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Scientific Instruments For Sale
Color:  Beige
Color:  Blue
Berkel LP Scales
Located in Roma, IT
Berkel scale mod.LP from the 1960s made in the Netherlands
Category

1960s Dutch Mid-Century Modern Vintage Scientific Instruments

Materials

Iron

Vintage Erskine 200 Sterilized Barber Shop Shaving Brush
Located in Chula Vista, CA
Vintage ERSKINE 200 Sterilized Barber Shop SHAVING BRUSH Nylon Bristles Rubber Stamped Sterile 200 4.5 tall x 1.38 diameter Preowned original vintage...
Category

1950s Mid-Century Modern Vintage Scientific Instruments

Materials

Nylon, Rubber

1950s Mid-Century Modern Olympia Sm-3 Portable Typewriter with Case
Located in Miami, FL
Vintage Mid-Century Modern Olympia SM3 portable typewriter with the original metal case. Circa 1950s. Features a Qwerty keyboard, a grayish green color body with chrome trims and the original metal case with a galvanized-like finish and the original lock key. Olympia SMs were once considered the Mercedes Benz of typewriters. The Hermes 3000...
Category

1950s German Mid-Century Modern Vintage Scientific Instruments

Materials

Metal

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

Pair of Neoclassical Apothecary Jars by Maison A Collin Porcelaines & Cristaux
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
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...
Category

19th Century French Neoclassical Antique Scientific Instruments

Materials

Porcelain

19th Century French Glazed Porcelain Water Filter Pharmacy Display Item
Located in Dallas, TX
This antique ceramic water filter, complete with pewter spout and lid, was created in Provence, France, circa 1870. In the old days, it was used as a promotional display in a Pharmac...
Category

Late 19th Century French Antique Scientific Instruments

Materials

Ceramic, Porcelain

Large Antique French Neoclassical Brass Scale
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Large Antique French Neoclassical Brass Scale, by Berenger & Co, Lyon France, Circa 1870 A stunning Large Antique French Neoclassical Brass Scale, crafted by the renowned Berenger & Co of Lyon during the mid to late 19th Century. This remarkable brass shop keepers, assay or pharmacist scale...
Category

Late 19th Century French Neoclassical Antique Scientific Instruments

Materials

Brass

Ceramic Thermometer by Mithé Espelte
Located in Saint-Ouen, IDF
Beautiful wall thermometer in ceramic by Mithé Espelt. Typical decors of birds, flowers and leaves in different shades of blue glaze. Marie Thérèse Espelt, aka. Mithé Espelt (1923-2...
Category

1970s French Mid-Century Modern Vintage Scientific Instruments

Materials

Ceramic

Mother of Pearl Opera Glasses by Colmont Paris
Located in LA CIOTAT, FR
A gorgeous pair of antique Mother-of-Pearl opera or theatre glasses, by renowned maker 'Colmont Paris'. Constructed from brass, with inlaid panels of i...
Category

19th Century French Antique Scientific Instruments

Materials

Brass

1900s Decorative Wall Hanging „Multimeter“ Scientific Slide Rule Calculator
Located in Vienna, AT
A dekorative appr. 120-year-old, large, wall-mounted round „Multimeter“ analog slide rule calculator. Dated around 1900, made in Germany. It has a rotatable glass disc and offers multiple features like multiplication, division, interest-calculation and square root...
Category

Early 1900s German Art Nouveau Antique Scientific Instruments

Materials

Glass

Vintage Safe Deposit Box In Steel, Czechoslovakia 1980s
Located in Zohor, SK
Step back in time with this remarkable vintage steel safe box, a testament to both craftsmanship and security. Crafted in the 1980s within the borde...
Category

1980s Slovak Mid-Century Modern Vintage Scientific Instruments

Materials

Steel

20th Century Made in Japan Brass Opera Binocular, 1950s
Located in LEGNY, FR
Very nice opera binocular from the 50s in its original fabric pouch and box. Made of brass. Removable handle using a small key. Adjustment of the view thanks to a wheel at the fron...
Category

