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Scientific Instruments For Sale
Louis XVI Style Dore Bronze Thermometer, Circa 1880
Located in Scottsdale, AZ
Circa 1880, Louis XVI Style Dore Bronze Thermometer. In beautiful shape.
Category

Early 19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Scientific Instruments

Materials

Bronze

Louis XIV marble herbalist, France 17th century.
Located in Milan, IT
Rare Marble herbalist to hold salt, moon and stars carved on the wavy front. The lid is lead, with the image of the sun and lions. Louis XIV period, France 1600.
Category

Early 17th Century French Antique Scientific Instruments

Materials

Marble, Pewter

A Fine Theodolite By Troughton And Simms In Its Original Case
Located in Lincolnshire, GB
A very good example of a lacquered brass theodolite with half circle adjustment, silver scales, and the original fitted mahogany case. Signed Troughto...
Category

Mid-19th Century English Antique Scientific Instruments

Materials

Brass

1950s Vintage Heat Therapy by Sperti Faraday UV Infared Sun Lamp Cincinnati OH
Located in Chula Vista, CA
Vintage 1950s Vintage 1950s 1950s Sperti Faraday UV Infared Sun Lamp for Heat Therapy and Sunshine Benefits Untested Sometimes deemed a medical science...
Category

1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Scientific Instruments

Materials

Metal

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

1950s Wall Unit Vornado Grey Electric Window Fan
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

18th Century French Barometer in Giltwood Frame
Located in Buchanan, MI
Category

19th Century French Antique Scientific Instruments

Materials

Giltwood, Glass

Leiden bottle second half of the 19th century accumulates preserves electrical charges
Located in Milan, IT
Leiden bottle from the second half of the 19th century is about an electrical component that accumulates and stores a high-voltage electrical charge by means of an external source ...
Category

1880s Antique Scientific Instruments

Materials

Glass

Vintage Double Concave Magnifying Glass with Louis Vuitton Upholstered
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
Antique magnifying glass marked B-L Z S. It is marked B-L Z S on the frame oppositethe handle. In 1908, the Bausch & Lomb company, already a...
Category

Mid-20th Century Canadian Mid-Century Modern Scientific Instruments

Materials

Metal

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

Anatomical Wall Chart Depicting the Human Lymphatic and Blood Vessels
Located in Berghuelen, DE
A rare 19-carat anatomical wall chart depicting the human lymphatic and blood vessels. On the sides with detailed description in German language. Print...
Category

Early 20th Century German Victorian Scientific Instruments

Materials

Paper

Pantograph by Thomas Dunn of Edinburgh, circa 1845
Located in London, GB
An oak cased brass pantograph by Thomas Dunn of 50 North Street, Edinburgh. Interior of case has trade label: Thomas Dunn, optician, mathematical and philosophical instrument make...
Category

Mid-19th Century Scottish Antique Scientific Instruments

Materials

Brass

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

Antique Electromedical Device from Chardin in Wooden Case, France, circa 1910
Located in Labrit, Landes
Electrical therapy apparatus invented by Chardin, in its wooden beech case. French circa 1910 Electrotherapy exploits the effects obtained by using electrical energy for therapeuti...
Category

Early 20th Century French Scientific Instruments

Materials

Beech

Alnmått (Cubit measure) in Birch with a Noble Crown. Gustavian, dated 1783
Located in Knivsta, SE
Rare Alnmått (Cubit measure) made in Birch with a Noble Crown. From the Gustavian period of the late 1700s, roughly corresponding to the Louis XVI period in France, made in Sweden an...
Category

1780s Swedish Gustavian Antique Scientific Instruments

Materials

Brass

Large 1950s Vintage Scientific Anatomical Human 3D Educational Eye Eyeball Model
Located in Lafayette, IN
1950's Vintage scientific human 3d eyeball model. Hand-painted with wonderful original patina!
Category

1950s American Vintage Scientific Instruments

Materials

Rubber

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 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

Gimballed Brass Boat Compass by Dirigo
Located in Norwell, MA
Gimballed brass boat compass by "Dirigo" of Seattle, Washington. With fleur-de-lis pointing north. Fitted to a birch box with lid. Circa 1975. Overall Dimensions: 5" H x 8" L x 8"...
Category

1970s American Vintage Scientific Instruments

Materials

Brass

Vest Pocket Hawkeye Folding Camera c.1924-1935
Located in San Francisco, CA
ABOUT The Vest Pocket Hawkeye Model B folding camera with a leather wrapped body and chrome accents. Shown with life size hand. CREATOR Eastman Kodak Co. DATE OF MANUFACTU...
Category

Early 20th Century Industrial Scientific Instruments

Materials

Metal, Chrome

Campbell–Stokes sunshine recorder by Casella & Co of London
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

Rustic Black Forest Walnut Barometer
Located in Queens, NY
Rustic Black Forest (Late 19th Century) walnut wall barometer/thermometer with carved bird, deer and floral carving.
Category

19th Century German Black Forest Antique Scientific Instruments

Materials

Metal

1920s Mahogany & Brass Antique Tool Carpentry Scribe
Located in Chula Vista, CA
Mahogany Wood & Patinated Brass Antique Old Carpentry Marking Tool circa 1920s USA Carpenter Scribe Marking Gauge Vintage Wood Working Tool in Wood ...
Category

