Scientific Instruments
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Scientific Instruments For Sale
Mushroom Botanical Scientific Specimen Model Europe, 1950s or older
Located in Nuernberg, DE
This rare vintage model of a botanical scientific specimen depicts a mushroom native to Central Europe. This kind of items are used as teaching material in German schools or as showp...
Category
20th Century Czech Folk Art Scientific Instruments
Materials
Wood, Paper
French 19th Century Iron & Brass Tabletop Scale
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
A smart French metal hanging balance scale from the 1900’s. Two straight stirrups hang from the arms with round brass dishes that hold the weighted item in one, and counterweights in...
Category
19th Century French Other Antique Scientific Instruments
Materials
Brass, Iron
Metallic Polyhedron From The 19th Century – Hexaoctahedron With 48 Faces
Located in Madrid, ES
Behold a masterpiece from the 19th century—a remarkable representation of an irregular polyhedron with 48 faces, specifically a hexaoctahedron, featuring 12 vertices. This exquisite ...
Category
19th Century Antique Scientific Instruments
Materials
Metal
Mushroom Botanical Scientific Specimen Model Europe, 1950s or older
Located in Nuernberg, DE
This rare vintage model of a botanical scientific specimen depicts a mushroom native to Central Europe. This kind of items are used as teaching material in German schools or as showp...
Category
20th Century Czech Folk Art Scientific Instruments
Materials
Wood, Paper
Mappin Paris 1950 Retro Multiuse Money Clip Sun Clock And Compass In Silver
Located in Miami, FL
Multiuse Money Clip Sun Clock And Compass designed by Mappin-Paris.
Very unusual multiuse money clip, created in France by Mappin-Paris back in the 1950. In great shape and very ver...
Category
1950s French Industrial Vintage Scientific Instruments
Materials
Silver
Postmodern Funnytime 105 Kitchen Timer by Roberto Pezzetta for Wikidue
Located in Brooklyn, NY
A whimsical Italian postmodern multicolor kitchen timer designed by Roberto Pezzetta for WikiDue. Stacked green, red and yellow discs give it a fun Me...
Category
Late 20th Century Post-Modern Scientific Instruments
Materials
Plastic
Antique Underwood Typewriter, C.1945
Located in San Francisco, CA
About
An original Underwood typewriter with black crinkle finish. The typewriter functions properly except the space bar has ceased up and needs repair. New ribbon. The keys are bra...
Category
Early 20th Century Industrial Scientific Instruments
Materials
Steel, Nickel
English or French Antique Brass Surveyor's Transit Theodolite, last quarter 19th
Located in Atlanta, GA
From Wikipedia:
“A THEODOLITE is a precision optical instrument for measuring angles between designated visible points in the horizontal and vertical planes. The traditional use has been for land...
Category
1880s English Victorian Antique Scientific Instruments
Materials
Brass
1970s Era Harmon-Kardon 330B with Matching Omni Directional Speakers
By bose
Located in Philadelphia, PA
This item is a classic Harmon-Kardon 330B receiver retrofitted with Bluetooth module and matched with period correct Harmon-Kardon Omni Direction speakers. The Harman-Kardon 330B was...
Category
Late 20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Scientific Instruments
Materials
Metal
Early 20th Century French Laboratory Scale
Located in High Point, NC
Made in early 20th Century France, this mechanical wonder was crafted with an eye for aesthetics, the richly polished wood and meticulously crafted mechanism elevate this piece with ...
Category
Early 20th Century French French Provincial Scientific Instruments
Materials
Metal
Late 19th C Gregory Bottley Scientific Collection of Mineral Fossils Shell
Located in Lowestoft, GB
A good collection of Gregory Bottley mineral, fossils and shell all contained in there original teak trays and card board sleeves.
Each specimen has its original hand written and nu...
Category
Late 19th Century English Late Victorian Antique Scientific Instruments
Materials
Natural Fiber, Hardwood
Antique English Brass Cased Floating Card Explorers Pocket Compass c.1890
Located in Bath, GB
A very attractive Victorian explorers compass dating to around 1890.
