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Scientific Instruments For Sale
Glass & brass luminous world map by Paul Oestergaard for Colombus Verlag - 1950s
Located in Linkebeek, BE
Glass & brass luminous world map by Paul Oestergaard for Colombus Verlag - 1950s
World map - Mid-Century - Deco Object
Measures : Ø 37cm H: 41cm
Material : Brass - Glass
Wear consis...
Category
Mid-20th Century German Mid-Century Modern Scientific Instruments
Materials
Brass
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
Enamel, Ormolu, Bronze
Late 19th Century Scientific "Cyclo-Stormograph" by Short & Mason Tycos
Located in Port Jervis, NY
Fabulous and appears to be completely intact. Short & Mason Tycos Cyclo-Stormograph under beveled glass & mahogany with a drawer which contains extra graph paper, tiny key and origin...
Category
Early 1900s English Industrial Antique Scientific Instruments
Materials
Metal
Sterling Silver Folding Opera Glasses - Antique Victorian (1895)
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
An exceptional, fine and impressive pair of sterling silver folding opera glasses; an addition to our Victorian silverware collection.
These exceptional antique Victorian sterling silver folding opera glasses have a circular form with a plain rectangular bridge.
The eye pieces and lenses are encompassed with plain circular frames, conjoined with swept bridges.
Each pair of lenses are hinged to a plain frame ornamented with the numerals 1 to 5, accented with a sliding focus dial.
The central frame is further embellished with a hinged fingerpiece, accented with a lobed terminal.
Such impressive and high quality examples are rare to the market.
Condition:
These antique Victorian opera glasses...
Category
1890s English Victorian Antique Scientific Instruments
Materials
Sterling Silver
Antique Brass and Malachite Scales by Halstaff & Hannaford
Located in Northampton, GB
Malachite Base Mounted in Brass
From our Accessories collection, we are delighted to offer these Bronze Gilded Malachite Postal Scales by Halstaff and Hannaford, London. The scales ...
Category
Late 19th Century English Art Nouveau Antique Scientific Instruments
Materials
Malachite, Brass
Antique Victorian Quality Carved Oak Banjo Barometer
Located in Suffolk, GB
Antique Victorian quality carved oak banjo barometer having a quality carved oak shaped case with a brass bezel, porcelain dial with original hands and a thermometer
An attractive ...
Category
19th Century English Victorian Antique Scientific Instruments
Materials
Oak
$928 Sale Price
25% Off
Antique Anatomical Wall Chart Depicting the Human Skeleton
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Antique Anatomical Wall Chart Depicting the Human Skeleton
A rare 19th century anatomical wall chart depicting the human skeleton. On the sides On the...
Category
Early 20th Century German Victorian 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
$497 Sale Price
20% Off
American Polished Steel Sky Light Binnacle with Rope Carved Base, Phil. C. 1880
By Hands & Sons
Located in Charleston, SC
American polished steel sky light binnacle with rope carved base, Philadelphia, New Orleans, Norfolk VA. Late 19th century. Binnacle has been electrified fo...
Category
1880s American American Empire Antique Scientific Instruments
Materials
Brass, Steel
Signed 19th Century Mahogany and Brass Telescope on Custom Oak Wall Mount
Located in San Francisco, CA
An English mahogany and brass single draw telescope made and signed by William Bruce, Kings Head Court Shoe Lane London, circa 1830. This handsom...
Category
1830s English Georgian Antique Scientific Instruments
Materials
Brass
$1,160 Sale Price
20% Off
19th Century English Globe by Renowned Cartographers John Newton and Son
Located in Southall, GB
An extremely rare and important 21 inch English globe by renowned cartographers John Newton and Son, one of the most important globe makers of early 19th century England. Representin...
Category
19th Century English Antique Scientific Instruments
Materials
Hardwood
$54,204 Sale Price
20% Off
19th Century Mary & David Livingston Memorial Relic Heart Buried Beneath 1896
Located in Lowestoft, GB
A very odd Victorian collection of curiosity, a section of the tree that the Scottish physician, congregationalist and pioneer Christian missionary David Livingston was buried under ...
Category
Mid-19th Century Zambian Antique Scientific Instruments
Materials
Hardwood, Natural Fiber, Glass
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 Scientific Instruments
Materials
Shell
Full Display Box of Early Camera Lens Salesman Samples
Located in Peekskill, NY
The velvet lined case is full and contains 45 sample lenses. The case is signed in gold stamped letters L.O. BITTNER & CO., OPTISCH FEINMECHANISCHES WERK. MUNCHEN. I have never seen ...
