Standing at 48 inches tall, the s...
Brass
Wooden compass box with rosewood veneer circa 1870s
Located in Milan, IT
Box of compasses wood with rosewood veneer from the second mid-19th century, complete with key. In the center of the lid a rhombus-shaped brass medallion is engraved with the name...
Brass
A small mid 19th C brass telescope with an original folding brass tripod stand
Located in Central England, GB
This fine and very rare small scale brass telescope is a delightful piece of Victorian engineering with quality optics. The telescope has a fixed barrel with an unusual focusing mec...
Brass
Wall-Mounted Weather Station in Art Nouveau Style Carved Walnut 1910s
By A. de Lambert
Located in Verviers, BE
Wall-mounted weather station in carved walnut made in Belgium by A. de Lambert. High quality mechanism with jeweled movement barometer and thermometer (in centigrade) Unusual design ...
Walnut
Carved Wooden G.Tart Liege Antique Belgium Barometer with Thermometer, 1910s
By Black Forest
Located in Verviers, BE
Carved wooden G Tart Liege antique Belgium Barometer with Thermometer, 1910s Unusual antique carved wooden barometer in a lovely carved case, working order. With best Wishes, Geert...
Fruitwood
19th Century French Dairy Cheese Press, Nutwood, Country Style
Located in Godshill, Isle of Wight
A 19th Century, French Dairy Cheese Press This is an attractive press from France it is designed to press a small round cheese, like a Camembert it is made in fruitwood and it is in...
Nutwood
Antique 18th Century Trebuchet, Money Changer's Balance, With Its Weights
Located in Bilzen, BE
Wooden trebuchet with its weights. These kind of scales were used by money changers to weigh golden coins in those days to avoid fraud 18th Century The box measures 18 cm X 8.7 cm ...
Brass, Wrought Iron
19th C Anatomical Didactic Model of a Torso with Removable Organs.
Located in Leuven , BE
Anatomical models have been used for centuries as an adjunct to teaching anatomy, and play an important role in the history of anatomical education. Models became popular over time f...
Plaster
$172Sale Price|20% Off
Curiosity Cabinet Collection of Shells, Circa 1900
Located in Beuzevillette, FR
name of the person who collected the specimen for the collector and mentions of course the scientific
Shell
$162Sale Price|20% Off
Curiosité Cabinet Collection of Shell Circa 1900
Located in Beuzevillette, FR
name of the person who collected the specimen for the collector and mentions of course the scientific
Shell
Anatomical model for class: an animal intestine, Italy 1890.
Located in Milan, IT
Anatomic model for class, didactic purpuse, depicting an animal’s intestine, made out of painted paper machè. Italy end of 19th century.
Paper
Anatomical model: a thyroid, Germany end of 18th century.
Located in Milan, IT
Coloured wax anatomic model depicting an human organ: Thyroid mounted on black painted wooden base. Germany end of XVIII sec.
Wood
Antique 2 French Electro Therapy Devices "Institut Electrotherapy" Dated 1905
Located in London, GB
Of scientific interest two French Electrotherapy devices, both wih plaques to the tops stamped
Other
Old Japanese Yagen Iron Mortar Grinder Crushing Tool
Located in Chula Vista, CA
For your consideration, a vintage old Japanese Yagen iron mortar grinder crushing tool. Tool used to grind medicine. Dimensions: 7" H x 5.5" W x 21.75" D Delivery within 200 miles ...
Iron
Tacheometro model Soldati late 19th c. signed La Filotecnica Milano
Located in Milan, IT
Tacheometer model Soldati from the late 19th century signed La Filotecnica Ing. A Salmoiraghi Milan serial no. 18865. Construction site surveying and tracking tool used for calculati...
Brass
Victorian Bronze Imperial Standard Bushel Measure
Located in Essex, MA
Impressively large bushel measure for the County Of Gloucester, England. Inscribed "Imperial Standard Bushel". "County Of Gloucester". Made by Bate of London. Dated 1853 and 1834. ...