The floating card dial pivots on a bearing and is housed under a glass crystal which is clean and free from any ...
Category
1890s British Late Victorian Antique Scientific Instruments
Materials
Brass
Oak cased barograph and barometer
Located in Cheshire, GB
Oak-cased barograph and barometer retailed by Harrods London, having five bevelled glass panelled removable lid, and a drawer below to house the charts. The mechanical eight-day move...
Category
Early 20th Century British Scientific Instruments
Materials
Oak
Sony Vintage Vidicon Video Camera, Circa 1969, Classic, Iconic With Tripod
By Sony Corporation
Located in Dallas, US
Submitted for your consideration is this, circa 1969, Sony vintage Vidicon industrial television camera complete with a studio viewfinder and a Sony TV z...
Category
1960s Japanese Industrial Vintage Scientific Instruments
Materials
Metal
1920's Gladstone Bag
Located in Eindhoven, NL
1920's Gladstone Bag in perfect condition. The bag closings are in perfect shape and condition and everything works perfectly. The bag has some minor spots but for the age of the bag...
Category
Early 20th Century British Scientific Instruments
Materials
Leather
Anatomical model: human heart, Germany 1950.
Located in Milan, IT
Anatomical demontable model of an human heart made out of painted lattex mounted on a round black wooden base. Germany circa 1950.
Category
Mid-20th Century German Scientific Instruments
Materials
Latex, Wood
Antique English aneroid barometer from the 1930s made of turned wood and brass
Located in Milan, IT
Antique English aneroid barometer 1930s turned wood, brass, and glass.
Bon état. Working order.
Diameter cm 19.7 - inches 7.7, thickness cm 5.5 - inches 2.2.
Last photo gift box....
Category
1930s Vintage Scientific Instruments
Materials
Wood
Pair of Glass Pharmacy Jars, Italy, 1930s
Located in Palermo, IT
Pair of glass pharmacy jars, Italy, 1930s
Found in an old disused pharmacy.
Good condition. One has an imperceptible chip on the edge.
Being handcra...
Category
1930s Italian Vintage Scientific Instruments
Materials
Glass
Ancient anatomical model of the hand, Italy 1900.
Located in Milan, IT
Anatomical model for schools, educational use, depicting the hand swinging on a fork supported by a black lacquered wooden base.
Made of plaster and finished entirely in colour. Ital...
Category
Early 20th Century Italian Scientific Instruments
Materials
Plaster, Wood
Kilgore Authentic Anatomical Preparation Human Skull
Located in Hamilton, Ontario
Prepared by legendary medical supply company Kilgore International, this is an advanced anatomical reference human skull!
An exceptional authentic vint...
Category
1950s American Vintage Scientific Instruments
Materials
Bone
19th C Scientific James DeVille L N Fowler Phrenology Plaster Bust Head Curio
By L. N. Fowler
Located in Lowestoft, GB
A larger than the normal plaster cast phrenology head, with its original painted finish and paper labels.
The original makers label is partially missing leaving it a bit of a myster...
Category
Mid-19th Century English Antique Scientific Instruments
Materials
Plaster
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 ...
Category
1910s Belgian Art Nouveau Vintage Scientific Instruments
Materials
Walnut
Pair WW1 Binoculars - British Officer's Issue by LeMaire, Paris
Located in Bath, GB
A fabulous pair of French made World War 1 British Officers Military binoculars with both the brass on the binoculars and the leather case with the British military crows foot mark. ...
Category
1910s French Vintage Scientific Instruments
Materials
Brass
Microscope cloth counting glass by Casartelli
Located in London, GB
Microscope cloth counting glass by J. Casartelli & Son of Manchester. Circa 1910.
In original black leather case with satin and velvet lining.
Marked: J. CASARTELLI & SON SALFORD.6...
