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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

A pair of celestial and terrestrial globes, E.Pini, Gussoni & Dotti, Italy 1892.
Located in Milan, IT
Pair of Italian globes. On an ebonized wooden base, worked on the lathe, with a circular foot and perfect patina, are placed: a celestial globe of 9,2 inches, compiled by the enginee...
Category

1890s Italian Antique Scientific Instruments

Materials

Wood

English Mahogany Stick Barometer Signed T. Taylor London
Located in Savannah, GA
Stick Barometer signed T. Taylor London featuring mahogany case with bone plinth, inlay and knob. Broken arch pediment above a flush-glass door, enclosing register plate and thermometer. Fully restored and calibrated by Julian Gibbard, Harpers Ferry...
Category

Early 1800s English George III Antique Scientific Instruments

Materials

Brass

Antique Camera / Enlarger Circa 1910s
Located in Newfoundland, PA
Early Wooden Antique Camera / Enlarger Circa 1910s Please look at the photos, this has not been touched in decades. It is just the way you would like to find it, untouched. True anti...
Category

1910s American Vintage Scientific Instruments

Materials

Metal

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

Antique Master Craftsman's Spirit Level, English, Brass, Desk, Victorian, 1850
Located in Hele, Devon, GB
This an antique master craftsman's spirit level. An English, rosewood and brass ornamental desk tool, dating to the early Victorian period, circa 1850. ...
Category

Mid-19th Century British Victorian Antique Scientific Instruments

Materials

Brass

Italian Antique Botanical Model Early 1900s Plaster on Wooden Base
Located in Milan, IT
Botanical model made of painted plaster and mounted on black painted wooden boards of an orthotropic ovule made by prof. T. Ferraris for Vallardi publisher Milan Scientific material, complete with plate with the legend of the names of the various parts of the mushroom, early 1900s. Good condition. Measures: 20.5 x 15.7 cm, height 25.5 cm. The origins of the publisher Vallardi date back to 1750 when founder Francesco Cesare (1736-1799) acquired a small craft in the heart of old Milan. In the early nineteenth century, the publishing house was noted for the production of works of art, geography and science, including a "Tour of Italy" which took twenty-two printings between 1819 and 1835. The complete works of various maps and directions for travel, including timetables and fares for transportation of the time, can be considered the first modern tourist guide. The firm "Vallardi" was born in 1843 and the company became industrial, with the opening of branches on national scale...
Category

Early 20th Century Italian Scientific Instruments

Materials

Plaster, Wood

1855 Astronomical Plate of Distance of the Planets by FJ Huntington New York
Located in Milan, IT
Plate of the distance of the planets “Entered according to Act of Congress in the year 1855 by F.J. Huntington in the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the United States for th...
Category

1850s American Antique Scientific Instruments

Materials

Glass, Wood, Paper

Zoological Lithograph of molluscs 1925 on Cardboard by H Aschehoug & Co, Norway
Located in Milan, IT
Zoological didactic plate Pl 61, colored lithograph on cardboard made in 1925 depicting molluscs. Dybdhals Zoologiske Plancher Kristiania lithografiske aktielbolag. Made by H Ascheho...
Category

1910s Norwegian Vintage Scientific Instruments

Materials

Paper

Refractor Polarimeter Physic Measuring Instrument Made by Steindorff & Co 1920s
Located in Milan, IT
Refractor polarimeter made of painted brass with cast iron tripod base by Steindorff & Co. Berlin D.R.P. Germany, 1920s. It is an antique instrument used to determine the concentrati...
Category