Bronze
Ptolemaic Armillary Sphere, Charles-François Delamarche, Paris, ante 1798
By Charles Francois Delamarche
Located in Milano, IT
Ptolemaic armillary sphere Charles-François Delamarche Paris, ante 1798 Wood and papier-mâché covered with printed and partly hand-colored paper It measures 15.55 in in height x Ø 10...
Wood, Paper
French Louis XVI Barometer
Located in Queens, NY
French Louis XVI (18th Century) barometer with original scientific illustrations and mercury vial
Giltwood, Glass
French Brass & Polished Steel Telescope w/ Spotting Scope on Tripod Stand C 1850
By Bardou & Son
Located in Charleston, SC
French brass and polished steel telescope with removable lens cap, spotting scope, and mounted on folding tripod stand, 19th Century. Signed on focal tube by prolific telescope make...
Brass, Steel
A botanic model of a fern Pteris serrulata, A. Dall’Eco, Italy 1880.
Located in Milan, IT
A rare botanical model by A. Dall'Eco di Pteris serrulata N.66 (Ferns. Sporangium and Spore). The round boxwood base contains 4 elements, components of a model of fern Pteris serrula...
Plaster, Boxwood
Set of n.2 Cast iron mortars, complete with original wooden pestles, Italy
Located in Cuneo, Italy (CN)
Set of 2 cast iron mortars, complete with iron handles with knobs and original wooden pestles, complete, original from the 19th century and from a pharmacy in Italy. Measurements: 1....
Iron
Early 20th century Swedish metal telephone by Rikstelefon
Located in Debenham, Suffolk
Early 20th century Swedish metal telephone by rikstelefon circa 1900. Quite possibly early than dated, here we have a sheet metal rikstelefon telephone set. Rikstelefon was the nat...
Metal, Brass
17th Century Dutch Bronze pharmacy Mortar, dated 1632
Located in Bilzen, BE
17th century Dutch bronze mortar, dated 1632 and with border text "lof God van al anno 1632". Height 12.5 cm, Diameter 14 cm
Bronze
A paradoxical orrery that demonstrates the earth-moon system. Italy circa 1860.
Located in Milan, IT
A paradoxical orrery that demonstrates the earth-moon system and its movement. The base of the planetarium is made of fruit wood, circular in shape with three bell-shaped wood feet. ...
Brass
Anatomical model for class, depicting the kidneys, Spain 1890.
Located in Milan, IT
Anatomic model for schools, for educational use, depicting the kidneys, made out of painted papier maché and mounted over a black painted fruitwood base. Spain circa 1890.
Fruitwood
$1,800 / item
French Barometer Gilt Wood Verre Èglomisè
Located in Bradenton, FL
19th century French Giltwood and Verre Èglomisè Barometer. A verre èglomisè (French for “gilded glass”) barometer is a decorative barometer featuring elaborate glasswork and involvin...
Giltwood, Glass
Ancient Planet Model, Tellurium, FR. J. Berg, Stockholm, circa 1900
Located in Greven, DE
Ancient planet model so-called tellurium Stockholm Metal, wood, paper around 1900 Dimensions: H x W x D: 46 x 56 x 20 cm Description: Display model with sun, earth and moon on hea...
Metal
$314Sale Price|58% Off
Large Antique Mid 19th Century Mahogany Magnifying Glass
Located in Bishop's Stortford, GB
A rare Large Victorian Magnifying or Looking Glass, Made from Mahogany Wood all in origianal condition. Known as a gallery glass it allows gentle magnification of items from variable...
Mahogany
An anatomical plaster model of the section of the head, Austria 1870.
Located in Milan, IT
An anatomical model of the section of the head, cast out of plaster, signed “ K.K.S.T.G.S.C.H Innsbruck, in a very good condition and with original patina. Anatomical study purpose. ...
Plaster
Small gilded bronze mortar and pestle, Italy
Located in Cuneo, Italy (CN)
Small antique mortar with original pestle, chiseled in gilded bronze with period decorations, antique pharmacy mortar, used for potions and medicines, beautiful gift idea or to use i...
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.
It's hard to resist the allure of a beautiful pool. So, go ahead and daydream about whiling away your summer in paradise.
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.