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Scientific Instruments For Sale
Period: 20th Century
Period: 1910s
Copper and Brass Fresh Air Diver's Pump with Wood Handle
Located in Norwell, MA
Diver's pump for shallow water use which feeds air to the diver's helmet. Highly polished and lacquered, with wood handled plunger. Handles have been sanded and varnished. Great divi...
Category
1940s American Vintage Scientific Instruments
Materials
Copper
WWw11, Tiny Leather Attaché Case First Aid Medical Equipment
Located in Godshill, Isle of Wight
WW11, tiny leather attaché case first aid medical equipment
This is a superb piece and is in excellent condition almost unused, the case is mad...
Category
Early 20th Century British Colonial Scientific Instruments
Materials
Leather
Botanic Model of Inflorescence, Flower Head, Italy, 1930
Located in Milan, IT
A rare botanical schematic model by Prof. T. Ferraris, didactic use, of a type of inflorescence specimen, the Simple Flower Head, made with hand-painte...
Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Scientific Instruments
Materials
Plaster, Wood, Paper
Venetian Equipment Corps. Sterilizer Cup
Located in Norwalk, CT
A cup and metal holder by Venetian Equipment Corps. The cup reads "Sterilizer" and depicts a star in red.
Category
Early 20th Century American Scientific Instruments
Materials
Plastic
$360 Sale Price
20% Off
West German Unisex Anatomical Model, circa 1950
By Somso
Located in Faversham, GB
A complete West German unisex anatomical figure of a head and torso with removal organs. Hand painted and in excellent condition.
German, circa 1950...
Category
20th Century German Mid-Century Modern Scientific Instruments
Materials
Plastic, Acrylic
$766 Sale Price
20% Off
1970s Pair of Hand Painted Ceramic Vases with Heraldic Coats of Arms
Located in Marbella, ES
Set of two glazed ceramic vases decorated with heraldic motifs and rural landscapes, hand-painted in blue tones. Each piece features a coat of arms with crown, accompanied by scenes ...
Category
Late 20th Century Italian Scientific Instruments
Materials
Ceramic
Botanic Model of Inflorescence, the Corymb, Italy, 1930
Located in Milan, IT
A rare botanical schematic model by Prof. T. Ferraris, didactic use, of a type of inflorescence specimen, the Corymb, made with hand-painted plaster co...
Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Scientific Instruments
Materials
Plaster, Wood, Paper
Botanic Model of Inflorescence, the Spiga, Italy 1930
Located in Milan, IT
A rare botanic didactical model of one type of inflorescence specimen, the Spiga, made out of hand painted colored plaster gems, wooden branches and pa...
Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Scientific Instruments
Materials
Plaster, Wood, Paper
Superb Large Painted Iron Balance Scales by Holliday & Co London 1907
Located in Godshill, Isle of Wight
Superb Large Painted Iron Balance Scales by Holliday & Co London 1907
This very large and attractive beam balance scale is set on a cast Iron base the central upright columns are a...
Category
Early 1900s Industrial Antique Scientific Instruments
Materials
Iron
Hand Held Magnifying Glass with a Turned Wooden Handle
Located in Godshill, Isle of Wight
Hand Held Magnifying Glass with a Turned Wooden Handle
A lovely piece for your study in good vintage condition with a chunky turned handle
Th Glass is 10” long, the lens is 4” in di...
Category
1960s Adam Style Vintage Scientific Instruments
Materials
Glass
Austrian Vintage Barometer in Heart Shape by Wippel & co
Located in Vienna, AT
rare austrian vintage barometer in heart shape by Wippel & co, rosewood, good original condition
Category
1950s Vintage Scientific Instruments
Materials
Metal, Brass
Antique Teaching Model Longitudinal Profile of the Kidney, ca. 1900
Located in Berghuelen, DE
A great antique hand-painted anatomical model of the kidney. Made of papier maché and plaster, mounted on a turned wooden base. Manufactured most probably by SOMSO or PHYWE, Germany ...
