Kodak Medalist

Along with Raymond Loewy, Norman Bel Geddes, Henry Dreyfuss and others, Walter Dorwin Teague pioneered the field of industrial design in the early decades of the 20th century. In his designs for furniture and objects that ranged from table lamps to radios, Teague helped defined the Machine Age aesthetic — the streamlined style that was the American counterpart to the French Art Deco movement.

     Teague grew up in rural Indiana, the son of a Methodist minister who was also a tailor. The young Teague was skilled at drawing, and in 1903, after finishing high school, he saved some money and moved to New York, where he took classes at the Art Students League. He later found success as a typographer and an advertisement illustrator. The look of ads in the early 20th century was so far superior to that of the actual products being promoted that manufacturers began consulting with illustrators like Teague about the styling of their goods. Teague’s aesthetic sensibilities were strongly shaped by a trip he had made to Europe in 1926, when he toured the Universal Exposition in Paris, buildings by Le Corbusier and a Bauhaus exhibition. On his return home, Teague founded an industrial-design consultancy. The following year, he won his first big client, Kodak, for whom he designed cameras, such as the famed Bantam Special, with its sleek, “speed line” detailing. His firm would go on to design such things as pavilions for the 1939 New York World’s Fair, rail coaches, gas stations, automobiles, corporate logos and a Boeing airliner.

     Among collectors, Teague’s products designs are prized not so much for what they do as for what they represent: a moment when design took a hand in fostering a spirit of energy, optimism and progress. Objects such as his Kodak 1A Gift camera, with its Constructivist case and box, have a graphic punch that should find a place in many a vitrine. His 1930s glassware lines for Steuben still make a striking presence on the bar or the dinner table. The jewels among Teague collectibles are his 1939 Bakelite-shade table lamp for Polaroid (made before the firm began producing cameras) and his striking designs for the Sparton Radio Corporation, most notably the rare and stunning Bluebird model, with its circular glass and chrome frame. Prices for Teague’s work vary widely by medium, style and condition. But as you can see from these pages, the designs of Walter Dorwin Teague are emblems of both a time and a distinctive style. They are cynosures for any true collector.

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.