1950s Japanese Vintage Scientific Instruments

Materials

Brass

Rare Pierre Cardin Pop Art Futuristic Ambiance Phone
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Rare and highly collectable Pop Art futuristic Ambiance phone.
Category

1980s Taiwanese Futurist Vintage Scientific Instruments

Materials

Plastic

Solid Brass Ships Nautical Miles Gauge
Located in Norwell, MA
Made in England by Thomas Walker and Son LTD Birmingham. Triple dial, anchor logo, nautical miles, and per mile and hundred miles gauges. Great piece of nautical décor. Weight: 8 ...
Category

1970s Vintage Scientific Instruments

Materials

Brass

Large 1950s Vintage Scientific Anatomical Human 3D Educational Eye Eyeball Model
Located in Lafayette, IN
1950's Vintage scientific human 3d eyeball model. Hand-painted with wonderful original patina!
Category

1950s American Vintage Scientific Instruments

Materials

Rubber

Rainbow SP019 Softphone, Design by Canetti Group for Canetti
Located in FERROL, ES
Rainbow SP019 Softphone, design by Canetti Group for Canetti. Made of multicolored foam. Has some wear to bottom buttons. Measures: 22x7x3 cm.
Category

1990s Chinese Post-Modern Scientific Instruments

Materials

Foam, Rubber

Decorative Blue Marianne Brandt Avantgarde Bauhaus Letter Scale, 1930s, Germany
Located in Vienna, AT
An iconic light-blue sheet metal postal letter scale from the1930s in blue, designed by Marianne Brandt, executed by Ruppel Werke, Ruppelwerk in Gotha, G...
Category

1930s German Bauhaus Vintage Scientific Instruments

Materials

Sheet Metal, Metal, Iron

Set of W T Avery 10 LB Bankers Balance Scales and Weights
Located in London, by appointment only
Magnificent set of very large bankers 10lb balance scales together with a contemporary set of stamped W T Avery weights 7, 4, 2, 1 lb. Fully restored, po...
Category

Late 19th Century British Antique Scientific Instruments

Materials

Brass

1960s George Nelson Ruler from the SAFETY NUMBERS Graphic Design + Clock Series
Located in Hyattsville, MD
USA, c.1960s. George Nelson & Associates Lucite Ruler from the SAFETY NUMBERS Graphic Design + Clock Series for Howard Miller. This rare example does have...
Category

1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Scientific Instruments

Materials

Lucite

Tate's double acting vacuum pump by Townson & Mercer, of London.
Located in London, GB
A Tate's double acting vacuum pump by Townson & Mercer, of Bishopsgate, London. circa 1890. With glass bell jar, 7 inch diameter. Literature: Catalogue of chemical apparatus and pure chemicals sold by Townson & Mercer. 1888. Page: 228. Nineteenth-century Scientific Instruments, Gerard L'Estrange Turner, 1893. Page 101. Townson & Mercer, 89 Bishopsgate Street Within, London. Established 1798. Thomas Turner Tate (1807 - 1888). invented his pattern of a double piston air pump...
Category

Late 19th Century English Antique Scientific Instruments

Materials

Brass, Steel

W.& T. Avery Brass/ Cast Iron Beam Scale
Located in Guaynabo, PR
This is a W & T Avery makers brass and cast iron beam scale. The top of the pillar, is adorned with cast iron scrolls and a heart. There is one brass pan a...
Category

Early 20th Century English Victorian Scientific Instruments

Materials

Brass, Iron

Rare Antique Engraving of Microscopes, 1749
Located in Langweer, NL
Antique print titled 'A true Representation of sveral microscopes with some objects (..)'. Print of various microscopes, illustrating several microscope parts. This print originates ...
Category

18th Century Antique Scientific Instruments

Materials

Paper

19th C Anatomical Didactic Model of a Torso with Removable Organs
Located in Leuven , BE
The German sculpture Franz Josef Steger (1845-1938), under the guidance of Professor Wilhelm His (1831-1904) and based on the designs of anatomist Car...
Category

