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Scientific Instruments For Sale
Period: 20th Century
Period: 21st Century and Contemporary
Swid Powell Magnifying Glass in Original Box
Located in Hopewell, NJ
Stunning Richard Meier designed magnifying glass for Swid Powerll, having ebony wood handle, silver plate and glass, plus original sleeve and box.
Category
1980s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Scientific Instruments
Materials
Silver Plate
Curiosity Cabinet Naturalism Collection of Shells, Circa 1900
Located in Beuzevillette, FR
Very interesting set of shells collected by an amateur between the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century. The shells are classified by size and age either in ...
Category
Early 20th Century French Scientific Instruments
Materials
Shell
Large Early 20th c. French Medical Hand Model c.1920
Located in San Francisco, CA
ABOUT
Early 20th century large French plaster hand model used as a medical teaching device. Lacquered plaster custom heavy steel stand.
Shown with life size hand model.
CREA...
Category
Early 20th Century French Industrial Scientific Instruments
Materials
Steel
Red Decorated Lacquer Hour Glass
Located in Queens, NY
Red decorated lacquer four unit hour glass
One hour glass is missing
Category
20th Century Unknown Renaissance Scientific Instruments
Materials
Glass
Large 1920's Vintage Scientific Anatomical Human 3D Educational Ear Model
Located in Lafayette, IN
Large 1920's Vintage scientific anatomical human 3D ear model. Large 16" scale and wonderful antique patina!
Category
1920s American Vintage Scientific Instruments
Materials
Rubber, Wood
Glass scientific instrument: Crookes maltese cross tube, Italy 1900.
Located in Milan, IT
Blown glass scientific instrument. An example of the Crookes tube with Maltese Cross, in chromed metal, a precursor to the cathode ray tube. It was used t...
Category
Early 20th Century Italian Scientific Instruments
Materials
Metal
Solid Brass Ships Telephone On Pedesta
Located in Norwell, MA
Highly polished brass ships telephone on pedestal. Meticulously polished andl lacquered head by Hose-McCann Telephone Co, Inc., Brooklyn New York. Type A, model WTP, with phone insid...
Category
1920s North American Vintage Scientific Instruments
Materials
Brass
Rare Yacht Binnacle with Compass
Located in Norwell, MA
Solid brass gimballed boat compass fitted to a hinge front wood binnacle. Brasses include carry handle, side light, brass hooks, etc. Circa 1920.
Overall Dimensions: 7"H x 7" L x ...
Category
1920s American Vintage Scientific Instruments
Materials
Brass
Memento Mori by Callum Campbell
Located in Geneve, CH
Memento Mori by Callum Campbell
Objects for Self Collection
Signed
Dimensions W 3.5 x H 9.3 cm
Materials: Brass
Finish: Polished
Engraved with clients name and date of birth...
Category
2010s Australian Modern Scientific Instruments
Materials
Brass
Large Vintage Mongolian Wooden Math Abacus with Painted Wooden Balls
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Large Vintage Mongolian Wooden Math Abacus with Painted Wooden Balls. Item features Painted wooden balls in red, pink, gray, orange, blue, yellow, green and brown. Circa Mid 20th Cen...
Category
Mid-20th Century Chinese Export Scientific Instruments
Materials
Wood
Antique 19th Century Human Anatomical Leg Model, By Bock Steger, Leipzig c.1890
By Bock Steger
Located in Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent
Antique 19th Century life-sized plaster model of a human leg, attributed to Bock Steger, Leipzig. Made for medical instruction, it displays muscle, tendon, and bone in detail. Number...
Category
20th Century German Other Scientific Instruments
Materials
Plaster
Antique Ophthalmoscope Gowllands ‘May ophthalmoscope improved’. England, 1940.
Located in Milan, IT
Antique Gowllands Ophthalmoscope "May's Improved Ophthalmoscope". Wooden box covered with paper. The top is stamped in gold 'MAY'S OPHTHALMOSCOPE'. Inside the box is divided into com...
Category
Mid-20th Century English Scientific Instruments
Materials
Metal
English Marine Barometer with Rope Carved Case
Located in Norwell, MA
Early twentieth century library barometer with rope carved case. Great old piece. Fitted with a brass hanging tab. Circa 1920.
Category
1920s English Vintage Scientific Instruments
Materials
Brass
Huge Decorative Scientific Induction Coil
Located in Peekskill, NY
We were told that this coil was originally from West Point but there is no paperwork to back that up. We also guessed at its age. But it looks to be over 100 years. We have owned many coils over the years but nothing of this Size or quality. The wood furniture surrounding the coil is beautiful showing turned wood ends. In almost ll cases these Induction coils...
