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Scientific Instruments For Sale
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
Decorative Alidade, Metal, 20th Century
Located in Madrid, ES
It has a cover to protect the lens made of the same gold metal in which the rest of the instrument is made. The lines, pure and clean, are the protagonists, and make it a great opti...
Category
20th Century Unknown Other Scientific Instruments
Materials
Metal, Other
Vintage Woman Figurine Lady Sewing Tailor Tape Measure
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
Very charming small figurine of a lady that functions as a tape measure. This vintage piece was commonly found on a sewing table and has both centimeters as well as inch measurements...
Category
Early 20th Century German Folk Art Scientific Instruments
Materials
Plastic
18th Century Stick Barometer by Nairne London
Located in Lincolnshire, GB
An elegant 18th century satinwood and ebony stick barometer by Edward Nairne, London.
Nairne was a famous 18th century scientific instrument and barometer...
Category
18th Century English Antique Scientific Instruments
Materials
Ebony, Satinwood
Transparent blown glass laboratory retort from the early 19th century.
Located in Milan, IT
An early 19th-century transparent blown glass laboratory retort used for distillation, it has a pyriform body and long neck bent downward that gradually narrows toward the mouth.
Bo...
Category
1820s Antique Scientific Instruments
Materials
Glass
Antique Apothecary Mortar & Pestle, English, Bronze, Chemist Shop Aid, Georgian
Located in Hele, Devon, GB
This is an antique apothecary mortar and pestle. An English, bronze chemist's shop aid, dating to the Georgian period, circa 1800.
Quality Georgian apothecary aid with superb finis...
Category
Late 18th Century British Georgian Antique Scientific Instruments
Materials
Bronze
Antique Chemist's Mortar & Pestle, French Bronze Apothecary Aid, Victorian, 1900
Located in Hele, Devon, GB
This is an antique chemist's mortar & pestle set. A French, bronze apothecary aid with beech and ceramic pestle, dating to the late Victorian period, circa 1900.
Delightful French ...
Category
Late 19th Century French Late Victorian Antique Scientific Instruments
Materials
Bronze
Quality Antique Victorian Burr Walnut Carved Banjo Barometer
Located in Suffolk, GB
Quality antique Victorian burr walnut carved banjo barometer having a quality burr walnut carved shaped case with a 10 inch silvered engraved dial, original hands, thermometer and a ...
Category
19th Century English Victorian Antique Scientific Instruments
Materials
Walnut
Vintage Fairbanks Scales Wrought Iron and Brass Scale with Weights
Located in San Francisco, CA
Vintage wrought iron and brass scale with weights is made in the United States by Fairbanks Scales, one of the nation's oldest industrial manufacturing...
Category
Early 20th Century North American Scientific Instruments
Materials
Brass, Wrought Iron
Apothecary Balls in Cobalt Blue Cut Crystal
Located in Brussels, BE
Apothecary balls in cobalt blue cut crystal - ten available.
Category
20th Century European Scientific Instruments
Materials
Glass, Wood
$1,014 / item
Large Vintage Pantagraph, English, Brass, Scientific Mapping Instrument
Located in Hele, Devon, GB
This is a large vintage pantagraph. An English, brass scientific mapping instrument, dating to the mid-20th century, circa 1950.
Fascinating scale and mechanical interest
Displays a...
Category
Mid-20th Century English Scientific Instruments
Materials
Brass
A Victorian anchor and rope barometer by Gray and Keen, Liverpool
Located in Lymington, Hampshire
A Victorian anchor and rope barometer by Gray and Keen, Liverpool. The 10 ¾-inch silvered dial of this walnut barometer is set within the arms of an anchor and a coil of double twisted rope which passes over a ring handle. The dial is inscribed in Spanish and the scale in both Fahrenheit and ‘Beaumur’. It is The trunk inset with a thermometer. Inscribed Gray & Keen, Liverpool on the dial. English and Italian, circa 1860.
Height: 37in (94cm) Width: 17in (43cm)
Gray and Keen from Liverpool exhibited in the Designers and Manufacturers Hall of the Great Exhibition of 1851. The official catalogue entry reads ‘Wheel barometer, designed for use in naval establishments’ and ‘Gothic wheel barometer’s. For a similar rope twist barometer...