Category
Early 20th Century German Industrial Scientific Instruments
Materials
Glass
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
English Pathologist Box Made of Mahogany with Brass, Including Instruments
Located in Dusseldorf, DE
Curious antique English box made of mahogany with brass details, inside which are the working instruments of a pathologist. The division of the interior of the box is covered in red ...
Category
19th Century British Antique Scientific Instruments
Materials
Metal, Brass
Antique Art Deco Sterling Silver and Bakelite Telephone Child's Toy Baby Rattle
Located in Hamilton, Ontario
This antique figural telephone child's baby rattle is presumed to have been made in the United States in circa 1930 in the period Art Deco style. The toy rattle is composed of a mold...
Category
Early 20th Century American Art Deco Scientific Instruments
Materials
Sterling Silver
Anatomical model for class, depicting the kidneys, Spain 1890.
Located in Milan, IT
Anatomic model for schools, for educational use, depicting the kidneys, made out of painted papier maché and mounted over a black painted fruitwood base. Spain circa 1890.
Category
Late 19th Century Spanish Antique Scientific Instruments
Materials
Fruitwood
Antique Teaching Model of the Adipose Spleen, ca. 1900
Located in Berghuelen, DE
A great antique hand-painted anatomical model of the adipose spleen. Made of papier maché and plaster, mounted on a turned wooden base. Manufactured most probably by SOMSO or PHYWE, ...
Category
Early 20th Century German Mid-Century Modern Scientific Instruments
Materials
Plaster, Wood, Paper
Small herbalist pharmacy wooden jars, Italy 1870.
Located in Milan, IT
Set of two small wooden herbalist's apothecary vases (Thistle flowers, Myrtle berries) in the purest neoclassical style. The surface is finished with cream-white pastiglia with saffr...
Category
Late 19th Century Italian Antique Scientific Instruments
Materials
Wood
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
$2,146 Sale Price
24% Off
A 18th-Century scientific instrument: wooden screw dilator clamp.
Located in Milan, IT
A medical instrument. A brass screw clamp (dilator), with a rosewood handle. It consists of two symmetrical parts, each with a circular cushion element that continues with a cylindri...
Category
Mid-18th Century English Antique Scientific Instruments
Materials
Brass
Brass Surveyors Level by Troughton & Simms, London
By Troughton & Simms London
Located in Norwich, GB
Brass Surveyors Level by Troughton & Simms, London
Sixteen inch extending telescope with original lacquer finish and spirit level.
The compass ha...
Category
19th Century British Victorian Antique Scientific Instruments
Materials
Brass
Ancient anatomical model of the hand, Italy 1900.
Located in Milan, IT
Anatomical model for schools, educational use, depicting the hand swinging on a fork supported by a black lacquered wooden base.
Made of plaster and finished entirely in colour. Ital...
Category
Early 20th Century Italian Scientific Instruments
Materials
Plaster, Wood
English Victorian Brass Telescope
Located in Queens, NY
English (Scottish) Victorian brass tabletop telescope with 3 legged iron base.
Category
Late 19th Century British Victorian Antique Scientific Instruments
Materials
Brass
Antique Chinese Qing Dynasty Carved Wood Brass Opium Weight Scale 8"
Located in Dayton, OH
Antique Chinese portable opium scale - pair of hand held brass scales etched with leaves, with a wooden case hand carved in the shape of a snale with flowers on one side, a foliate s...
Category
19th Century Chinese Chinoiserie Antique Scientific Instruments
Materials
Brass
$400 Sale Price
20% Off
Anatomical model: a decomposable eyeball, SOMSO, Germany circa 1930.
Located in Milan, IT
Anatomical model for schools, educational use, depicting a decomposable eyeball, complete in all its parts, made of plaster, glass and painted paper mache, metal hooks, holding on a ...
Category
Mid-20th Century German Scientific Instruments
Materials
Metal
Walnut Cased Barograph
Located in Cheshire, GB
Walnut Cased Barograph, having five glazed removable lid. The mechanical eight-day movement is housed in the drum, fitted with a seven-day chart that covers one full rotation of the ...