Category
Early 20th Century German Mid-Century Modern Scientific Instruments
Materials
Plaster, Wood, Paper
19th Century Bronze and Lead Weight in its Interior of Seven Pounds
Located in Marbella, ES
19th Century Bronze and Lead Weight in its Interior of Seven Pounds
Category
Late 20th Century English Scientific Instruments
Materials
Bronze
1950s Husqvarna Brand Iron Grinder with Swiss Table Anchor
Located in Marbella, ES
1950s Iron Grinder with Swiss Table Anchor Husqvarna Brand
Category
Mid-20th Century Swedish Scientific Instruments
Materials
Wood
20th Century British Solid Silver Magnifying Glass & Ruler, Asprey, c.1929
Located in Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent
Antique early-20th Century British solid silver magnifying glass & ruler, with engraved silver mounts and a handle terminating with a finger loop. Hallmarked English silver (925 stan...
Category
20th Century English Scientific Instruments
Materials
Silver
Beautiful Glass Apothecary Jar - price per piece
Located in Brussels, BE
Cut-glass top and blown glass jar beautiful quality.
Multiple available
Category
20th Century European Scientific Instruments
Materials
Blown Glass, Cut Glass
$1,315 / item
Pharmacy Height Measure Stand, Pitch Pine Measuring Stick or Somastometre
Located in Godshill, Isle of Wight
Pharmacy Height Measure Stand, Pitch Pine Measuring Stick or Somastometre
Once these along with scales were common place in Doctors Surgeries, Chemist S...
Category
Mid-20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Scientific Instruments
Russian Fabergé Style Silver Gilt Table Thermometer
By Karl Fabergé
Located in London, GB
The very fine table thermometer mounted in a silver-gilt frame and set with diamonds and rubies, featuring an oval shaped photograph surrounded by a ...
Category
20th Century Russian Scientific Instruments
Materials
Diamond, Silver, Enamel
20th Century French Wooden Floor Abacus
Located in High Point, NC
A wooden abacus created in 20th century France. A symbol of antiquated mathematical processes, this seemingly simple stack of slidable wooden beads can be used for subtraction, addit...
Category
20th Century French French Provincial Scientific Instruments
Materials
Wood
Antique Oak and Brass Lumber Caliper by William Greenlief
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Turn of the 20th century, oak and handcrafted brass, lumber caliper by William Greenlief used to measure the amount of timber from a tree features a sli...
Category
Early 20th Century American Industrial Scientific Instruments
Materials
Brass
Collection of 12 Perspex Teaching Blocks & Lenses
By Griffin & George Ltd.
Located in London, GB
A collection of twelve Perspex teaching optical blocks and lenses.
Various shapes, forms and blocks, convex and concave, a number are backed with a white film.
Three have their...
Category
Mid-20th Century English Industrial Scientific Instruments
Materials
Acrylic
$330 Sale Price / set
25% Off
Scientific Handblown Glass Vacuum Dome
Located in Norwalk, CT
A really neat way to display something amazing this is a really thick quality piece of handblown glass from the early 1900s.
Category
Early 20th Century American Scientific Instruments
Antique Oak and Brass Lumber Caliper by E. S. Lane, Upton ME
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Turn of the 20th century, oak and handcrafted brass hardware, lumber caliper by E.S. Lane, Upton ME used to measure the amount of timber from a tree fea...
Category
Early 20th Century American Industrial Scientific Instruments
Materials
Brass
20th Century Czech Wooden Industrial Element
Located in High Point, NC
This 20th-century wooden foundry mold, repurposed as a captivating decorative piece, stands as a testament to the fusion of industrial history and artistic charm. Crafted from solid ...
Category
20th Century Czech Industrial Scientific Instruments
Materials
Metal
Italian Mid-Century Medical Laboratory Bed Brown Leather and White Metal, 1940s
Located in MIlano, IT
Italian mid-century Medical laboratory bed brown leather and white metal, 1940s
Medical laboratory bed with cream white painted metal structure. The backrest, footrest and seat are p...
Category
1940s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Scientific Instruments
Materials
Metal
Vintage Ball and Stick Molecular Model of Benzene
Located in Napa, CA
Vintage ball and stick molecular model depicting elemental structure of Benzene, circa 1950s.
Category
20th Century Scientific Instruments
Lapis Lazuli Table Clock and Barometer
By Fabergé
Located in London, GB
The body of this fine table clock and barometer is veneered in lapis lazuli and supported by a hinged arm to the reverse. The clock and barometer d...
Category
Early 20th Century Russian Belle Époque Scientific Instruments
Materials
Lapis Lazuli
Fine Vintage Deyrolle Paris Anatomical Model of Human Lungs in Display Case
By Deyrolle
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
We are delighted to offer for sale this lovely vintage French anatomical medical teaching aid of a lung with a plaque reading Anatomie Humaine, Poumons & Coeur made by Deyrolle Paris.