Category
1860s European Victorian Antique Scientific Instruments
Materials
Walnut
Edwardian Mahogany Cased Barograph by Negretti & Zambra, London
Located in Norwich, GB
Negretti & Zambra
Fine Edwardian mahogany cased barograph with beveled glass panels and central chart drawer.
Seven vacuum chambe...
Category
1910s English Edwardian Vintage Scientific Instruments
Materials
Mahogany
1940s Chiropractor Bench
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Great 1940s chiropractor bench; chrome and green vinyl with a Lucite handle.
Category
1940s Unknown Vintage Scientific Instruments
Materials
Chrome
$1,675
Terrestrial Globe Ludwig Julius Heymann, Circa 1880
Located in Madrid, ES
Terrestrial Globe Ludwig Julius Heymann, Circa 1880
Globe 10 cm in diameter with a marble base held by metal putty. Nineteenth century. Dimensions: 46 cm high 7.14 cm diameter
Category
1880s Antique Scientific Instruments
Materials
Marble
$1,260 Sale Price
20% Off
System walking stick with grain measuring the function, France 1820.
Located in Milan, IT
System walking stick: stick with grain measuring function. Oak wood barrel, graduated on the outside with brass nails. Iron knob, brass ferrule. By unscrewing the knob, a graduated i...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Scientific Instruments
Materials
Brass, Iron
Vintage test lens set, cabinet with shutter lock. Early 20th cent.
Located in Torino, IT
Set of trial lenses
vintage, mobile
wooden with closure
shutter and drawers.
A. BORRIONE & C.
The set includes 247 lenses, plus some spare parts. The tray is removable, with two met...
Category
Early 20th Century Italian Scientific Instruments
Materials
Glass, Wood
Torricellian barometer signed Heineman Strada Toledo 213 Naples mid-nineteenth century.
Located in Milan, IT
Torricellian mercury barometer signed Heineman Strada Toledo 213 Naples for the Italian market, in mahogany wood from the mid 19th cent. complete with reading nonius for checking p...
Category
Mid-19th Century Antique Scientific Instruments
Materials
Wood
19th Century Victorian Scale Model Of A Gas Meter, Crystal Palace Expo, c.1851
Located in Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent
Antique mid-19th Century Victorian very rare cast iron scale model of the original meter used to measure the amount of gas used at the Crystal Palace, in Hyde Park during the Great E...
Category
19th Century British Victorian Antique Scientific Instruments
Materials
Iron
19th Century Grand Tour Antique Handmade Bronze Mortar with Pestle
Located in Roma, IT
19th-century grand tour antique handmade bronze mortar with pestle. This fantastic piece has an original patina.
The pestle is 9.05 inc high wit...
Category
Mid-19th Century European Grand Tour Antique Scientific Instruments
Materials
Bronze
Antique Brass and Wood Set of Scales with Assorted Weights
Located in New Orleans, LA
19th Century Victorian Era Brass and Wood Set of Scales with Assorted Weights.
Category
19th Century English Antique Scientific Instruments
Materials
Brass
17th Century Spanish Talavera Pharmacy Jar in Blue Glazed Ceramic
Located in Marbella, ES
17th century Spanish Talavera pharmacy jar in blue glazed ceramic.
Category
17th Century Spanish Antique Scientific Instruments
Materials
Ceramic
A pharmacy mushroom model: Tricholoma Sulphureum, Italy 1950.
Located in Milan, IT
A pharmacy model of a specimen of Tricholoma Sulphureum 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
Lovely Victorian Boy Chasing a Cat Met Aneroid Barometer Painted Cast Iron
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
We are delighted to offer for sale this Victorian boy chasing a cat cast iron aneroid barometer
Dimensions:
Height 27cm
Width 23cm
Depth 9.5c...
Category
19th Century English Victorian Antique Scientific Instruments
Materials
Iron
$533 Sale Price
30% Off
Wall-Mounted Large Weather Station in Art Nouveau Style Carved Walnut Belgium
Located in Verviers, BE
Art Deco Style Barometer with Mercury Thermometer Weather Station Antique Decorative Cherrywood Wall Barometer Austria 1920s
Please don't hesitate to get in touch with any further q...