Category
Early 20th Century British Scientific Instruments
Materials
Walnut
$1,991 Sale Price
46% Off
Antique Napoleon III Parisian Giltwood Barometer, "Bodeur a Paris", Circa 1830
Located in Dallas, TX
Napoleon III style, sometimes referred to as The Second Empire style, was greatly influenced by the Neoclassical aspects of the Louis XVI period. This giltwood barometer from Paris w...
Category
1830s French Napoleon III Antique Scientific Instruments
Materials
Glass, Wood, Giltwood
Spanish 18th Century Mortar and Pestle
Located in Round Top, TX
A very handsome 18th century mortar and pestle hand carved from a solid block of wood. Sensational patina. A wonderful object for table top, bookca...
Category
18th Century Spanish Antique Scientific Instruments
Materials
Wood
Walnut Cased Barograph by R. Stewart
Located in Cheshire, GB
R. Stewart mahogany-cased Barograph, having five glazed hinged lid, and a drawer below to house the charts. The mechanical eight-day movement is housed in the drum, fitted with a sev...
Category
Early 20th Century British Scientific Instruments
Materials
Glass
$2,074 Sale Price
20% Off
Anatomical model: a thyroid, Germany end of 18th century.
Located in Milan, IT
Coloured wax anatomic model depicting an human organ: Thyroid mounted on black painted wooden base. Germany end of XVIII sec.
Category
Late 18th Century German Antique Scientific Instruments
Materials
Wood
Walnut cased Barograph
Located in Cheshire, GB
John Trotter walnut-cased Barograph, having five beveled glazed removable lid, and a drawer below to house the charts. The mechanical eight-day movement is housed in the drum, fitted...
Category
Early 20th Century British Scientific Instruments
Materials
Walnut
$2,151 Sale Price
20% Off
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
Library Telescope from the collection of Thierry Despont
Located in New York, NY
This remarkable telescope came from the personal collection of Thierry Despont (1948 - 2023). While best known for his architectural practice—which played integral roles in the resto...
Category
20th Century English 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
$5,135 / item
Italian-transalpine time dial paper on wood board. Giusti, Nerici, Italy 1781.
Located in Milan, IT
An Italian and transalpine hour dial in paper printed on a fruitwood board. The base, in turned boxwood, has a wavy profile and distinct edge, at the top of which is mounted the rect...
Category
1780s Italian Antique Scientific Instruments
Materials
Brass
Mortar and pestle. Bronze. 15th century.
Located in Madrid, ES
Mortar and pestle. Bronze. 15th century.
Bronze mortar and pestle with a circular base and a spouted mouth decorated with a band beneath the rim. The base, facing outward, features...
Category
15th Century and Earlier European Gothic Antique Scientific Instruments
Materials
Bronze
Pair of Vintage Montblanc Meisterstruck & Starwalker Pens with Boxes & Papers
By Montblanc
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
Botanic Model of Solarum Tuberosum Flower, Paravia, Italy, 1940
Located in Milan, IT
A botanic didactical model, depicting a Solarum Tuberosum flower, pale pink color, made out of papier machè, plaster and wood, hand painted. Extremely detailed. Paravia, Milan, Italy...
Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Scientific Instruments
Materials
Plaster, Wood
Vintage 5 Draw Brass Telescope
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Vintage brass 5 draw extendable hand telescope. Comes with original cap to cover glass end and brass eyepiece cover that slides in and out of place. Unusually long telescope at just ...
Category
1970s American Vintage Scientific Instruments
Materials
Brass
Scandinavian Modern Ericsson Mint Green COBRA Vintage Rotary Dial Phone 1950s
Located in Miami, FL
Scandinavian Modern Ericsson "COBRA" mint green vintage rotary phone 1950s. This phone was made in Ohio and is in very good condition with no issues. It does dial out but does not ...
Category
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Scientific Instruments
Materials
Plastic
10 demountable geometric solids in oak height 7.9 inch 1960 Vallardi Milan
Located in Milan, IT
Box containing 10 removable geometric solids made of oak wood, maximum height 20 cm -inches 7.9, housed in their original wooden box. Made for educational purposes for schools by pub...
Category
1960s Vintage Scientific Instruments
Materials
Wood
1930s Hand Carved Pharmacy Stone Mortar
Located in Marbella, ES
1930s Hand Carved Pharmacy Stone Mortar
Category
Early 20th Century Spanish Scientific Instruments
Materials
Stone
Antique Tobacco Scale With Horn Trays – 19th Century, Napoleon III Period
Located in Bilzen, BE
"Antique Tobacco Scale With Horn Trays – 19th Century, Napoleon III Period"
Antique French Tobacco Scale with cow Horn Pans – 19th Century, Napoleon III Period
Rare and highly decor...
