Scientific Instruments
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Scientific Instruments For Sale
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
19th Century French Metal Scale
Located in High Point, NC
This distinguished 19th Century French Metal Scale is an emblem of the rich historical past, resonating with the tales of traditional marketplaces where it once played a pivotal role...
Category
19th Century French 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
18th Century Medical Syringe
Located in London, GB
18th Century Medical Syringe
For historical medical use and dating from the 18th century, and certainly from the beginning of the 18th century. This hand-crafted example is made to...
Category
1780s Unknown Antique Scientific Instruments
Materials
Natural Fiber
American Victorian Metal Stereoscope
Located in Queens, NY
2 American Victorian-style wood and etched metal stereoscope.(PRICED EACH)
Category
Late 19th Century American Victorian Antique Scientific Instruments
Materials
Metal
$950 / item
Vintage Stereoscope Bar Parallax, Scientific Instrument, JM Glauser, London
Located in Hele, Devon, GB
This is a vintage stereoscope bar parallax. An English, brass scientific instrument for measuring depth in aerial photographs or maps, by JM Glauser & Sons of London, dating to the m...
Category
1950s English Other Vintage Scientific Instruments
Materials
Brass
1800s Veterinarians Horse Gag and Cutaway Skull
Located in Peekskill, NY
This is an early medical school demonstration model. The horse skull on its own very interesting. It shows a professionally done cutaway of the skull showing the teeth below the gum ...
Category
Late 19th Century American Industrial Antique Scientific Instruments
Materials
Bone
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
19th Century Pocket Telescope Gilt Brass And Faux Tortoiseshell Spyglass
Located in Norwich, GB
19th Century pocket telescope gilt brass and faux tortoiseshell spyglass, each friction fitting is tapering and collapsible with millegrain edges.
In good condition, showing some li...
Category
Mid-19th Century Antique Scientific Instruments
Materials
Brass
Vintage American Brass Gooseneck Magnifying Glass, circa 20th Century
Located in Napa, CA
Freestanding vintage gooseneck magnifying glass on a scalloped black metal base.
Metal with brass finish; a few dents; wear according to...
Category
20th Century Scientific Instruments
Materials
Metal
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
$2,055 Sale Price
20% Off
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
Antique English Victorian Brass Postal Scale, Circa 1870-1880.
Located in New Orleans, LA
Handsome Antique English Victorian Brass Postal Scale, Circa 1870-1880.
Category
Late 19th Century English Victorian Antique Scientific Instruments
Materials
Brass
Swiss Enamel and Gold Telescope
Located in New Orleans, LA
Swiss Enamel and Gold Telescope
Circa 1820
This extraordinary telescope exemplifies a rare union of 19th-century Swiss scientific innovation and artis...
Category
19th Century Antique Scientific Instruments
Materials
Metal, Gold, Enamel
Vintage Tesla Telephone Set With Original Maker’s Mark, 1960s
By Tesla
Located in Zohor, SK
This elegant vintage telephone set by Tesla showcases the original maker’s stamp on the underside, confirming its authenticity. Its streamlined curves and timeless design reflect mid...
Category
1960s Czech Mid-Century Modern Vintage Scientific Instruments
Materials
Bakelite
Bavarian Pharmacy Balance
Located in New Orleans, LA
This amazing and extremely rare Bavarian Biedermeier-period pharmacy balance stand would have been at home at any apothecary’s shop during the mid-19th century. Crafted of walnut with bold giltwood accents, this stand holds eight separate sets of balances with brass beams and pointers, and weighing pans made of Horn, brass and porcelain. The balances measure out varying sizes; the largest is capable of measuring up to 500 grams, while smallest weighs up to 5 grams. Such balances would have been essential tools in the practice of compounding, or creating customized medications to suit a specific patient's needs. The delicate porcelain scales even indicate what they were used to weigh: one set is marked “Jodoform,” or iodoform, a disinfectant and antiseptic once used to treat wounds, and the other is marked “Venena,” which is Latin for “poisons.” Each scale also exhibits stamps indicating that they have been tested for accuracy. It is extremely rare to find such a large array of scales, especially those in such wonderful condition, in one collection. This intriguing piece is a must for any medical antiques enthusiast.