1920s German Vintage Scientific Instruments

Materials

Brass

Scarce Early 20th Century French Richard Jules Mahogany Cased Barograph
By Jules Richard
Located in Forney, TX
A rare and interesting French mahogany-cased barograph by Richard Jules. circa 1900 Exquisitely handcrafted in Paris, France, in the early 20th century, this fine weather forecasting scientific instrument is a barometer that records the barometric pressure over time in graphical form, as well as make a continuous recording of atmospheric pressure. Housed in a high-quality protective wooden case, having hinged lid with original glazed glass panel sides, barograph with centigrade thermometer scale, fitted with eight aneroid capsules stacked in series, cylindrical drum element with graph for data recording and analysis. Signed, retaining the maker's marks to top and interior. The metal plaque affixed to top reads: "Barometre Enregistreur Ancene Mon Richard Frères...
Category

Early 20th Century French Belle Époque Scientific Instruments

Materials

Metal, Brass

19th Century English Chrome Plated Brass Cross-Legged Reduction Compass
Located in Milan, IT
Cross-legged reduction compass, of chrome plated brass and steel, English manufacture from the end of the 19th century. Fixed or mobile center, whose opposite points form simple re...
Category

1890s Antique Scientific Instruments

Materials

Brass

Three-Dimensional Midcentury Italian Wall Plaster Didactic Anatomical, 1950s
Located in Reggio Emilia, IT
Italian midcentury three-dimensional didactic anatomical panel in plaster with Antonio Vallardi Milano label, Italy 1950s Please note that the item is original of the period and t...
Category

1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Scientific Instruments

Materials

Plaster, Wood

Antique Engraving of Constructing Sun Dials, 1769
Located in Langweer, NL
Antique print of Ferguson's method of constructing sun dials. This print originates from 'The Gentleman's Magazine'. Artists and Engravers: The Gentleman'...
Category

18th Century Antique Scientific Instruments

Materials

Paper

Art Deco Table or Desk Top Brass Mounted 7" Double Convex Magnifying Glass
Located in Chapel Hill, NC
Art Deco desk/table top adjustable magnifying glass. A 7" diameter double convex lens in an open topped brass frame suspended between two vertical posts rising from a stepped two-tie...
Category

Early 20th Century American Art Deco Scientific Instruments

Materials

Brass

Georgian Rare Steel Cased Tuning Fork
Located in Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire
A very unusual and rare Georgian antique steel cased tuning fork dating from around 1800. A wonderful piece of musical interest and history the tuning fork...
Category

Early 1800s English George III Antique Scientific Instruments

Materials

Steel

Induction electrification demonstrator instrument, Italy 1920.
Located in Milan, IT
Induction electrification demonstrator instrument. By putting two electrically neutral spheres in contact with each other, when a charged wand is approached, it is possible to notice...
Category

Early 20th Century Italian Scientific Instruments

Materials

Blown Glass

George III Oversized Magnifying Glass Late Circa 1790
Located in Bishop's Stortford, GB
George III Oversized Magnifying Glass Late Circa 1790. Comprised of a turned mahogany surround holding 20 cm lens with a turned mahogany handle connected by a generous brass ferrule ...
Category

Late 18th Century European George III Antique Scientific Instruments

Materials

Brass

Brass aneroid table and wall barometer England late 19th century.
Located in Milan, IT
Brass aneroid or holosteric barometer, table and wall-mounted, late 19th-century English manufacture. Good condition, signs of use fully functional. Measurements cm 5x12.5 - 1.9x4....
Category

Late 19th Century Antique Scientific Instruments

Materials

Brass

A late19th-Century dental extractor, United States 1900.
Located in Milan, IT
An instrument for dental use. A late 19th early 20th century dental extractor. An iron forceps used in tooth extraction, one of the two handles, is curved to allow grip during tooth ...
Category

Early 20th Century American Scientific Instruments

Materials

Iron

Gold Rush Pocket Scale in an Green enameled Tin, ca 1850
Located in York County, PA
EXCEPTIONAL GOLD RUSH POCKET SCALE WITH GREEN, ENAMELED TIN, GILT EAGLE & LETTERING THAT READS: “MADE EXPRESSLY FOR CALIFORNIA,” circa 1850 “Miners' Improved Gold Scale,” made circ...
Category

