Gilt Scientific Instruments

19th Century pocket telescope gilt brass and faux tortoiseshell spyglass, each friction fitting is tapering and collapsible with millegrain edges. In good condition, showing some li...

A stunning pair of French Opera glasses made from gilded brass, all intact and original. The glasses are clad in alternating Mother of Pearl or Nacre shell and Abalone shell, creati...

A 18th Century Louis XVI French gold-gilt barometer circa 1780. This early instrument of meteorology was used to measure atmospheric pressure and air temperature. The barometer is adorned with hand carved details; a large bow, flowers, a flaming heart, laurel leaves and scrolls. The dial face is hand-painted and has been repaired over time. The barometer is no longer in working order and is now purely decorative. Be sure to view the detailed images to see this interesting antique up...

c.1800 Portable English Orrery by W. Robinson The circular base is covered with a brightly decorated polychrome paper that shows the astrological houses, the months, visual displays...

Decorate a wall with this elegant, antique barometer with attached thermometer. Crafted in Paris, France, circa 1760 and hexagonal in shape, the scientific instrument features its or...

A very stunning 18th century balance - Scale from Rome, Italy. Beautifully crafted from polychromed and gilt wood. A wonderful accent piece for a library or office.

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...

We present you this exceptionally rare square-shaped Louis XVI-style barometer from the 18th century, crafted from gilded wood. Its pale blue wallpaper background is protected by co...

Swedish Alnmått (Cubit measure) in iron with gilded details. Baroque, dated 1731. Provenance: Baron Carl Emanuel Cederström, great collector during the mid-19th Century in Sweden. W...

Pair of Neoclassical Apothecary Jars by Maison A Collin Porcelaines & Cristaux France, Circa 1870s Signed : Maison A Collin Porcelaines & Cristaux a Collin paris 90 Rue de Rivoli W...

A pretty and highly decorative barometer of banjo form, marked ‘Palladio’ and Italy . Hand carved with leaves , ropes , fruit and flutes . The case probably having distressed fini...

Gorgeous intentionally aged Venetian barometer made in the baroque taste by Italian artisans Palladio. The diamond shaped frame is painted and embellished with gilt scrollwork and ro...

English Regency gilt stenciled figural and floral ebonized dital harp signed by maker Edward Light. Retailed at Srohl Foley place London, Early 19th century.

Circa 1880, Louis XVI Style Dore Bronze Thermometer. In beautiful shape.

World War I French aviation altimeter made by Naudet & Co. Antique French aviation altimeter designed specifically for aviation, and dating to th...

Napoleon III style, sometimes referred to as The Second Empire style, was greatly influenced by the Neoclassical aspects of the Louis XVI period. This giltwood barometer from Paris w...

French 19th painted and gold gilt barometer and thermometer. It is a recognizable ‘banjo’ shaped scientific instrument with all the carved details in gold ...

Museum quality tabletop Stereoscope by British maker R. & J. Beck London. It is fitted with with adjustable rack and pinion focusing and elevation adjustment for ease of viewing. Eac...