The units of measurement in which apothecaries worked were often minute: grains, scruples, drams and ounces. As they were typically used to measure very small amounts of ingredients, apothecary and analytical balances...
Category
19th Century Balkan Biedermeier Antique Scientific Instruments
Materials
Brass
$64,500
1950s Wall Unit Vornado Grey Electric Window Fan
By Vornado
Located in Chula Vista, CA
1950s Vintage Wall Unit Vornado Gray Electric Window Fan
18 h 37 w (open) 25.5 w closed x 9.5 d
Preowned unrestored vintage condition.
Tested and working.
Refer to all images please.
Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Scientific Instruments
Materials
Metal
Antique English Gothic Arts & Crafts Hand Wrought Iron Balance Beam Scale
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Antique English Gothic Arts & Crafts Hand Wrought Iron Balance Beam Scale. Circa Mid 19th Century. Measurements: 31" H x 29" W x 11.25" D. Plate approx 11.25" Diameter. Base 7x5.
Category
Mid-19th Century Unknown Gothic Antique Scientific Instruments
Materials
Wrought Iron
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
$600 Sale Price
20% Off
1980s Spanish Banjo Weather Station w/ Original Glass
Located in Marbella, ES
1980s Spanish wooden banjo weather station, with original glass domes, barometer, hydrometer and thermometer.
Category
Late 20th Century Spanish Scientific Instruments
Materials
Glass, Wood
English Victorian Postal Scales with Brass Weights
Located in Queens, NY
"English Victorian postal scales with brass weights consisting of two-4lb weights and a 2lb weight on a oak base (signed: S. MORDAN & CO LONDON)
Some minor chipping to the veneer of...
Category
Late 19th Century British Victorian Antique Scientific Instruments
Materials
Metal
Wall-Mounted Weather Station in Art Nouveau Style Carved Oak By R. Krengel 1910s
Located in Verviers, BE
Wall-Mounted Weather Station in Art Nouveau Style Carved Oak By R. Krengel 1910s Eupen Belgium
High quality mechanism with jeweled movement barometer and thermometer (in centigrade)...
Category
1910s Belgian Art Nouveau Vintage Scientific Instruments
Materials
Oak
American Nautical Brass Yacht Binnacle Mounted in Mahogany Case, Circa 1890
Located in Charleston, SC
American nautical mahogany yacht binnacle with a hinged locking oval glass viewing port, original removable brass side light burner with font, brass carrying handle, and fitted with ...
Category
1890s American American Empire Antique Scientific Instruments
Materials
Brass
Machine Age bakelight Ribbonaire Fan Designed by W.O. Langille for Singer, 1931
By Singer Sewing Machine Co., W. O. Langille
Located in Buffalo, NY
Ribbonaire Bakelite Electric Fan designed by W.O. Langille in 1931 for the Singer Sewing Machine Company. Aerodynamic Design that pivots front to back to angle the breeze. Unique des...
Category
1930s American Art Deco Vintage Scientific Instruments
Materials
Fabric, Bakelite
Antique Microscope in Original Box, circa 1900
Located in Greven, DE
Antique travel microscope in unrestored found condition. The brass should be polished and the glasses cleaned.
All parts appear to be complete, no guarantee, see photos.
Category
Early 20th Century French Scientific Instruments
Materials
Brass
Blunt and Company Maritime Compass
Located in Norwell, MA
Mid-nineteenth century ships compass by Blunt and Company of New York. The Blunt name was involved in the maritime trade from 1824 to 1885. The name Blunt and Co. was used from 1868 to 1872 by Edmund Blunt Jr. This is a spun brass bowl compass fitted to a dovetailed wood box...