Category
Early 20th Century American Industrial Scientific Instruments
Materials
Wood
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 Antique Double Barel Victorian Brass Tripod Telescope London 1915
Located in Sofia, BG
20th Century large antique double barel Victorian brass telescope raised on a foldable wooden tripod made in London in 1915.
Very good original condition.
Category
Early 20th Century English Scientific Instruments
Materials
Brass
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 Vintage Weight Plumb Bob Tool Level Iron & Wood
By Stanley
Located in Chula Vista, CA
Plumb Tool
Mid Century Modern Vintage Weight Plumb Bob Tool Instrument Level
Collectible level made in Iron and Wood
5.25 x 1.5 diameter
Fair Condition in Or...
Category
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Scientific Instruments
Materials
Iron
Art Deco Kodak Senior Six-16 Folding Camera c.1937-1939
Located in San Francisco, CA
ABOUT
An Art Deco Kodak Senior Six-16 Folding Camera with a leather wrapped body, chrome and black accents and flip out view finder.
Shown with life size hand. Sold as decorative o...
Category
Early 20th Century Art Deco Scientific Instruments
Materials
Metal, Chrome
Vintage Industrial Foundry Wooden Block Mold Architectural Valcor Engine Corp
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Vintage Industrial Foundry Wooden Block Mold Architectural Salvage from Valcor Engine Corp (Single Mold), Approx 20 lbs. Great to use as a unique decorative object or convert for use...
Category
Mid-20th Century Unknown Industrial Scientific Instruments
Materials
Wood
Surgical instrument: a scalpel, late 19th century, United States 1900.
Located in Milan, IT
A surgical instrument from the late 19th early 20th century. An iron scalpel. With brass handle. Tiemann & Co, American manufacturing. New York, United States circa 1900.
Category
Early 20th Century American Scientific Instruments
Materials
Iron
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
Curiosité Cabinet Collection of Shell Circa 1900
Located in Beuzevillette, FR
Very interesting set of shells collected by an amateur between the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century. The shells are classified by size and age either in ...
Category
Early 20th Century Scientific Instruments
Materials
Shell
British Royal Navy Ship’s Binnacle Compass
Located in Norwell, MA
Solid brass ship’s compass on gimbal mounted into a brass binnacle housing. The nameplate reads pattern 0183, and serial number 14313-B. The compass car...
Category
1940s European Vintage Scientific Instruments
Materials
Brass
Antique Scientific Visual Aid, Bone Cut of the Human Elbow
Located in Berghuelen, DE
An antique visual aid of a longitudinal bone cut of the elbow. Genuine bone mounted on cardboard with hand-painted structure of muscles, bursae and tendons. With German explanation. ...
Category
Early 20th Century German Early Victorian Scientific Instruments
Materials
Bone
Osterloh Botanic Model of a Wheat Flower, Germany, 1900
Located in Milan, IT
A botanic didactical specimen depicting a Wheat flower (Triticum durum), made out of papier mache wood and metal with black wooden base, hand painted. Extremely detailed. Osterloh Mo...
Category
Early 20th Century German Scientific Instruments
Materials
Metal
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
Vintage Cell Counting Slide, German, Glass, Hemacytometer, Franke and Heidecke
Located in Hele, Devon, GB
This is a vintage cell counting slide. A German, glass hemacytometer and carry case by Franke and Heidecke, dating to the early 20th century, circa 1930.
...
Category
Early 20th Century German Scientific Instruments
Materials
Glass
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
A botanic scientific specimen of Spruce, Paravia & co, Milan, Italy 1900.
Located in Milan, IT
A rare example of a botanical maquette for didactic use by Professor T. Ferraris, depicting a (natural) strobilus and a scale with ovules (about 12 times enlarged) of Spruce (Picea e...
Category
Early 20th Century Italian Scientific Instruments
Materials
Wood
Olivetti lettera DL by Sottsass Ettore design in years '70
Located in Biella, IT
Olivetti lettera DL by Sottsass Ettore design in years '70 working
very good vintage with her original box
Category
1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Scientific Instruments
Materials
Metal
VINTAGE Optometrist Eye Chart Light Box Cabinet, eye exam
Located in Buffalo, NY
VINTAGE Optometrist Eye Chart Light Box Cabinet, eye exam .. Tested and working, could use re-wiring..