Johann Michael Bergauer (Simonsfeld, 1676 - Innsbruck, 1745 circa) Mechanical equatorial sundial Signed: Michael Bergauer Insprugg? Innsbruck? Ante 1745 Gilded and silvered brass; glass. Measures: closed 1.29 x 3.50 x 4.92 in (33 x 89 x 125 mm); open 5.19 x 3.50 x 3.81 in (132 x 89 x 97 mm). Weight: the sundial 0.49 lb (224 g); the case 0, 20 lb (95 g) Original wooden case covered in brown leather. State of conservation: very good. It has some signs of use. The spring that allowed for the two parts of the instrument to remain open is missing (absent even in the comparative specimens kept in museums). The sundial is composed of two overlapping plates hinged together on the north edge. The base plate is octagonal and is supported by three turned legs. The upper face is gilded and a compass with a magnetic variation index has been inserted. The rest of the surface is occupied by a rich decoration of engraved scrolls, centered around the inscription “Michael Bergauer Insprugg”. A foldable oval support with a plumb-bob is attached with a hinge on the southern edge. On the reverse of the base plate a table of the latitudes of some European cities (expanded with the vertical writing “Meiland 40” on the edge and “Rome” deleted) and of Jerusalem has been engraved. A Cam marked for 0 °-70 ° is applied near the northern edge. This can be adjusted to change the inclination of the upper plate according to the latitude; originally a spring, now lost, made it possible to keep the two plates of the clock open. The second plate is round, has a toothed edge and measures 3.26 in (83 mm) in diameter: it is slightly smaller than the octagonal base which it rests upon and overlaps when the instrument is closed. The recto is gilded and there are three concentric graduated circles engraved on it: - the outermost is the equatorial hour dial, numbered I-XII, I-XII; - the second-one is that of days 1-30 of the lunar month and has “Aetas lunae” engraved on it; - the third, silvered, is a subsidiary hour dial, with double numbering 1-12; originally it could have been rotated. The engravings of the first two circles are enameled in red. In the center - on the polar axis - there is an alidade, at the end of which is associated the silvered minute dial. This, in turn, is welded, perpendicularly, to a small disc, also silvered, with a triangular gnomon. The plate, alidade and minute dial are connected to each other by toothed mechanisms. Below is the procedure for measuring the time: 1) Adjust the Cam under the base of the clock, based on the latitude of your location; 2) Place the watch on a flat surface using the plumb-bob and with the side closest to the compass facing south; 3) Keeping the instrument still, manually rotate the alidade until the shadow cast by the triangular gnomon on the small silvered disc falls on the line marked below it; 4) The hour and minutes can therefore be read on the hour and minute dials set on the alidade respectively. Johann Michael Bergauer, who sometimes only signs his works as Michael Bergauer, was born in Simonsfeld, north of Vienna. His apprenticeship as a watchmaker took place in Landshut and he probably worked as a laborer in Augsburg before becoming a watchmaker at the court of Karl Philipp von der Pfalz in Innsbruck in 1708. In the following years, his repeated attempts to obtain Innsbruck citizenship are documented and, in 1721, he is listed as a resident. In 1724 he was admitted to the guild of watchmakers, with which however he had continuous problems. In 1732 he presented a "masterpiece". This is the last reference to his business; he must have died before or in 1745 because in that year his widow appealed to the City Council. The mechanical sundial...

Barometer end of the 18th century, Directorie, in carved and gilded wood, by Selon Toriceli, with allegory music wing on the top, beautiful patina, and decorative barometer...

Stunning design Dutch Arts and Crafts era barometer and thermometer. It even comes with a small gilt brass maker's plaque inside the barometer window that reads W.J. Lauwers, Grav...

This elegant, antique Louis XV barometer was crafted in Paris, France, circa 1960. Square in shape, the wall piece features the original hand painte...

A very fine and palatial French 19th Louis XV style green painted with polychrome flower decor and gilt bronze-mounted barometer in the manner of La Maison Cam Opticien. Surmounted w...