Category
1870s American Antique Scientific Instruments
Materials
Brass
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
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
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
$8,099 Sale Price
20% Off
Smalll Victorian Monocular Field Microscope
Located in Norwich, GB
Small Victorian monocular field microscope
Brass framed monocular field microscope house in it’s original mahogany box with hinged brass carrying...
Category
1890s English Antique Scientific Instruments
Materials
Brass
English 19th Century Brass Herbalist Scale with Central Column and Lyre Motif
Located in Atlanta, GA
An English brass herbalist scale from the 19th century, with column and lyre details, mounted on a wooden base. Used to measure herbs, this exquisite scale features a brass structure...
Category
19th Century English Antique Scientific Instruments
Materials
Brass
Vintage Dental Model of Mouth with Braces in Original Box by Columbia Dentoforms
Located in Montclair, NY
A vintage 1960/70s teaching dental model of a mouth with braces by noted company Columbia Dentoforms. Columbia Dentoforms has been making teaching models ...
Category
1960s North American Vintage Scientific Instruments
Materials
Chrome
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 Scientific Instruments
Materials
Shell
Anatomical model: a male human body in life-size proportions, Italy 1930.
Located in Milan, IT
Anatomical model for schools, educational use, depicting the flayed male human body in life-size proportions, with removable organs, made of painted resin, all placed on a black wood...
Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Scientific Instruments
Materials
Resin, Wood
1900s Foldable Anatomical Brochure Depicting the Human Head
Located in Berghuelen, DE
1900s Foldable Anatomical Brochure Depicting the Human Head
A rare brochure illustrating the anatomy of the human head. Very detailed multicoloured depiction of several layers of th...
Category
Early 20th Century German Victorian Scientific Instruments
Materials
Paper
Modernist Barometer, French, circa 1930's
Located in London, Fitzrovia
Modernist Barometer, French, circa 1930's, well designed, working order.
Category
20th Century French Art Deco Scientific Instruments
Materials
Wood
$703 Sale Price
35% Off
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
$2,131 Sale Price
20% Off
1950 Film 16mm Camera, SOM Berthiot, France
Located in Miami, FL
Société d'Optique et de Mécanique Berthiot (SOM Berthiot) was a French manufacturer of optics and photographic lenses. They produced C and D mount motion picture lenses for professio...
Category
Mid-20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Scientific Instruments
British Admiralty Mark III Clinometer
Located in Norwell, MA
Clinometer inspectors forty five degree mark III admiralty pattern instrument. Made by E.R. Watts & Son, London. No 23374. Fitted to a mahogany case with leather strap. 5" H x 13" W ...
Category
1950s Vintage Scientific Instruments
Materials
Brass
Anatomical Model of Human Eye Papier-maché, Scientific Collectables, Dr.Auzoux
Located in Leuven , BE
Anatomical cut of one eye, composition in natural painted papier-maché, with numbered labels on the different elements / the opening eyeball to cover the removable pute. Pen annotati...
Category
19th Century French Antique Scientific Instruments
Materials
Paper, Plaster
Foldable Anatomical Brochure Depicting Female Anatomy ca.1900s
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Foldable Anatomical Brochure Depicting Female Anatomy ca.1900s
A rare 19ct anatomical brochure illustrating the female human anatomy. Very detailed multicoloured depiction of human ...
Category
Early 20th Century German Victorian Scientific Instruments
Materials
Paper
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
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
$1,973 Sale Price
46% Off
18th Century George Sterrop Cuff Type Microscope in Original Mahogancy Case
Located in Lincolnshire, GB
A fine 18th century cuff type microscope by Sterrop, London
The microscope stands on a mahogany base with single drawer fitted with a near complete set of accessories.
A very simil...
Category
18th Century English Antique Scientific Instruments
Materials
Mahogany
Mechanical planetarium representative of the solar system with Sun Earth and Moon
Located in Milan, IT
Mechanical planetarium, or representative model of the solar system, from the second half of the 19th century.
The cartouche of the globe reads: GlobusVydal J. Felkl at Syn Roztok ...
Category
1860s Antique Scientific Instruments
Materials
Metal
A travel aphotecary with oak wood box, England 1880.