A very good looking and well made piece, hand made in France, there are two descriptive plaques, they read as below, this piece was made by Deyrolle Paris, they are a taxidermy store that has been in the same location since 1831, the brass mount is signed Deyrolle Paris
Plaque 1
ANATOMIE HUMAINE
POUMONS & COEUR
Les Fils D’Emile Deyrolle 46 Rue Du Bac Paris
Plaque 2...
Category
20th Century French Other Scientific Instruments
Materials
Glass, Plastic
$2,845 Sale Price
30% Off
Modernist Weathercock Sculpture from Pius X Church, The Netherlands, 1960s
Located in Antwerp, BE
This striking abstract sculpture, interpreted as a modernist weathercock rooster, was originally installed atop the Pius X Parish Church in Amsterdam’s Sloterva...
Category
1960s Dutch Futurist Vintage Scientific Instruments
Materials
Steel
Antique Brass Desk Top Lens Decorative Curio
Located in London, GB
A good quality, desk top lens.
England, c1920s,
Brass construction on a solid metal base for sturdiness/weighting.
Adjustable to some extent.
Ideal desk top or shelf decorative c...
Category
Early 20th Century English Scientific Instruments
Materials
Brass
Mid-Century Personal Weight, Luxa/Vista Semily, 1980's
Located in Praha, CZ
Made in czechoslovakia.
Made of Metal,Plastic.
Fully Functional.
Good original condition.
Category
1980s Czech Mid-Century Modern Vintage Scientific Instruments
Materials
Metal
A pharmacy mushroom model: Sarcoshypha Austriaca, Italy 1950.
Located in Milan, IT
A pharmacy model of a specimen of Sarcoscypha Austriaca mushroom, made in painted plaster, on a green oval-shaped plaster base with moss and hay. Italy circa 1950.
Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Scientific Instruments
Materials
Plaster
A pharmacy mushroom model: Agaricus Bisporus Imach, Italy 1950.
Located in Milan, IT
A pharmacy model of a specimen of Agaricus Bisporus Imbach mushroom, made in painted plaster, on a green oval-shaped plaster base with moss and hay. Italy circa 1950.
Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Scientific Instruments
Materials
Plaster
A pharmacy mushroom model: Chanterle Raku, Italy 1950.
Located in Milan, IT
A pharmacy model of a specimen of Chanterle Raku mushroom, made in painted plaster, on a green oval-shaped plaster base with moss and hay. Italy circa 1950.
Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Scientific Instruments
Materials
Plaster
Measuring Stand
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This French early wooden measuring stand is a marvelous blend of utility and minimalistic design. The slender vertical post, supported by a sturdy base...
Category
Early 1900s French Antique Scientific Instruments
Materials
Metal
$1,975
Hydrometer by Henning Koppel for Georg Jensen, 1978
Located in Sagaponack, NY
A black enameled hydrometer, was a part of a weather station.
Category
1970s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Scientific Instruments
Materials
Metal
Telescopes Vintage Signed Iseli
Located in Alessandria, Piemonte
O/2941 , vintage French telescopes with its case: for Your holidays ! Small and convenient to carry .
Signed ISELI, Paris.
Category
Early 20th Century French Other Scientific Instruments
Materials
Leather
A botanic model of inflorescence, the Simple Umbrella, Italy 1930
Located in Milan, IT
A rare botanical schematic model by Prof. T. Ferraris, didactic use, of a type of inflorescence specimen, the Simple Umbrella, made with hand-painted p...
Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Scientific Instruments
Materials
Plaster, Wood, Paper
Botanic Model of Inflorescence, the Raceme or Cluster, Italy, 1930
Located in Milan, IT
A rare botanical schematic model by Prof. T. Ferraris, didactic use, of a type of inflorescence specimen, the Raceme or cluster, made with hand-painted...
Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Scientific Instruments
Materials
Plaster, Wood, Paper
Spanish MCM Instituto L. Torres Quevedo Educational Galvanometer
Located in Mexico City, MX
A 1950s Spanish Mid-Century Modern educational D'Arsonval galvanometer manufactured by the Leonardo Torres Quevedo Institute in Madrid. Model MA 54-04. The wood and glass structure s...
Category
1950s Spanish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Scientific Instruments
Materials
Magnets
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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