Category
1920s Austrian Art Deco Vintage Scientific Instruments
Materials
Brass
Napoleon III Period Gilt Bronze Clock and Barometer, Attributed to Raingo Frères
Located in London, GB
This stunning gilt bronze clock and barometer pair was created in circa 1860 in France. The two have been attributed to Raingo Frères, the prestigious, ...
Category
Mid-19th Century French Napoleon III Antique Scientific Instruments
Materials
Enamel, Ormolu, Bronze
19th century Sikes scientific hydrometer set
Located in Debenham, Suffolk
19th century sikes hydrometer set circa 1890.
Good quality presented in a mahogany box, with brass catches.
Labelled on the cartouche ' sike's hydrometer' and a 56 stamford street ...
Category
Late 19th Century English Victorian Antique Scientific Instruments
Materials
Brass
Antique Mahogany Buck Saw c.1910-1930
Located in San Francisco, CA
ABOUT
A Mahogany buck saw with steel tension rod and blade.
CREATOR Unknown.
DATE OF MANUFACTURE c.1910-1930.
MATERIALS AND TECHNIQUES Steel, Mahogany.
CONDITION ...
Category
Early 20th Century Rustic Scientific Instruments
Materials
Steel
17th Century Spanish Talavera Pharmacy Jar in Blue Glazed Ceramic
Located in Marbella, ES
17th Century Spanish Talavera pharmacy jar in blue glazed ceramic.
Category
17th Century Spanish Antique Scientific Instruments
Materials
Ceramic
Hand Carved Coquille Nut Egg Box 19th Century Flea Trap Pomander Needle Case
Located in Nuernberg, DE
A beautiful hand carved coquille nut egg box. Beautiful carving, great patina, unscrews at center to open.
The original use was a flea trap, things were d...
Category
1880s English Victorian Antique Scientific Instruments
Materials
Wood
Campbell–Stokes sunshine recorder by Casella & Co of London
By Casella
Located in London, GB
A mid twentieth century Campbell–Stokes sunshine recorder, by Casella & Co, London.
Pattern: Mk III C 45- 65 (latitudes 45° – 65°, North or South). 4 inch glass sphere.
Serial number: 6962
Marked: CASELLA LONDON MADE IN ENGLAND 6962
For similar Casella sunshine recorders see the collections of:
Science Museum, London. OBJECT NUMBER:1995-820.
The National Museum of the Royal New Zealand Navy, Torpedo Bay, New Zealand.
The Campbell–Stokes sphere is used to record sunshine. It was invented by John Francis Campbell in 1853 and modified in 1879 by Sir George Gabriel Stokes.
The original design by Campbell consisted of a glass sphere set into a wooden bowl with the sun burning a trace on the bowl.
Stokes’s refinement was to make the housing out of metal and to have a card holder set behind the sphere.
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.
Circa 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 Scientific Instruments
Materials
Brass, Bronze
Laboratory Trebuchet Balance By Maison Mabille In Paris.
Located in BARSAC, FR
Pharmacy/laboratory trebuchet scale in its all-sided glass case, a vertical sliding door on the front, a storage drawer at the bottom.
Complete with its original accessories, functi...
Category
Late 19th Century French Art Nouveau Antique Scientific Instruments
Materials
Glass, Wood
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
$250 Sale Price
74% Off
French Giltwood Wall Mercury Barometer
Located in Norwich, GB
French giltwood cased diamond barometer, verre eglomise dial with seven weather indications and original pointer signed 'Fouin', circa 1830.
Category
1830s French Louis Philippe Antique Scientific Instruments
Materials
Giltwood
Large Antique Shipwright's Set Square, English, Rosewood, Tool, Victorian, 1880
Located in Hele, Devon, GB
This is a large antique shipwright's set square. An English, rosewood and brass right-angled tool, dating to the Victorian period, circa 1880.
Quality, antique craftsman's tool
Displaying a desirable aged patina
Rosewood stock with brass capping
Square blade shows pleasing weathering commensurate with age
Attractive brass shield with pegged bonding to both sides
Engraved with the names Woates and A. Clarke
This is a fine, large antique set square...