1850s American Antique Scientific Instruments

Materials

Metal

Antique L. M. Ericsson AC110 Iron Skeleton Telephone Taxen Eiffel Dachshund #3
Located in Sweden, SE
Desktop telephone model AC 110 (Old catalogue No. 375) made by L. M. Ericsson, Stockholm in period of 1895-1910. A legendary model that enjoys special attention from collectors. Size app.: 30 cm (roughly 11.8 in) high, 27 cm (roughly 10.6 in) wide, 14 cm (roughly 5.5 in) deep. Quite good condition, age and usage wear, attritions, damages, losses of 2 feet out of 4, original finish! Please study high-res pictures for cosmetic condition! In person actual item may appear darker or brighter than in our pictures, strictly depending on sufficient light in your environment. Weight of app. 6 kg it is going to measure some 8 kg packed for shipment. Lars Magnus Ericsson began his association with telephones in his youth as an instrument maker. He worked for a firm which made telegraph equipment for the Swedish government agency Telegrafverket. In 1876, aged 30, he started a telegraph repair shop with help from his friend Carl Johan Andersson. The shop was in central Stockholm (No. 15 on Drottninggatan, the principal shopping street) and repaired foreign-made telephones. In 1878 Ericsson began making and selling his own telephone equipment. His phones were not technically innovative, as most of the inventions had already been made in the US. In 1878, he made an agreement to supply telephones and switchboards to Sweden's first telecom operating company, Stockholms Allmänna Telefonaktiebolag. Also in 1878, local telephone importer Numa Peterson hired Ericsson to adjust some telephones from the Bell Telephone Company. This inspired him to buy a number of Siemens telephones...
Category

Late 19th Century Art Nouveau Antique Scientific Instruments

Materials

Metal, Brass, Bronze

19th Century Anatomical Model of Dissected Wax Head Mounted on Framed Board
Located in London, GB
Antique Anatomical Model, Anatomical Wax Model, Antique Wax Head, Medical Antique, Anatomical Antique, Vintage Anatomical Model, Antique Cabinet of Curi...
Category

Late 19th Century German Gothic Antique Scientific Instruments

Materials

Wood

Vintage Draughtsman's Set, German, Drawing Instruments, Tools, Richter Pracision
Located in Hele, Devon, GB
This is a vintage draughtsman's set. A German, nickel silver drawing instrument set by E.O. Richter Präcision, dating to the mid 20th century, circa 1930. Five piece instrument set ...
Category

Mid-20th Century German Mid-Century Modern Scientific Instruments

Materials

Nickel

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

Very Large Ophtalmotrope
Located in Peekskill, NY
What is an ophthalmotrope? An ophthalmotrope is an apparatus for demonstrating the movements of the eye and the action of the different muscles which produce them, consisting essentially of a model eyeball to which are attached strings and pulleys to duplicate the line force of the muscles. We think this example is most likely French from the early 20th century. The base is marble with paw feet. It’s also quite large at well over 3 foot tall. This instrument is very complete. It also includes additional parts to set the mechanics up in a different way. In the pictures above the strings are attached to a keyboard. The alternative replaces the keyboard with string guide with a dozen hanging tubular weights. This is one of the largest and most decorative examples we have seen. I have only seen pictures of ophthalmotropes and never one this fine and complete. It’s as rare and impressive show piece. This item was also used in the movie Knives Out,
Category

Early 20th Century French Industrial Scientific Instruments

Materials

Brass

Mahogany and Brass Skylight Ship Binnacle, T.S. & J.D. Negus NY, Circa 1860
Located in Charleston, SC
American mahogany and brass skylight ship binnacle. T.S. and J.D. Negus company was established in 1848 in New York City. They were makers of fine scientific instruments, circa 1848-1900. This highly desirable and maritime instrument is made of carved mahogany with a brass and glass skylight...
Category