19th Century German Antique Scientific Instruments

Materials

Plaster

Anatomical Model of the Human Ear by Somso, 1950s
Located in Naples, IT
Didactic model of the human ear, materiale plastico, made in 1950s by Somso, a German company active since the second half of the nineteenth century, known as an excellence in the de...
Category

1950s German Mid-Century Modern Vintage Scientific Instruments

Materials

PVC

Old Blue Scale Gwarancja Olsztyn, Europe, 1970s
Located in 05-080 Hornowek, PL
A fantastic antique weighing scale with nicely aged blue paint. Made by Gwarancja Factory in Olsztyn, Poland in the late 20th century. It presents...
Category

1970s Polish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Scientific Instruments

Materials

Metal, Iron

1910s Doctors' Medical Scale Mechanical Stand Up with Weights
Located in New York, NY
1910s antique Industrial stand up doctors' scale. Features height indicator and a movable weights with great old paint. Please note, this item is located in one of our NYC locations.
Category

1910s American Industrial Vintage Scientific Instruments

Materials

Metal

Anatomical Skin Model, Italy, 1880
Located in Milan, IT
The anatomical sculpture, cast out of plaster, depicts a flayed man standing over a rectangular base in a classical pose with lifted arm. Anatomical study p...
Category

Late 19th Century Italian Antique Scientific Instruments

Materials

Plaster

Recording Copper Rain Gauge by Casella & Co of London
Located in London, GB
An 8" diameter recording copper rain gauge by C F Casella & Co of London. With an internal 24 hour "Gluck" barometer recorder. Height:63 cm. Diameter: 28 ...
Category

Mid-20th Century English Scientific Instruments

Materials

Copper

Fine Circular Protractor by William Cary, London c.1810
By Cary
Located in Norwich, GB
William Cary, London Circular Protractor. C.1810 The protractor with geared knob turn for full diameter bar, double hinged scribe arms with shaped frame. Main wheel with four spokes and glass sight cross centre, full circumference inscribed divider to 360 degrees signed Cary, London to the bar. Adjustment screws to the arms and housed in it’s original mahogany case with hinged lid. William Cary is listed as working in Strand, London from 1801 to 1825. William Cary was an important scientific instrument maker, he trained under Jesse Ramsden (1735-1800) he produced numerous scientific instruments including mechanical calculators...
Category

1810s English Antique Scientific Instruments

Materials

Brass

Antique Personal Weight
Located in Praha, CZ
Original condition, functional.
Category

Early 20th Century Austrian Belle Époque Scientific Instruments

Materials

Iron

Anatomical Model Depicting a Stomach, Italy 1890
Located in Milan, IT
Anatomic model for class, depicting a man’s stomach, made out of plaster and painted papier maché. Italy 1890.
Category

Late 19th Century Italian Antique Scientific Instruments

Materials

Metal

Anatomical Model Depicting an Intestine, Italy 1890
Located in Milan, IT
Anatomic model for class, depicting a man’s intestine, made out of painted papier maché. Italy 1890 ca.
Category

Late 19th Century Italian Antique Scientific Instruments

Materials

Metal

Antique Original Engraving of Seasons by Le Bas, C.1780
Located in Langweer, NL
Antique astronomy print titled 'L'inégalité des Saisons et des Jours'. Interesting print explaining why there is an inequality in the length of days and seasons. Source unknown, to b...
Category

18th Century Antique Scientific Instruments

Materials

Paper

Set of Six Old Pharmacy Glass Bottles, Germany around 1900
Located in Vienna, AT
Set of Six Old Pharmacy glass bottles, made in Germany around 1900. 5 bottles from Jena (Schott and Gen Jena) and 1 Wirag laboratory glass. The logo ...
Category

Early 20th Century German Scientific Instruments

Materials

Glass

2 Equal Spacing Dividers, 1 by Theodore Alteneder & Sons of Philadelphia
Located in London, GB
Two 11 point equal spacing dividers: One made in stainless steel by Theodore Alteneder & Sons of Philadelphia. With a later one made in steel marked MADE IN WEST GERMANY.
Category