Category
Early 20th Century English Scientific Instruments
Materials
Brass
English Barometer of Brass in Wood Housing
Located in Austin, TX
A fine English barometer of brass with a glass facing and wood casing - with ring top for display.
Reads Stormy - Rain - Change - Fair - Very Dry
Category
20th Century English Scientific Instruments
Materials
Brass
Antique English Mahogany Cased Compass by Stanley, London
Located in Bath, GB
A very handsome Victorian military explorer's compass dating to around 1840 / 1860 set in a hinged mahogany block measuring 2" square.
The compass has a shapely blued-steel needle (...
Category
1850s British Victorian Antique Scientific Instruments
Materials
Wood
SECOND HALF OF THE 19th CENTURY NAPOLEON III'S BAROMETER
Located in Firenze, FI
This beautiful wall barometer with room thermometer is a highly valuable craftsmanship, attributable to French manufacture and dating back to the period of Napoleon III (approximatel...
Category
1860s French Napoleon III Antique Scientific Instruments
Materials
Bronze
Ceramic Thermometer by Mithé Espelte with Flower Motif
By Mithé Espelt
Located in Saint-Ouen, IDF
Wall thermometer in ceramic by Mithé Espelt. Typical flower decor with the numeral indication of the temperature.
Marie Thérèse Espelt, aka. Mithé Espelt (1923-2020)
Born in the...
Category
1960s French Mid-Century Modern Vintage Scientific Instruments
Materials
Ceramic
Antique Trade Scale Brass and Painted Cast Iron, France, circa 1880
Located in Labrit, Landes
This trade scale was made in the late 19th century in France. It was a scale used by traders for retail.
Brass and painted cast-iron
Patina and signs of use which make this antique o...
Category
Late 19th Century French Napoleon III Antique Scientific Instruments
Materials
Brass, Iron
Vintage Metal Scale from Twentieth Century Belgium
Located in High Point, NC
The limelight of everyday life is often put on the home, yet most of our lives happen on the outside, on the surroundings and nearby streets. A butcher, a bakery, a bodega, and the c...
Category
20th Century Belgian French Provincial Scientific Instruments
Materials
Metal
Oak cased weather station
Located in Cheshire, GB
Oak-cased Weather station by James Brown Glasgow. with silvered dials comprising a clock set with Roman numerals and subsidiary seconds dial, barometer, and central barograph over th...
Category
Late 19th Century British Antique Scientific Instruments
Materials
Oak
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 ...
Category
1910s Belgian Art Nouveau Vintage Scientific Instruments
Materials
Walnut
Large Studio Portrait Camera
Located in Peekskill, NY
Cameras are not my expertise but we could not pass up on this beauty. The camera is signed ANSCO and the large lens reads DARLO OPTICIEN, PARIS 35436. I'm told that this lens is the most valuable...
Category
Early 19th Century Industrial Antique Scientific Instruments
Materials
Wood
A Fine 19th Century Noon Day Cannon
Located in Pease pottage, West Sussex
A Fine 19th Century Meridian or Noon Cannon, Large Marble Base into which is carved a sundial with a bronze Gnomen, also engraved is the operational latitude 48 50 13'. Mounted cann...
Category
Mid-19th Century French Antique Scientific Instruments
Materials
Marble, Brass
Antique Gilbert & Barker Red Self Measuring Type 208 Vintage Curbside Gas Pump
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Antique Gilbert & Barker Red Self Measuring Type 208 Vintage Curbside Gas Pump. Item featured weighs approx 180 lbs, remarkable red color, original lab...
Category
Early 1900s Art Deco Antique Scientific Instruments
Materials
Metal
Signed 19th Century Mahogany and Brass Telescope on Custom Oak Wall Mount
Located in San Francisco, CA
An English mahogany and brass single draw telescope made and signed by William Bruce, Kings Head Court Shoe Lane London, circa 1830. This handsom...
Category
1830s English Georgian Antique Scientific Instruments
Materials
Brass
Kinora monochrome motion picture viewer, circa 1905.
