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Scientific Instruments For Sale
Color:  Gold
Color:  Blue
Dental Phantom Head, Mounted on an Iron Display Stand, circa 1910
Located in London, GB
An early 20th century aluminum and bronze dental articulator or phantom head, mounted on an iron display stand, circa 1910.
Category

Early 20th Century North American Scientific Instruments

Materials

Aluminum, Bronze, Iron

Double Bronze/Brass Apothecary Scale
Located in Guaynabo, PR
This is a gilt bronze/brass double apothecary scale. It depicts an upside down bronze Corinthian column that holds two different set of balance brass ...
Category

20th Century Unknown Neoclassical Scientific Instruments

Materials

Marble, Bronze, Brass

WWI brass Carl Zeiss Jena "Fussartillerie" artillery compass
Located in London, GB
A WWI brass Carl Zeiss Jena "Fussartillerie" artillery compass. 3¾ inch dial marked with N W S points, the Carl Zeiss Jena logo, and B.R. 565 FUSSARTILLERIE. Compass ring marked ...
Category

Early 20th Century German Scientific Instruments

Materials

Brass, Bronze

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

Bronze Weight, 18th Century
Located in Madrid, ES
Weight of the 18th century. Bronze. Bronze weight, incomplete, with the container glass and two of the smallest, all decorated in cold with incised and...
Category

18th Century European Neoclassical Antique Scientific Instruments

Materials

Bronze

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

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

Tripod Apothecary Skillet Late 17th-Early 18th Century, England
Located in Brussels, Brussels
Apothecary tripod skillet from the end of the 17th century beginning of the 18th century From England. The skillet is in superb condition and has not undergone any restorations. Br...
Category

Early 18th Century British Georgian Antique Scientific Instruments

Materials

Bronze

Tripod Apothecary Skillet from the 18th Century England
Located in Brussels, Brussels
18th Century tripod Apothecary skillet From England. The skillet is in superb condition and has not undergone any restorations. Bronze with a very beautiful patina.
Category

Early 18th Century British Georgian Antique Scientific Instruments

Materials

Bronze

17th Century Tripod Apothecary Skillet Dated 1698 from The Ward Rvmens Family
Located in Brussels, Brussels
17th century tripod apothecary skillet dated 1698 by Ward Rymens. The skillet is in superb condition and has had a restoration on one of the feet. bronze with a very beautiful patina.
Category

17th Century British Georgian Antique Scientific Instruments

Materials

Bronze

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

Bronze Mortar with Pestle, Spain, 17th Century
Located in Madrid, ES
Mortar with hand. Bronze. XVII century. Mortar with a circular base, cylindrical body and slightly outwardly flared mouth, decorated with a series of smooth horizontal moldings arranged both in the lower and upper areas and with simple vertical elements (which still maintain slight balustraded shapes) derived from of the ribs that these specimens used to have in the medieval Spanish...
Category

17th Century Spanish Baroque Antique Scientific Instruments

Materials

Bronze, Other

Sundial with Compass and Case, Bronze, Bion, Nicholas, Paris, 18th Century
By Nicholas Bion
Located in Madrid, ES
Sundial with compass and case. Bronze. BION, Nicholas. Paris, 18th century. Polygonal sundial with a bird-shaped gnomon and engraved triangular piece, which presents, on one side, ...
Category

18th Century French Neoclassical Antique Scientific Instruments

Materials

Bronze, Other

Engine Order Telegraph in the Chadburns Style, England Late 19th Century
Located in Labrit, Landes
Large and exceptional solid bronze ships engine order telegraph Made in the Chadburns style, with orders in french. The bells ring but the mechanism needs to be revised. Shipping: ...
Category

Late 19th Century English Antique Scientific Instruments

Materials

Brass, Bronze

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

Compass with Pocket Sundial, with Case, Bronze, Butterfield, Michael '1635-1724'
Located in Madrid, ES
Compass with pocket sundial, with case. Bronze. BUTTERFIELD, Michael (1635-1724). Paris, circa 1700. Pocket sundial made of engraved metal, with a gno...
Category

Early 18th Century French Neoclassical Antique Scientific Instruments

Materials

Metal, Bronze, Other

Sundial and Compass with Case, Schrettegger, Johan, Augsburg, Germany, Ca 1800
Located in Madrid, ES
Sundial and compass with case. Bronze. SCHRETTEGGER, Johan. Augsburg, Germany, around 1800. Sundial with a polygonal shape made of bronze, engraved with plant elements on the front,...
Category

Late 18th Century German Neoclassical Antique Scientific Instruments

Materials

Bronze, Other

19th Century French Bronze and Cloisonne Wall Barometer and Letter Holder
Located in Dallas, TX
Accessorize an office or study with this elegant antique barometer. Crafted in France circa 1850, the scientific instrument with hunt motifs throughout, features deer, bird and a let...
Category

Mid-19th Century French Antique Scientific Instruments

Materials

Multi-gemstone, Bronze

19th Century Bronze Skeleton
Located in Atlanta, GA
A sensational 19th century skeleton in bronze originating from the Louvain University Of Medicine - Belgium. An excellent addition to any doctor...
Category

19th Century Belgian Antique Scientific Instruments

Materials

Bronze

19th Century Grand Tour Antique Handmade Bronze Mortar with Pestle
Located in Roma, IT
19th-century grand tour antique handmade bronze mortar with pestle. This fantastic piece has an original patina. The pestle is 9.05 inc high wit...
Category