Category
Late 19th Century English Victorian Antique Scientific Instruments
Materials
Brass
Vintage Silver Magnifying Glass with Antler Horn Handle
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
We love seeing this sitting atop antique books on a coffee or side table as well as functional on a desk in an office. Fantastic patina on this vintage magnifying glass.
Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Scientific Instruments
Materials
Silver Plate
Antique Kendrick & Davis K&D Inverto Staking Jewelry Watch Tool Set
Located in Norwalk, CT
A very unusual Jewelry and watchmakers tool, makes for a great curiosity item for the shelf!
Category
Early 20th Century American Scientific Instruments
Materials
Wood
$680 Sale Price
20% Off
Vintage Medical Device Wooden Case for Bleeding Needle and Loop Kit with Tin Can
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Vintage Medical Device Wooden Case for Bleeding Needle and Loop Kit with Tin Can. 0Original paperwork, solid wood case, 2 swing doors, tin metal...
Category
1930s Jacobean Vintage Scientific Instruments
Materials
Tin
Early 19th Century 2 Day Marine Chronometer by James McCabe, No. 199
By James McCabe
Located in Lincolnshire, GB
Number 199, a two day marine chronometer by James McCabe, London, beautifully signed and numbered on the dial and movement, and the number on the bottom of the bowl. In a three part ...
Category
Early 19th Century English Antique Scientific Instruments
Materials
Brass
French Eglomise Barometer
Located in Lincolnshire, GB
A fine decorative french eglomise barometer.
Category
Mid-19th Century French Antique Scientific Instruments
Solid Boxwood Extra Long Plow Plane c.1850
Located in San Francisco, CA
ABOUT
Solid boxwood carpenter's wood plane with steel and bronze accents. Stamped "Krautz" on both sides.
CREATOR Possibly Casey Kitchel & Company.
DATE OF MANUFACTURE c....
Category
19th Century Industrial Antique Scientific Instruments
Materials
Bronze, Steel
$695 Sale Price
22% Off
19th Century Grand Tour Antique Handmade Bronze Mortar with Pestle
Located in Roma, IT
19th-century grand tour antique handmade bronze mortar with pestle. This fantastic piece has an original patina.
The pestle is 9.05 inc high wit...
Category
Mid-19th Century European Grand Tour Antique Scientific Instruments
Materials
Bronze
Antique Gilt-Bronze Clock and Barometer Set by Maison Mottheau et Fils
Located in London, GB
Antique gilt-bronze clock and barometer set by Maison Mottheau et Fils
French, c. 1880
Height 85cm, width 45cm, depth 30cm
This ornamental clock and barometer set were crafted by th...
Category
Late 19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Scientific Instruments
Materials
Bronze, Enamel
Antique Brass Three Crown's Plumber's Blowtorch c.1900, Made in Sweden
Located in San Francisco, CA
ABOUT
An antique solid brass plumber's blowtorch with a wooden handle. Stamped "The Swedish Lamp" and "Three Crowns Original Swedish".
Shown with life size hand model for scale.
...
Category
Early 20th Century Swedish Industrial Scientific Instruments
Materials
Brass
Table or wall-mounted barometer station made of wood glass and brass 1950s
Located in Milan, IT
Desktop or wall-mounted barometer station made of wood, glass and brass signed Forster from the 1950s, consisting of aneroid barometer and thermometer with centigrade scale.
Goo...
Category
1950s Vintage Scientific Instruments
Materials
Wood
Rare 18th Century Waywiser By Jonathan Sissons
Located in Lincolnshire, GB
A super example of an early waywiser by Jonathan Sissons with a finely engraved center of the dial and a silvered readings dial, with the original hands.
The oak and mahogany case ha...
Category
18th Century English Antique Scientific Instruments
Materials
Silver, Brass
Antique Victorian Brass & Scottish Agate Postal Scale & Weights, Circa 1865-1870
Located in New Orleans, LA
Antique Victorian Brass and Scottish Agate Postal scale with Weights, Circa 1865-1870.