A magnificent nearly 250 year old Louis XVI period (1774–1793) hand carved and painted parcel gilt French wall thermometer and barometer signed Carcano. Exquisitely hand-crafted in Paris, France in the second half of the 18th century, exceptionally executed in Neoclassical inspired opulent period King Louis 16th taste. Impressive large size and fine quality craftsmanship, richly detailed, sculpted, polychrome decorated wooden case, surmounted by an ornate carved pineapple topped urn finial, garnished with a single garland swag, over a contoured and rounded solid wood frame creating a most elegant elongated banjo cartel clock silhouette, adorned with brilliant water gilded running ornamentation, outlining the beautifully aged light and airy muted pale green paint finish. Featuring the original hand decorated enamel dial signed Antonio Carcano (1755-1820) a distinguished scientific instrument inventor. The dial is signed: "Jofeph" "Carcano" "Rue du Faubourg-Saint-Denis"  "Fripiere au phenix" Having a hand-blown glass thermometer retaining remnants of the hand-painted paper label inscribed with atmospheric condition details, over an early barometer with hand painted dial and metal hands, protected behind convex glazed glass face. Mechanical: The wooden planked verso is fitted with an open channel that retains the original mechanical components, including a pair of liquid metal mercury filled glass tubes, vacuum mechanism, long column blown glass tube, stringing, and more. It does not appear to be working / operational, the string/rope deteriorating with age, etc.. but having the original parts is an exceptionally rare occurrence and highly unusual, as workings were commonly damaged and lost centuries ago. Dimensions (approx): 43" High, 12" Wide, 2.5" Deep History: Antoine Carcano (c. 1755-1820) An early maker of barometers, thermometers, and an inventor of various scientific instruments. Of Italian descent, he became famous in Paris, first at 37 rue de la Roquette and then at Place Dauphine. He supplied barometers and other scientific instruments to the Ecole Militaire in 1786; the following year he supplied a tube barometer to British optical instruments manufacturer Peter Dollond (1731-1821). During the Empire his clientele included Sir Benjamin Thompson...

A highly decorative Swedish Gustavian barometer dating from the 1800s by Iohannes Lerra. The dial sits centrally in a mahogany wood frame with applied gilded scrolled leaf decorat...

An open scale Micro-barograph by Short & Mason of London in enameled glass case. Number: 551/41 Seven day clockwork drive by Horstmann Gear Co Ltd, of Bath. Serial number: 7027/59 With Meteorological Office “MO” logo. Meteorological Office calibration certificate dated 27.6.96 Literature: Barometers - Aneroid and Barographs, Edwin Banfield, 1985. page 131 fig. 116. Short and Mason...

This French Louis XVI style barometer and thermometer features an exquisite carved giltwood crest with delicate foliage motifs. Below the crest, the thermometer, encompassed in a black painted body, sits atop the round barometer...

Elegant Louis XVI style set comprising a thermometer and a perpetual calendar attributed to F. Linke. Each consisting of a metal plaque, painted with floral motifs on a beige backgro...

Jacques Adnet style Mid-Century Modern leather barometer, France 1950s In a very good general condition.            

The very fine table thermometer mounted in a silver-gilt frame and set with diamonds and rubies, featuring an oval shaped photograph surrounded by a ...

A stunningly beautiful 18th century French gold gilt barometer is a weather instrument with mercury-filled glass thermometer still in working order...

A companion pair of Louis XVI style barometer and thermometer finely decorated with gilt bronze acanthus leaves and seeds on green velvet, each with a polychrome decorated enamel pla...

Designed in the French Rococo style, this clock and barometer set have been beautifully ornamented with scrolling foliate gilt bronze forms. The two are diamond shaped, with symmetri...

Crested double-headed eagle atop an oval giltwood and painted black frame with neoclassical borders and carved designs. The dial with metal arms and exposed thermometer coil, and...

In their elaborate use of C-scrolls, putti figures, stylised acanthus leaves and flowers, this clock and barometer are clearly Rococo in their style. The Rococo came into fashion in ...

This fine set comprises a cartel clock and barometer, each of which are crafted entirely in gilt bronze. The clock and barometer cases are identical, and take the form of a lyre. The...

This stunning gilt bronze clock and barometer pair was created in circa 1860 in France. The two have been attributed to Raingo Frères, the prestigious, ...

Manufactured in the Louis XVI style, both clock and barometer are encased within an ormolu case and flanked on either side by trumpet wielding cherubs, each surmounted with a patinated bronze sphere that is topped with a crown, the bases terminating in a pine cone finial. The barometer face signed 'E. Mottheau Paris', the clock movement signed 'LEMERLE CHARPENTIER' and 'LESIEUR'. This beautiful antique French clock and barometer...