Category
1940s American Industrial Vintage Scientific Instruments
Materials
Metal
Brass Boat Compass in Varnished Wood Box
Located in Norwell, MA
Classic early twentieth century boat compass by Star Compass of Boston. The gimballed yacht compass has been meticulously polished and lacquered. This Classic marine instrument is fi...
Category
1940s North American Vintage Scientific Instruments
Materials
Brass
Pair of Steampunk Brass Industrial Architectural Pressure Gauges
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A super cool pair vintage General Electric pressure gauges. Each brass and glass gauge houses an aluminum faced dial marked for the General Electric Co.
Perfect for a steam punk set...
Category
Early 20th Century American Steampunk Scientific Instruments
Materials
Brass
Curiosity Cabinet Collection of Shells, Circa 1900
Located in Beuzevillette, FR
Very interesting set of shells collected by an amateur between the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century. The shells are classified by size and age either in ...
Category
Early 20th Century Scientific Instruments
Materials
Shell
Collection of Nine Swedish Apothecary Jars from the Early 20th Century
Located in Atlanta, GA
A collection of nine Swedish apothecary jars from the early 20th century. These antique jars from Sweden were once used to hold an apothecary's (or pharmacists) wares and chemicals. ...
Category
20th Century Swedish Scientific Instruments
Materials
Glass
Antique colored stick hemometer in bakelite, Germany, 1930.
Located in Milan, IT
Antique colored stick haemometer. Inside its original box, with ‘Haemometr’ stamped on the lid, two hinges allowed it to be opened. Inside the blue satin padded lid a transverse ribb...
Category
Mid-20th Century German Scientific Instruments
Materials
Bakelite
Antique Apothecary Bottle Stand English Air Ministry Stamped, Early 20th Century
Located in Hele, Devon, GB
This is an antique apothecary bottle stand. An English, Air Ministry stamped stand dating to the early 20th century, circa 1920.
A rare su...
Category
Early 20th Century English Edwardian Scientific Instruments
Materials
Beech
Ceramic Thermometer by Mithé Espelte with Bird Decor
By Mithé Espelt
Located in Saint-Ouen, IDF
Beautiful wall thermometer in ceramic by Mithé Espelt. Typical decors of birds, flowers and leaves in different shades of pink glaze.
Marie Thérèse Espelt, aka. Mithé Espelt (1923-2...
Category
1960s French Mid-Century Modern Vintage Scientific Instruments
Materials
Ceramic
Open Scale Barograph by C F Casella & Co of London
By Casella
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
20th Century English Scale
Located in Atlanta, GA
This 20th-century English scale is a captivating piece of industrial design and functional history. Crafted from cast iron with a sturdy base and a brass beam, this scale embodies du...
Category
20th Century English Industrial Scientific Instruments
Materials
Brass, Stainless Steel, Iron
Vintage Mid-Century Modern Hand Turned Wood Mortar and Pestle 1950
Located in Topeka, KS
Handsome Mid-Century Modern mortar and pestle hand turned from one piece of dense wood. It is in wonderful vintage condition. Please see photos, circa 1950-1960.
Whether you need or...
Category
1950s Unknown Mid-Century Modern Vintage Scientific Instruments
Materials
Wood
Surgical instrument: forceps, late 19th century, United States 1900.
Located in Milan, IT
A surgical instrument from the late 19th early 20th century. An iron tong. SS White Maker, H.C. distributor Kern. American manufacturing. Philadelphia, United States circa 1900.
Category
Early 20th Century American Scientific Instruments
Materials
Iron
Large School Teaching Display Anthill of the Red Wood Ant
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Large School Teaching Display Anthill of the Red Wood Ant
A vintage school teaching glass display of the anthill of the red wood ant. It shows the hill and inhabitants thereof, the ...
Category
1950s German Vintage Scientific Instruments
Materials
Glass, Wood
Rope Barometer. French Work by Adrien Audoux & Frida Minet, circa 1950
Located in Marcq-en-Barœul, Hauts-de-France
This very unusual barometer is made of rope. This is a French work by Adrien Audoux & Frida Minet. circa 1950.
Category
1950s French Mid-Century Modern Vintage Scientific Instruments
Materials
Rope
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
Marconi-Newton type constant speed windmill propeller, dated 1926.
Located in London, GB
A twin bladed aluminum Marconi-Newton type 182S constant speed windmill dated 1926.