1860s American American Empire Antique Scientific Instruments

Materials

Brass, Iron

18th Century Parisian Giltwood Barometer Thermometer
Located in Dallas, TX
This lovely giltwood barometer and thermometer was hand-carved during the Louis XVI period in Paris, France. During the late 1700’s, barometers were typically only owned by wealthy families. Over time, barometers began to be viewed as works of art and could be found in middle class homes throughout Europe. The highly detailed crown of our apparatus depicts a footed vase bursting with a floral display. The garland trails down in an arch shape until it reaches an angular platform adorned with molding and vertical fluting. The flowered swag continues behind the platform, transitioning into a pair of gadrooned leaves. Each gadrooned leaf terminates in a husked cornucopia overflowing with laurel leaves. A large circular barometer dial is positioned in between the cornucopias. Under the barometer is a looping lambrequin that borders the top half of the thermometer. A pair of gadrooned leaves runs behind and through the lambrequin, flanking the lower half of the thermometer. A fluted base beneath the thermometer sits in a gadrooned cup. The detail of the carvings on this late 18th century Parisian...
Category

Late 18th Century French Louis XVI Antique Scientific Instruments

Materials

Iron

Antique Black Forest Foliate Carved Walnut Barometer C1890
Located in Big Flats, NY
Antique Black Forest Foliate Carved Walnut Barometer C1890 Measures- 11.75"H x 9.75"W x 2"D
Category

Late 19th Century Black Forest Antique Scientific Instruments

Materials

Walnut

Micro-Barograph by Short & Mason of London
Located in London, GB
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...
Category

Early 20th Century English Industrial Scientific Instruments

Materials

Metal

French Early 19th Century Gilt Barometer
Located in Stockbridge, GA
French early 19th century gilt barometer.
Category

Early 19th Century French Restauration Antique Scientific Instruments

Materials

Giltwood

1940s Antique Wood Clamps Rustic Carpentry Tool
Located in Chula Vista, CA
For your consideration, a pair of antique wood clamps .Prior use to build boats Dimensions: Largest 63 L x 5.25 D x 1.25 W Short 48 L x 5 W x 1.5...
Category

Mid-20th Century Rustic Scientific Instruments

Materials

Wood

Italian Renaissance Chrome Armillary
Located in Queens, NY
Italian Renaissance-style (20th Century) chrome armillary globe with a rust patina.
Category

20th Century American Renaissance Revival Scientific Instruments

Materials

Chrome

Ship's Binnacle by Baker Lyman of New Orleans, Louisiana
Located in Norwell, MA
Ship's binnacle with maker's plate from Baker Lyman Company of New Orleans, Louisiana. Wonderfully restored binnacle with gimballed compass and interior lighting. Overall dimensio...
Category

1930s American Vintage Scientific Instruments

Materials

Metal

Antique Wooden Bowl, Wabi Sabi Style, Scandinavia 1800s
Located in Hønefoss, 30
A set of two wooden Wabi Sabi bowls from Scandinavia, circa 1800s. In good vintage condition showing beautiful patina from age and use. Lagerst bowl: Ø34 cm, H: 19 cm Smallest bowl...
Category

19th Century Norwegian Romantic Antique Scientific Instruments

Materials

Wood

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

chinoiserie Decorated Circular Barometer, circa 1930s
By Acme Photo
Located in Dereham, GB
Chinoiserie decorated circular barometer, circa 1930s. Black background with gold decoration,  Depicting, houses, temple, figures, trees & foliage, Brass face, Badge on back, re...
Category

1930s European Chinoiserie Vintage Scientific Instruments

Materials

Lacquer

French Late 19th Century Louis XVI St. Giltwood Barometer
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A very handsome and decorative French late 19th century Louis XVI st. giltwood barometer. Fine carvings of scrolls and foliate throughout with a lyre shape above the painted barometer...
Category