Early 20th Century American Scientific Instruments

Materials

Steel, Stainless Steel

Antique 19th Century English Market Scales by JH PIPER of Wolverhampton
Located in Charlotte, NC
An antique 19th century Victorian period market scale by J.H. Piper & Co. of Wolverhampton, Staffordshire, England, UK. Cast iron base, bowl rest, interio...
Category

19th Century English Victorian Antique Scientific Instruments

Materials

Marble, Brass, Iron

Brass Balance Shop Scales with Eagle Crest
Located in Chillerton, Isle of Wight
Brass balance shop scales with eagle crest Decorative large brass balance shop scales  I super looking set, the slightly dished pans are hung on brass...
Category

Late 19th Century Industrial Antique Scientific Instruments

Materials

Brass

1930s Educational Model Papier Maché and Plaster Decipting a Baby Borning
Located in Milan, IT
Educational model, papier maché and plaster, decipting a baby borning. 1930s-1940s, sold by the Hygiene Museum in Dresden. Very good condition. Measu...
Category

1930s Vintage Scientific Instruments

Materials

Plaster

Anatomicalal Model of the Section of the Head, Italy 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 Innsnsbruck, in a very good condition and with original patina. Anatomical study purpose...
Category

Late 19th Century Austrian Antique Scientific Instruments

Materials

Plaster

Large copper & brass funnel
Located in London, GB
A large late 19th century copper and brass funnel. From Wiltshire County, England.
Category

Late 19th Century English Industrial Antique Scientific Instruments

Materials

Brass, Copper

French Late 18th Ormolu and Sèvres Porcelain Barometer, Signed Giroux
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
An most elegant and extremely high quality French late 18th/ beginning of the 19th century, ormolu and Sèvres porcelain barometer, signed Giroux. The barometer has a central bottom a...
Category

18th Century French Antique Scientific Instruments

Materials

Ormolu

1930s Educational Model Depicting the Belly of the Woman Immediately After Birth
Located in Milan, IT
Educational model depicting the belly of the woman immediately after birth with a part of the placenta. 1930's, sold by the Hygiene Museum in Dresden...
Category

1930s Vintage Scientific Instruments

Materials

Plaster

59 Pieces of Glassware and a Copper Stove from a Scientific Laboratory in Milan
Located in Milan, IT
Lot of 59 pieces of glassware and a copper stove that belonged to a Milanese chemical / pharmaceutical laboratory operating in the early 1900s and closed ...
Category

Early 20th Century Italian Scientific Instruments

Materials

Copper

Shock Therapy McIntosh Polysine Generator Quck Medical Device
Located in Norwalk, CT
A very interesting piece having to do with the treatment of mental health in america. this machine dates to the 1940s or earlier, its missing and of the...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Scientific Instruments

Materials

Metal

Vintage Yves Saint Laurent Sunglasses
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Vintage Yves Saint Laurent sunglasses. Vintage 1990s oval YSL sunglasses, vintage Yves St Laurent silver sunglasses, brown lens, YSL. These sharp ...
Category

Late 20th Century Italian Post-Modern Scientific Instruments

Materials

Resin

Victorian Brass Novelty Clock by Elkington & Co
Located in Lymington, Hampshire
A Victorian brass novelty clock by Elkington & Co., in the form of a double steering-wheel, one wheel enclosing a clock and the other a barometer, with ...
Category

1880s English Victorian Antique Scientific Instruments

Materials

Brass

Antique Print of a New Water Exhausting Machine, 1758
Located in Langweer, NL
Antique print titled 'A New Machine for exhausting a large quantity of water'. Print of a new water exhausting machine. This print originates from 'The Universal Magazine...
Category