Located in London, GB
A Kinora monochrome motion picture viewer on folding dark oak base. Circa 1905.
Marked: THE KINORA REGISTERED TRADE MARK PATENTED THROUGHOUT THE WORLD ...
Category
Early 20th Century English Victorian Scientific Instruments
Materials
Optical Glass, Oak
Antique Teaching Aid - Median Incision of the Human Head by PHYWE
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Antique Teaching Aid - Median Incision of the Human Head by PHYWE
A great antique hand-painted and hand lettered anatomical model. A median incision of the head for class. It is mad...
Category
Early 20th Century German Other Scientific Instruments
Materials
Plaster, Wood
Early 20th Century Boxed Pair of Crown Castle Quality Straight Razors Germany
Located in High Wycombe, GB
Early 20th Century Boxed Pair of Crown Castle Quality Straight Razors With Decorative Bakelite Handles Made and Ground In Germany
From a Gentleman's Priv...
Category
Early 20th Century German Late Victorian Scientific Instruments
Materials
Bakelite
1986 Enorme Telephone Handset by Ettore Sottsass
Located in Brooklyn, NY
A perfectly postmodern telephone handset designed by the Memphis Milano master, Ettore Sottsass, and produced in 1986. The Enorme telephone was the result of a collaboration between Sottsass and David Kelley, founder of the design firm IDEO. Sottsass created the conceptual design, and Kelley and his team were responsible for the engineering and detail design. To produce the telephone, the two formed the Enorme Corporation with Jean Pigozzi. Examples of this phone design are found in the collections of The Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Museum of Modern Art, RISD Museum, and the Los Angeles County Museum.
In vintage condition with wear consistent with age and use. This is the handset only and it has not been tested. Molded manufacturer's mark on handset and base: "Designed by Ettore Sottsass Enorme...
Category
Late 20th Century Post-Modern Scientific Instruments
Materials
Plastic
Early 20th Century Medical Curios Gold Teeth Dentures
Located in Lowestoft, GB
A collection of human gold teeth, with two having their original metal pegs.
Most gold teeth are of a particularly high carrot, and these are heavy to hold. Tarnished and untouched,...
Category
Early 20th Century English Scientific Instruments
Materials
Gold
Large Dramatic Streamlined Floor Fan
By Vornado
Located in Peekskill, NY
This is one of the most dramatic midcentury floor fan designs you will find. This example is extremely rare. It has the look of a Jet Engine. Its clean and works very well. It does s...
Category
Mid-20th Century American Streamlined Moderne Scientific Instruments
Materials
Aluminum
Early 19th century brass surveyor's level with compass
Located in London, GB
An early 19th century brass surveyor's level with telescope, compass and spirit level.
With original brass mounted pine case.
Telescope length: 18 1/4 inches. - 46.5 cm.
Fitting for tripod mount, now re-mounted on a modern brass plate for desk top display.
Category
Early 19th Century English Antique Scientific Instruments
Materials
Brass
Antique 3D Anatomical Foot Model Made by SOMSO ca. 1930
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Antique 3D Anatomical Foot Model Made by SOMSO ca. 1930
A delicately handpainted and highly detailed anatomical foot model for class. It is made of papier ...
Category
Early 20th Century German Other Scientific Instruments
Materials
Plaster
Antique Seibert Witzlar Microscope, app. 1920
Located in Hoogeveen, NL
Beautiful antique microscope by German manufacturer of precision equipement Seibert Witzlar. Was made around 1920. It was the microscope brand of ch...
Category
1920s German Vintage Scientific Instruments
Materials
Metal
Set of Two Mushrooms Scientific Models Europe , Germany 1960s
Located in Nuernberg, DE
This rare vintage set of two different types of mushrooms, show Models which are native to middle Europe. This kind of items are used as teaching material in German schools. Colorful...