19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Scientific Instruments

Materials

Giltwood

A Fine Early 19th Century Marine Chronometer By Parkinson And Frodsham
Located in Lincolnshire, GB
An early 19th century 2 day marine chronometer by Parkinson and Frodsham, London. Numbered on the brass bound mahogany 3 tier box, and the dial ...
Category

Early 19th Century English Antique Scientific Instruments

Materials

Brass

Antique 20th Century Edwardian Large Brass Magnifying Glass c.1905
Located in Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent
Antique early 20th Century Edwardian English oak and brass magnifying glass. A practical desk or household accessory, ideal for reading. CONDITION In Great Condition - Wear expected...
Category

20th Century British Other Scientific Instruments

Materials

Brass

John Bennett Georgian Barometer
Located in New Orleans, LA
This exceptional Georgian barometer by the leading London instrument-maker John Bennett strongly reflects the prevalent furniture style and archite...
Category

18th Century English Georgian Antique Scientific Instruments

Materials

Brass

Vintage Technical Drawing Set, German, Architect, Cartographer, Riefler, 1930
Located in Hele, Devon, GB
This is a vintage technical drawing set. A German, silver nickel architect or cartographer's instrument set by Riefler of Munich, dating ...
Category

Early 20th Century German Art Deco Scientific Instruments

Materials

Nickel

19th Century Parlor Kaleidoscope by C.G. Bush & Co. of Providence, RI
By Charles G. Bush & Co
Located in Nantucket, MA
C.G. Bush & Co. parlor kaleidoscope on a turned mahogany pedestal with splayed legs, the cylindrical body of black colored textured cardstock with ...
Category

Late 19th Century American Victorian Antique Scientific Instruments

Materials

Brass

Beautiful set of early 1900s surgical instruments, including an amputation saw s
Located in Leuven , BE
Beautiful set of early 1900s surgical instruments, including an amputation saw stamped A. GOUGEON and a complete Renault trepan with its accessories (rare). Overall in good condition...
Category

Late 19th Century French Antique Scientific Instruments

Materials

Metal

Antique Ross Telescope, English, 3 Draw, Terrestrial Refractor, Early 20th, 1920
Located in Hele, Devon, GB
This is an antique Ross of London telescope. An English, brass three draw terrestrial refractor, dating to the early 20th century, circa 1920. Perfect for bird watching, landscape...
Category

Early 20th Century British Scientific Instruments

Materials

Brass

: Wooden pocket diptych sundial Ernst Christoph Stocket. Germany 1780 - 1811.
Located in Milan, IT
Wooden pocket diptych sundial Ernst Christoph Stocket - type, Bavaria. A folding wooden sundial is partially covered in paper with engraved/printed decorations and text. A compass is...
Category

Late 18th Century German Antique Scientific Instruments

Materials

Wood, Paper

Antique Steel and Wood Chisels
Located in San Francisco, CA
ABOUT A set of antique steel and wood chisels with bronze collars. One steel nail punch. CREATOR Stanely. Buck Brothers. E.A. Berg Eskilstuna. DATE OF MANUFACTURE c.1850-1...
Category

19th Century Industrial Antique Scientific Instruments

Materials

Bronze, Steel

Collection of 19th c. Mortise Marking Guages
Located in San Francisco, CA
ABOUT Collection of 19th century Rosewood and Boxwood mortise marking gauges with bronze knobs and accents. One is stamped "Pat. Oct. 22, 1872". CREATOR Unknown. DATE OF M...
Category

19th Century Industrial Antique Scientific Instruments

Materials

Bronze

Antique Root Bowl, Wabi Sabi Style, Scandinavia 1800s
Located in Hønefoss, 30
A unique and large root bowl from Norway, Scandinavia, dated 1818. In good vintage condition showing beautiful patina from age and use.
Category

19th Century Norwegian Romantic Antique Scientific Instruments

Materials

Wood

Antique Engine Indicator, Scottish, Scientific Instrument, Dobbie McInnes, 1920
Located in Hele, Devon, GB
This is an antique mechanical engine indicator. A Scottish, brass scientific instrument by Dobbie-McInnes of Glasgow, dating to the early 20th century, circa 1920. Presenting a gr...
Category