1750s Antique Scientific Instruments

Materials

Paper

National Geographic Atlas of the World, Eighth Edition Hardcover Book
Located in North Hollywood, CA
National Geographic Atlas of the World, Eighth Edition National Geographic This is a beautiful large library or hardcover coffee table book. Title: National Geographic Atlas of th...
Category

Early 2000s Maltese Mid-Century Modern Scientific Instruments

Materials

Paper

1950s Molecular Structure from Prague, Czech
Located in New Rochelle, NY
This beautiful patinated metal 1950s molecular structure will display great on any table for presentation. It measures very nicely at 9.75 x 9.75 x...
Category

1950s Czech Minimalist Vintage Scientific Instruments

Materials

Metal

Engraving of an 18th-Century Measuring Device, Based on Double Reflection, C1780
Located in Langweer, NL
"Occasus Ortus" This engraving illustrates an 18th-century measuring device. The instrument, built after the principle of the double reflection, allowed precise observations wi...
Category

1780s Antique Scientific Instruments

Materials

Paper

Open Scale Barograph by C F Casella & Co of London
Located in London, GB
An open scale barograph by C F Casella & Co of London, circa 1960. 7 day clockwork "Gluck" barometer recorder. Measures: Width: 32 cm. Depth:18 cm. Height: 23.5 cm. C. F. Casella and Co: Established in 1810 as Tagliabue and Casella. Incorporated as a limited liability company, C. F. Casella and Co, in 1910. AS advertised in 1930: C. F. Casella and Co Ltd., of Regent House, Britannia Walk, London, N1 7ND - Makers of anemometers, anemographs, barometers, barographs, hygrometers, hygrographs, radiation instruments, rain gauges...
Category

Mid-20th Century English Industrial Scientific Instruments

Materials

Metal

Anatomic Model, Bones, circa 1950
Located in Madrid, ES
Anatomical model of the bone system, circa 1950. On a square base and held upright with a metal rod stands the skeleton, an anatomical model of human ...
Category

20th Century European Other Scientific Instruments

Materials

Other

Brain Antique Anatomical Plate by Lehrmittelverlag Hageman Düsseldorf 1930s
Located in Milan, IT
Anatomical didactic plate of the 1930s on canvas paper depicting the brain, the spinal column and the sense organs, mounted on two black painted wooden sticks. Signed Lehrmittelverla...
Category

1930s German Vintage Scientific Instruments

Materials

Paper

U.S. Navy Steel and Brass Quadrant, First Half of the 20th Century
Located in Nantucket, MA
Antique steel and brass quadrant, first half of the 20th century, made in London for the U.S. Navy, in very good condition with lenses, shades and scale. The essential mariner's navi...
Category

Early 20th Century English Other Scientific Instruments

Materials

Brass, Steel

Brass and Iron "KEKUATAN" Hanging Beam Scale
Located in London, GB
A brass and iron beam scale, marked with KEKUATAN 110 kg. along with various proof and numeral markings. Indonesian, KEKUATAN meaning strength. The m...
Category

Mid-20th Century Asian Scientific Instruments

Materials

Brass, Iron

Didactic Flower Model German Manufacture of 1860 circa Made of Painted Plaster
Located in Milan, IT
Didactic flower, German manufacture of 1860 circa, depicting Marchantia Polymorpha L., made of painted plaster on a wooden base; the seed is removab...
Category

1860s German Antique Scientific Instruments

Materials

Plaster

Botanical Model in Enlarged Section of a Moraceae Syconium, Italy, 1930s
Located in Milan, IT
Model in enlarged section of a Moraceae syconium (fig for example is a syconium). The model is made of painted plaster and almost certainly made by Paravia in the thirties. Measures ...
Category

1930s Italian Vintage Scientific Instruments

Materials

Plaster

Botanical Model in Enlarged Section of a Moraceae Syconium, Italy, 1930s
Located in Milan, IT
Model in enlarged section of the Moraceae syconium (fig for example is a sicon). The model is made of painted plaster and almost certainly made by Paravia in the 1930s. Measures cm 3...
Category

1930s Italian Vintage Scientific Instruments

Materials

Plaster

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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