Category
1960s German Folk Art Vintage Scientific Instruments
Materials
Paper, Wood
Nice Acupuncture Model Statue Sculpture, Composition on Wood Stand Vintage 1960s
Located in Nuernberg, DE
A decorative Acupuncture Model. Some wear with a nice patina. Made of composition, metal and a wooden stand. It is painted in different colors and covered with clear varnish. Found a...
Category
1960s German Modern Vintage Scientific Instruments
Materials
Composition, Metal
WW1 1918 British Army Officer's Compass - Verner's Patent MK VII by French Ltd.
Located in Bath, GB
This is an excellent original example of the MK VII. It is fully functioning, has a brass case and is mounted with lanyard ring. The glass face and numbered brass outer ring are perf...
Category
1910s British Vintage Scientific Instruments
Materials
Brass
Seven Large Mid 20th Century German Brown Amber Glass Apothecary Jars with Lid
Located in Haarlem, NL
A decorative collection of seven extra large German 1930s-1940s apothecary jars in blown and pressed amber glass with pressed and blown glass lids.
Once used for chemistry and pharmaceutical stuff, now very pretty as decoration set.
Not jet antique...
Category
Mid-20th Century German Scientific Instruments
Materials
Glass, Blown Glass
Antique French Cast Iron Scale
Located in High Point, NC
This cast iron scale was made in France, circa 1900. A ubiquitous classic in the home or the market, scales of these dimensions were commonly used to weig...
Category
Early 1900s French French Provincial Antique Scientific Instruments
Materials
Brass, Iron
A land surveying square, France 1880.
Located in Milan, IT
Octagonal brass land surveying square. Each side has a slot, which allows to aim the distance and evaluate 90 and 45 degrees when measuring the field. ...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Scientific Instruments
Materials
Brass
Aneroid wall barometer in carved wood brass and glass late 19th century.
Located in Milan, IT
Wall-mounted aneroid barometer made of carved wood, brass, and glass, an instrument whose pressure-sensitive organ is a metal box called a barometric capsule.
English manufacture of...
Category
Late 19th Century Antique Scientific Instruments
Materials
Wood
Tellurium mechanical/electrical model of the solar system Phiwe Italian 1950s
Located in Milan, IT
Tellurium, i.e., mechanical/electrical model representative of the solar system, made of metal with green and gray hammered paint, lithographed tin globe, plastic Moon, and metal bas...
Category
1950s Vintage Scientific Instruments
Materials
Metal
Vintage Military Compass, American, Navigation Aid, Keuffel & Esser, 5600X Model
Located in Hele, Devon, GB
This is a vintage military compass. An American, aluminium and glass navigation aid by Keuffel & Esser, dating to the early 20th century, circa 1930.
Fascinating example of the 5600...
Category
1930s American Other Vintage Scientific Instruments
Materials
Aluminum
Cast Iron Mortar
Located in Sagaponack, NY
A cast iron mortar with a bas-relief band in the center.
Category
19th Century American Industrial Antique Scientific Instruments
Materials
Iron
Brass barometric altimeter signed J. Hicks Maker London from the early 1900s
Located in Milan, IT
Brass compensated barometric altimeter complete with magnifying glass signed J. Hicks Maker London from the early 1900s. Diameter cm 7 - inches 2.8, thickness cm 3.2 - inches 1.3. Bu...
Category
Early 1900s Antique Scientific Instruments
Materials
Brass
Antique "Le Jockey Club" 1930's Horse Racing Binoculars with Compass
Located in Vancouver, British Columbia
A French silvered brass and brown leather Horse Racing binoculars stamped "Le Jockey Club Paris" presented in their original brown leather case. ...
Category
Early 20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Scientific Instruments
Materials
Brass
Hand Carved Coquille Nut Egg Box 19th Century Flea Trap Pomander Needle Case
Located in Nuernberg, DE
A beautiful hand carved coquille nut egg box. Beautiful carving, great patina, unscrews at center to open.
The original use was a flea trap, things were different in the old days and...
Category
1880s English Victorian Antique Scientific Instruments
Materials
Wood
Vintage, New and Antique Scientific Instruments
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.
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