Mid-19th Century European Grand Tour Antique Scientific Instruments

Materials

Bronze

19th Century Grand Tour Antique Handmade Bronze Mortar with Pestle
Located in Roma, IT
19th-century grand tour antique handmade bronze mortar with pestle. This fantastic piece has an original patina. The pestle is 9.05 inc high wit...
Category

Mid-19th Century European Grand Tour Antique Scientific Instruments

Materials

Bronze

Italian Bronze Mortar and Pestle, Original Patina, Italy, Pharmacy or Herbalist
Located in Roma, IT
Antique bronze mortar. Handmade with pestle. Original patina Mortar from pharmacy or herbalist. Italian bronze mortar and pestle Measure: Pe...
Category

Mid-19th Century Italian Other Antique Scientific Instruments

Materials

Bronze

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

Pair of Bronze Mortar with Mascarons
Located in Beuzevillette, FR
Pair of bronze mortar decorated with a mascaron and their pestle, early 20th century. Measures: Height mortar 4 inches Height pestle 7 inches.   
Category

Early 20th Century French Scientific Instruments

Materials

Bronze

Bronze Sculptural Thermometer, Long Bodied Lady, Artist Signed and Dated 1911
Located in Petaluma, CA
It wasn't easy trying to title this bronze in one sentence. The first thing about it to my eye is the wonderful whimsy displayed. The fact that it's a thermometer just adds to the jo...
Category

1910s American Art Nouveau Vintage Scientific Instruments

Materials

Bronze

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

Italian Bronze Mortar and Pestle, Original Patina, Italy, Pharmacy or Herbalist
Located in Roma, IT
Antique bronze mortar. Handmade with pestle. Original patina Italian bronze mortar and pestle Measures: Pestle height 7.5 in.
Category

Mid-19th Century European Grand Tour Antique Scientific Instruments

Materials

Bronze

Louis XVI Style Barometers and Thermometers by H. Dasson, France, Circa 1880
Located in PARIS, FR
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...
Category

1880s French Louis XVI Antique Scientific Instruments

Materials

Enamel, Bronze

Substantial Antique Italian Bronze Mortar and Pestle
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Substantial antique Italian bronze mortar and pestle, finely cast with shell and floral band, complete with 12" x 1.5" D pestle. The base of t...
Category

18th Century Italian Baroque Antique Scientific Instruments

Materials

Bronze

Antique Hand-Crafted Solid Bronze Mortar with Pestle and Great Original Patina
Located in Lisse, NL
Decorative and tactile, late 18th century mortar set. Mortars have been used for centuries by private people and by people in certain trades. In the kitche...
Category

Late 18th Century European Antique Scientific Instruments

Materials

Bronze

Antique Louis Philippe Wall Clock 8 Day Movement Tôle Enamel Bronze
Located in Munich, DE
Elegant octagonal wall clock with an eight day movement. The case of the clock is made out of painted metal. The dial is enameled and the clock ha...
Category

1830s French Louis Philippe Antique Scientific Instruments

Materials

Brass, Bronze

Antique German Drop-Shaped and Brass Decorated Iron, 19th Century
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
Antique German drop-shaped and brass decorated iron with wooden handle.
Category

Early 19th Century German Empire Antique Scientific Instruments

Materials

Bronze

Bronze Mortar with Inscription, Spain, 1846
Located in Madrid, ES
Mortar with inscription. Bronze. Spain, 1846. Mortar made of bronze with flared mouth and truncated cone body developed without discontinuity and decreasing in diameter to the base....
Category

1840s Spanish Neoclassical Antique Scientific Instruments

Materials

Bronze

Apothecary Balls in Cobalt Blue Cut Crystal
Located in Brussels, BE
Apothecary balls in cobalt blue cut crystal - ten available.
Category

20th Century European Scientific Instruments

Materials

Glass, Wood

19th Century Italian Height Measuring Apparatus
Located in Atlanta, GA
An intriguing 19th century Italian apparatus for measuring one's height in centimeters. Soundly constructed from cast iron with a bronze measure to one side. A whimsical accent perfe...
Category

Late 19th Century Italian Antique Scientific Instruments

Materials

Bronze, Iron

Rococo Style Gilt Bronze Cartel Clock and Barometer
Located in London, GB
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 ...
Category

19th Century French Rococo Antique Scientific Instruments

Materials

Ormolu, Bronze, Enamel

French Rococo Style Gilt Bronze Clock and Barometer by Charpentier
Located in London, GB
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...
Category

Late 19th Century French Rococo Antique Scientific Instruments

Materials

Enamel, Ormolu, Bronze

19th Century Neoclassical Style Gilt Bronze Cartel Clock and Barometer by Dasson
Located in London, GB
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...
Category

19th Century French Neoclassical Antique Scientific Instruments

Materials

Bronze, Enamel, Ormolu

Napoleon III Period Gilt Bronze Clock and Barometer, Attributed to Raingo Frères
Located in London, GB
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, ...
Category

Mid-19th Century French Napoleon III Antique Scientific Instruments

Materials

Bronze, Enamel, Ormolu

American Mahogany and Leather Dental Arm Chair, Circa 1840
Located in Hollywood, SC
American mahogany and leather dental arm chair with adjustable back and head support, terminating on turned bulbous legs. Mid 19th Century
Category

1840s American American Empire Antique Scientific Instruments

Antique French Neoclassical style Ormolu Clock and Barometer Set by Mottheau
Located in London, GB
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...
Category

Late 19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Scientific Instruments

Materials

Bronze, Enamel

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

Mid-Century Functional Tesla Phone 1978, Československo
Located in Praha, CZ
- Good original condition - Fully functional - Tesla manufacturer.
Category

1970s Czech Mid-Century Modern Vintage Scientific Instruments

Materials

Plastic

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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