1920s Scottish Edwardian Vintage Scientific Instruments

Materials

Brass

Large Impressive 1800s Kalidoscope
Located in Peekskill, NY
This scope is unsigned and was acquired from a European collector. It could be American but I'm guessing its not. The eyepiece and turning mechanism are brass. The tube is canvas wra...
Category

Mid-19th Century French Industrial Antique Scientific Instruments

Materials

Fruitwood

Vintage Allbrit Polar Planimeter, English, Scientific Instrument, Stanley, 1950
Located in Hele, Devon, GB
This is a vintage Allbrit polar planimeter. An English, adjustable scientific instrument by Stanley, dating to the mid-20th century, circa 1950. Comprehensive scientific instrument set Displays a desirable aged patina Presented in a carry case with a rich blue velour lining Ideal for measuring on maps or drawings Rotating measurement scales in good order Replete with small magnifying loupe...
Category

Mid-20th Century English Mid-Century Modern Scientific Instruments

Materials

Steel

Sailing ship's pulley fiddle block
Located in London, GB
An early 19th century Naval oak fiddle pulley block, with two wood sheaves. Marked with Roman Numerals: XXVIIII In sailing, a block is a single or multiple pulley. One or a number ...
Category

Early 19th Century English Industrial Antique Scientific Instruments

Materials

Oak

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

An ivory dyptich sundial, Germany, 17th century.
Located in Milan, IT
Ivory diptych sundial for latitude 48 degrees with vertical and horizontal dials, pin gnomon for Italian hours and lunar volvelle. Compass needle and glass cover. On the plain back ...
Category

Early 17th Century German Antique Scientific Instruments

Materials

Ivory

Early 19th c.Medical Teaching Device- Shadowboxed Wax Fetus Models c.1800-1850
Located in San Francisco, CA
ABOUT Two early 19th century British wax models of a fetuses with attached placenta. Used as a medical teaching device. Numbered and attached to a velvet background. In a sealed woo...
Category

Early 19th Century Mid-Century Modern Antique Scientific Instruments

Materials

Wood, Velvet

Pair of Early 20th century French brass Opera Glass, 1900s
Located in LEGNY, FR
Beautiful pair of mop and brass opera glasses dating from the beginning of the 20th century. Central wheel to move the view away or closer (turns with difficulty). For lovers of coll...
Category

Early 1900s French Antique Scientific Instruments

Materials

Brass

Italian Artist's Mannequin from the 19th Century
Located in Madrid, ES
This elegant Italian artist's mannequin from approximately 1900 is a beautiful representation of craftsmanship from the 19th century. Crafted from solid fruitwood, it stands as a tes...
Category

Early 1900s Antique Scientific Instruments

Materials

Fruitwood

Pair of Vintage Montblanc Meisterstruck & Starwalker Pens with Boxes & Papers
Located in Hamilton, Ontario
This pair of vintage rollerball pens were made by the well known Montblanc factory of Germany in approximately 1990 in their classic modern style. theiThe black cased pen from this grouping is their "Meisterstruck" model with a clear tip on the cap, and a gold band around the center of the barrel with "MONTBLANC" and "MEISTERSTRUCK" in block letters. The other pen of this group with the brushed metal case is their "Starwalker" model. Both pens come with thier original fitted boxes, and we have one outer box and some paperwork. Both of these Montblanc rollerball pens...
Category

Late 20th Century German Modern Scientific Instruments

Materials

Stainless Steel

Mortar and pestle. Bronze. 19th century.
Located in Madrid, ES
Mortar and pestle. Bronze. 19th century. Mortar with a flared mouth and relief decoration on the exterior based on balustraded elements (reminiscent of the ribs that these objects ...
Category

19th Century European Other Antique Scientific Instruments

Materials

Bronze

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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