Category
Late 19th Century English Victorian Antique Scientific Instruments
Materials
Agate, Brass
19th Century Grey-Brown Italian Oversized Marble Mortar & Pestle, Antique Décor
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Early 19th Century, a set of an oversized mortar made of hand crafted white marble with a wooden Oakwood pestle, in good condition. This fun set was on display in a pharmacy in Milan...
Category
Early 19th Century Italian Antique Scientific Instruments
Materials
Marble
Super Rare 1880s Spoon Top Conformatore
Located in Peekskill, NY
This is a wonderful example of 1800s inventiveness. We believe this is American made and ie signed and dated 1888. This is only the second example we have ever found. We will only se...
Category
Late 19th Century American Industrial Antique Scientific Instruments
Materials
Steel
Carved Wooden Antique French Barometer with Thermometer, Number 9432 1910s
By Black Forest
Located in Verviers, BE
Carved wooden antique French barometer with thermometer
Unusual antique carved wooden barometer in a lovely carved case, working order.
Number 9432
...
Category
1910s French Art Nouveau Vintage Scientific Instruments
Materials
Fruitwood
Antique George III Quality Mahogany Banjo Barometer
Located in Suffolk, GB
Antique George III quality mahogany banjo barometer having a swan neck pediment, original thermometer and an engraved circular silvered dial with original hands and brass bezel, qual...
Category
1780s English George III Antique Scientific Instruments
Materials
Mahogany
Bronze Mortar with Pestle, Spain, 17th Century
Located in Madrid, ES
Mortar with hand. Bronze. XVII century.
Mortar with a circular base, cylindrical body and slightly outwardly flared mouth, decorated with a series of smooth horizontal moldings arranged both in the lower and upper areas and with simple vertical elements (which still maintain slight balustraded shapes) derived from of the ribs that these specimens used to have in the medieval Spanish...
Category
17th Century Spanish Baroque Antique Scientific Instruments
Materials
Bronze, Other
Vintage Erskine Barber Shop Shaving Brush Tool
Located in Chula Vista, CA
Vintage ERSKINE 200 Sterilized Barber Shop SHAVING BRUSH Nylon Bristles
Rubber Stamped Sterile 200
4.5 tall x 1.38 diameter
Preowned original vintage...
Category
1950s Mid-Century Modern Vintage Scientific Instruments
Materials
Nylon, Rubber
Wooden and Brass Square Faced Magnifying Glass with Nautical Symbol
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A unique Hand crafted magnifying glass from the 20th Century. The viewing glass is square with a brass frame and brass nautical symbol inlayed at the handle which also displays a br...
Category
20th Century American Classical Scientific Instruments
Materials
Brass
Vintage Ken A Vision Microprojector In Aluminium, 1950s
Located in Zohor, SK
Beautiful vintage microprojector from 1950s. Produced by Ken-A-Vision company. Original labels still attached. The item is in pure aluminium which looks really great. The flowing des...
Category
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Scientific Instruments
Materials
Aluminum
$504 Sale Price
50% Off
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
Antique Wood Flower Mold Two Hole
Located in Chula Vista, CA
Antique Wood Flower Mold Two Hole
8.25 w x 3 d x 1.75
Original vintage condition unrestored
See all images provided.
Category
Mid-20th Century Industrial Scientific Instruments
Materials
Wood
Antique Victorian Carved Oak Banjo Barometer by Maple & Co
Located in London, GB
A wonderful antique Victorian banjo barometer in carved solid oak. This was made in London by Maple and Co, it dates from around the 1860-1880 period.
It is of amazing quality, beau...
Category
Mid-19th Century English Victorian Antique Scientific Instruments
Materials
Oak
Antique Painting with Barometer 19th Century
Located in Madrid, ES
Antique table with barometer
Interesting 19th century painting painted in oil with meteorological reasons on wood and which has a barometer in the center and a thermometer in the up...
Category
1890s Antique Scientific Instruments
Materials
Fruitwood
French 19th Century Louis XIV St. Ormolu And Patinated Bronze Barometer
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A most impressive French 19th century Louis XIV st. Ormolu and patinated Bronze barometer, after Torricelli. The circular patinated bronze face has the eight enameled plaques depicti...
Category
19th Century French Louis XIV Antique Scientific Instruments
Materials
Bronze, Ormolu
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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