Category
19th Century French Napoleon III Antique Scientific Instruments
Materials
Marble, Brass, Iron
1930s Hand-carved Pharmacy Stone Mortar
Located in Marbella, ES
1930s Hand-carved Pharmacy Stone Mortar
Category
Early 20th Century Spanish Scientific Instruments
Materials
Stone
A glass and vulcanite syringe, London 1880.
Located in Milan, IT
An end of the 19th-Century medical’s instrument. A glass and vulcanite syringe. London, UK circa 1880.
Category
Late 19th Century British Antique Scientific Instruments
Materials
Glass
20th Century Soviet Cold War Anti Aircraft Binoculars c.1950
Located in Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent
An impressive set of highly polished Cold War-era anti-aircraft binoculars from the former USSR, crafted in the 20th Century. Accompanied by a sleek and adjustable metal tripod, thes...
Category
1950s Russian Other Vintage Scientific Instruments
Materials
Metal
Antique English Oak and Brass Postal Scale
Located in New Orleans, LA
Antique English oak and brass postal scale.
Category
Late 19th Century English Antique Scientific Instruments
Materials
Brass
Vintage Plaster Anatomical Skull Model
Located in Houston, TX
Interesting vintage plaster anatomical skull model. This great plaster skull bust model is in very good condition and dates to the 1940s.
Perfect in an ...
Category
1940s Other Vintage Scientific Instruments
Materials
Plaster
Rope Twist Carved Oak Nautical Barometer
Located in Norwell, MA
Early twentieth century barometer with porcelain face with merchants name A Black & Co., Nautical Optician, Glasgow. Carved rope twist case with brass bezel. Brass hanging tab. Nice ...
Category
1930s European Vintage Scientific Instruments
Materials
Brass
18th Century Louis XVI Giltwood Wall Barometer
Located in Vancouver, British Columbia
A beautifully carved and giltwood 18th century Louis XVI wall barometer having its original mercury tube and mechanism but presently with the mercury missing.
Category
Late 19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Scientific Instruments
Materials
Giltwood
A botanic model of a pale pink tulip, Brendel, Germany 1880.
Located in Milan, IT
A rare Brendel botanical model of Tulipa gesneriana, the Tulip N.200 (Liliaceae), light pink color. The wooden ebonized round base holds the model which opens revealing the flower. T...
Category
Late 19th Century German Antique Scientific Instruments
Materials
Wood
Pike and Elliman English Brass Scale
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Pike and Elliman brass shop scale, dating to the 1880's. Nice original condition. Class b to weigh up to 12oz. Stamped on brass tray pike & E 14 new, 32 Gi ...
Category
1880s English Early Victorian Antique Scientific Instruments
Materials
Brass
$440 Sale Price
41% Off
1960s Bathroom Scale by Hanson in Lemon Yellow Lime Green Dot Mid-Century Mod
Located in Hyattsville, MD
Very hard to find Psychedelic Era bathroom scale in wonderful condition, for decor or gentle uses. In the manner of a Verner Panton or a Josef Albers de...
Category
1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Scientific Instruments
Materials
Plastic
$396 Sale Price
20% Off
: 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
Electrostatic machine by Wimshurst, designed by Rinaldo Damiani, Italy 1900.
Located in Milan, IT
Electrostatic machine by Wimshurst, a British engineer and shipowner, designed in the 1880s, created by Rinaldo Damiani, a builder active in Venice between the end of the nineteenth ...
Category
Early 20th Century Italian Scientific Instruments
Materials
Metal
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
English Renaissance Wood Hour Glass
Located in Queens, NY
English Renaissance-style (20th Century) large dark wood hour glass with brass finials.
Category
20th Century British Renaissance Revival Scientific Instruments
Materials
Glass
18th Century French Louis XVI Giltwood Barometer
Located in Sheffield, MA
A stunningly beautiful 18th century French gold gilt barometer is a weather instrument with mercury-filled glass thermometer still in working order...
Category
1790s French Louis XVI Antique Scientific Instruments
Materials
Wood
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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16th Century Bronze Mortar
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3 Draw Brass Telescope
Anatomical Wax
Antique Brass Ruler
Antique Brass Scoop
Antique Brass Sundials
Antique Magnetic Compass
Antique Monocular