MARCONI-NEWTON CONSTANT SPEED WINDMILL PAT. No 262558/1926
3500 R.P.M. 85/300 M.P.H TYPE 182S N...
Category
Early 20th Century English Industrial Scientific Instruments
Materials
Aluminum, Steel
Seldom Seen Authentic Exploding Skull, Medical, After Claude Beauchêne
By Claude Beauchene
Located in Buffalo, NY
Authentic Exploding Skull
Originally created by Edmé François Chauvot de Beauchêne (ca.1780-1830), a French anatomist and
surgeon, developed this disarticulation method to comprehensively show all the
cranial bones and their connections.
The exploded skull...
Category
Early 20th Century French Industrial Scientific Instruments
Materials
Metal
1980s Chocolate Brown Touchtone Desk Phone
Located in Miami, FL
Vintage chocolate brown touchtone desk phone. Circa 1980s
Features a bright chocolate brown body with contrasting gray buttons.
The base has rubber feet ...
Category
1980s South Korean Mid-Century Modern Vintage Scientific Instruments
Materials
Plastic
1940s Plaster Anatomical Heart Model on Wood Stand
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Instructional, anatomical, plaster, heart model on 7" diameter wood base, circa 1940s.
Category
Mid-20th Century American Industrial Scientific Instruments
Materials
Plaster, Wood
Small French 20th Century Terrestrial Globe on Turned Black Wooden Base
Located in Atlanta, GA
A small French terrestrial globe from the 20th century, with metal protractor and circular black wooden base. Created in France during the 20th century, this terrestrial globe is con...
Category
20th Century French Scientific Instruments
Materials
Metal
1986 Gray and Black Enorme Telephone by Ettore Sottsass for Enorme
Located in Brooklyn, NY
A perfectly postmodern telephone designed by the Memphis Milano master, Ettore Sottsass, and produced in 1986. The Enorme phone was produced in another color way but this is the much rarer gray and black version. 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 good vintage condition with wear consistent with age and use. Works great! Molded manufacturer's mark on handset and base: "Designed by Ettore Sottsass Enorme...
Category
Late 20th Century Post-Modern Scientific Instruments
Materials
Plastic
Art Deco Styled Industrial General Electric Medical Sun Floor Lamp
By Canadian General Electric
Located in Hamilton, Ontario
This Art Deco Industrial floor sun lamp was made by General Electric of Canada is approximately 1940, most likely for the medical industry. The lamp is done with a heavy stepped meta...
Category
Mid-20th Century Canadian Art Deco Scientific Instruments
Materials
Metal
Early 20th Century Walnut Cased Barometer
Located in San Francisco, CA
Early 20th century walnut cased barometer
Beautiful barometer. Dimensions 43" long x 13" wide x 5.5" at the crown x 5" at the bottom.
The door on the back reveals the inner wor...
Category
Early 20th Century American Edwardian Scientific Instruments
Materials
Walnut
Large Antique Solid Brass Library Telescope by Broadhurst, Clarkson and Co
Located in Montreal, QC
Large Antique Solid Brass Library Telescope by Broadhurst, Clarkson and Co
Marked: '' 63 Farringdon Rd London EC. Broadhurst, Clarkson and Co''
Category
1910s British Vintage Scientific Instruments
Materials
Brass
Mid-Twentieth Century Aluminum Gyroscope Compass Scientific Tool
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Manually manipulated blue and silver anodized aluminum gyroscope composed of two gimbal rings, a central rotor, spine axle, frame and base (ca. late 1940s/early 1950s, USA).
The rotor in this case is a cube representing azimuth - the angle between North, measured clockwise around the observer's horizon, and a celestial body (sun, moon). Hence, the presence of both "N" and "E" compass directions on the rotor.
The gimbals denote "elevation" and "roll."
Interesting piece which serves as both scientific tool and modernist decorative object...
Category
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Scientific Instruments
Materials
Aluminum
French 19th Century Bronze Wall Thermometer Attrib. to François Linke
Located in North Miami, FL
Original 19th Century wall mounted thermometer measuring in centigrade in the Louis XVI style. All bronze and very elegant thermometer attributed to François Linke. All weather m...
Category
Early 20th Century French Louis XVI Scientific Instruments
Materials
Bronze
Curiosity Cabinet Naturalism Collection of Shell, Circa 1900
Located in Beuzevillette, FR
Very interesting set of shells collected by an amateur between the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century. The shells are classified by size and age either in ...
Category
Early 20th Century French Scientific Instruments
Materials
Shell
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.