Located in Milan, IT
Small travel apothecary with oak wood box, glass containers inside and bone spoon. England circa 1880.
Category
Late 19th Century English Antique Scientific Instruments
Materials
Glass, Wood
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
A Brendel botanic model: Taxus-Yew, Germany 1900.
Located in Milan, IT
A rare botanical model of the Brendel, Taxus N.40a female (Coniferae), Badger. The round base in ebonized wood holds three models: an example of a male Sporophile, a female Aril enla...
Category
Early 20th Century German Scientific Instruments
Materials
Wood
Antique George III Quality Mahogany Banjo Barometer
Located in Suffolk, GB
Antique George III quality mahogany banjo barometer having a quality mahogany shaped case with a swan neck pediment and satinwood stringing, circular silvered engraved dial with orig...
Category
Early 1800s English George III Antique Scientific Instruments
Materials
Mahogany
$1,452 Sale Price
20% Off
Carved oak wall hanging Banjo barometer
Located in Cheshire, GB
Carved oak barometer, the shaped carved oak frame with rectangular thermometer encased by glass. Above the enamelled dial with brass bezel, flanked by crisp scrolling carved decorati...
Category
Early 20th Century British Scientific Instruments
Materials
Oak
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
A jaw with teeth made of painted papier-maché, Italy 1880.
Located in Milan, IT
Anatomical model for schools for educational use depicting a jaw with teeth, made of painted papier-mâché, all placed with the support of a cylindrical iron rod on a round base in bl...
Category
Late 19th Century Italian Antique Scientific Instruments
Materials
Iron
Late 19th c. Optometrist Eye Testing Kit c.1890
Located in San Francisco, CA
ABOUT
An original Victorian optometrist eye testing kit. The interior of the kit is lined in velvet with the name and number of the lenses. The optical testing lenses are wrapped in...
Category
19th Century American Victorian Antique Scientific Instruments
Materials
Silver
$695 Sale Price
29% Off
Oak Cased Barograph by Negretti & Zambra, London
Located in Norwich, GB
Negretti & Zambra
Fine Edwardian oak cased barograph with bevelled glass panels and central chart drawer.
Ten vacuum chambers linking ...
Category
1920s English Vintage Scientific Instruments
Materials
Oak
Antique Victorian Quality Mahogany Banjo Barometer by James H Kelly of Glasgow
Located in Suffolk, GB
Antique Victorian quality mahogany banjo barometer by James H Kelly of Glasgow
Having a quality mahogany shaped banjo barometer with scroll shaped carving circular silvered engrave...
Category
19th Century Scottish Victorian Antique Scientific Instruments
Materials
Other
$1,090 Sale Price
20% Off
Antique European Enameled Postal Scale with Brass
Located in Miami, FL
Antique European Enameled Postal Scale with Brass, this desk top pendulum scale is a quirky and fun addition to your collection of antique scales. Bought from a collector, it’s made ...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Scientific Instruments
Materials
Metal, Brass, Enamel
Early 19th Century Antique George III Mahogany Stick Barometer by Cremonino
Located in Devon, GB
A fine and well-proportioned early 19th century figured mahogany barometer signed ‘Cremonino, Fecit.’
This barometer has a broken arch pediment above a flush-glass door, enclosing ...
Category
Early 19th Century English George III Antique Scientific Instruments
Materials
Mahogany
Antique Cast Iron Pharmacy Scale from Spain, 19th Century
Located in Dallas, TX
A unique piece of scientific equipment, this antique cast iron scale would have been used in a Spanish pharmacy during the 1800s. The main cast...
Category
19th Century Spanish Antique Scientific Instruments
Materials
Iron
French 19th Century Culinary Scale from Lyon
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
A large kitchen / culinary scale made in Lyon, France, circa 1880. This wonderful antique instrument was used to measure various ingredients and product...
Category
19th Century French Antique Scientific Instruments
Materials
Marble, 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
$7,601 Sale Price
20% Off
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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