1920s American Industrial Vintage Scientific Instruments

Materials

Brass

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

Antique Set Four Cast Iron Wheels Phoenix Caster Co
Located in Chula Vista, CA
Antique Metal Wheels Cast Iron Casters Phoenix Caster Co IN Wheel 2.75 h x 3.5 w x 3 d set of four Preowned unrestored vintage Refer to images for...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Scientific Instruments

Materials

Metal, Iron

Actinometer Antique Measuring Instrument made by Griffin & Tatlock London in 30s
By Griffin & Tatlock ltd
Located in Milan, IT
Herschel actinometer, 1930s, wood and brass, signed Griffin & Tatlock ltd London. It is an instrument invented in 1825 by John Herschel and used for the measurement of the solar heat...
Category

1930s British Vintage Scientific Instruments

Materials

Wood

Antique Brass Plumber's Blowtorch c.1900, Made in Sweden
Located in San Francisco, CA
ABOUT An antique solid brass plumber's blowtorch with a perforated handle. Stamped "Primus Sweden". Shown with life size hand model for scale. CREATOR AB Bacho, Stockholm, S...
Category

Early 20th Century Swedish Industrial Scientific Instruments

Materials

Brass, Metal

French Vintage Massive Culinary Scale
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
This massive culinary or produce scale from Lyon, France is the perfect antique accessory to elevate any kitchen. The base is made of solid waxed pine wi...
Category

19th Century French Rustic Antique Scientific Instruments

Materials

Metal, Brass, Copper, Iron

20th Century French Glass Case Scale
Located in Atlanta, GA
This 20th-century French scale encased in glass is a functional and decorative piece that reflects a blend of craftsmanship and practical design. The scale is housed within a black w...
Category

20th Century French Industrial Scientific Instruments

Materials

Glass, Wood

Rare 19th Century Large Original Painted Lightning Rod on Stand
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Fantastic folky oversized 19th century mustard over copper Lightning rod ball on a professional iron stand. The base is a plank of original work that the...
Category

19th Century American Folk Art Antique Scientific Instruments

Materials

Copper

19th Century French Louis XVI Carved Painted and Gilt Barometer Thermometer
Located in Dallas, TX
Decorate an entryway or library with this striking antique French barometer and thermometer, crafted circa 1880. Carved in wood and hand-painted in a vivid palette of faux-malachite,...
Category

Late 19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Scientific Instruments

Materials

Giltwood

20th Century French Iron, Walnut Spotlight, Cinema Floor Spot Lamp by Clémançon
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A grey-black, vintage Mid-Century Modern French spotlight made of handcrafted lacquered iron, designed and produced by Clémançon in good condition. Th...
Category

Mid-20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Scientific Instruments

Materials

Metal, Iron, Brass

Pewter enema syringe with piston action, 19th century
Located in Delft, NL
Pewter enema syringe with piston action, 19th century Five enema syringes made of pewter, one of which has a wooden handle. Two pieces marked with the German brand Hauptner of 30 gr...
Category

19th Century European Antique Scientific Instruments

Materials

Pewter

Antique Edwardian Quality Mahogany Inlaid Banjo Barometer
Located in Suffolk, GB
Antique Edwardian quality mahogany inlaid banjo barometer having a quality mahogany inlaid shaped case with an 8 inch silvered engraved dial with original hands, brass bezel and a th...
Category

Early 1900s English Edwardian Antique Scientific Instruments

Materials

Mahogany

English Mahogany Prince of Wales Banjo Barometer, Circa 1820
Located in Charleston, SC
English mahogany four dial banjo barometer with broken arch pediment, steel engraved face with Prince of Wales motif, and original rotating bone dial. Barometer can be restored to wo...
Category

1820s English George III Antique Scientific Instruments

Materials

Steel

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 ci...
Category

1880s Scottish Victorian Antique Scientific Instruments

Materials

Other

Antique Pulley Hook in Metal, circa 1940
Located in Barcelona, ES
Metal Pulley Hook, by unknown manufacturer, circa 1940. In original condition, with minor wear consistent with age and use, preserving a beautiful patina. Materials: Metal ...
Category

1940s German Mid-Century Modern Vintage Scientific Instruments

Materials

Metal

Antique Foldable Anatomical Brochure Depicting Female Anatomy
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Antique Foldable Anatomical Brochure Depicting Female Anatomy A rare 19ct anatomical brochure illustrating the female human anatomy. Very detailed multicoloured depiction of human o...
Category

Early 20th Century German Victorian Scientific Instruments

Materials

Paper

Leiden bottle from the second half of the 19th century holds electrical charges
Located in Milan, IT
Leiden bottle from the second half of the 19th century, this is an electrical component that accumulates and stores a high-voltage electrical charge by means of an external source ...
Category

1880s Antique Scientific Instruments

Materials

Glass

Kilgore Authentic Anatomical Preparation Human Skull
Located in Hamilton, Ontario
Prepared by legendary medical supply company Kilgore International, this is an advanced anatomical reference human skull! An exceptional authentic vint...
Category

1950s American Vintage Scientific Instruments

Materials

Bone

Danish 19th Century Brass Surveying or Level Tool on Tripod
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
Surveyors tripod level tool from the late 19th century. The tripod is made of wood and the level is brass. The wood tripod is 39.75in high.
Category

Mid-19th Century Danish Folk Art Antique Scientific Instruments

Materials

Brass

Salter's spring balance weighing scales
By George Salter & Co. Ltd
Located in London, GB
A Salter's improved spring balance by George Salter & Co. To weight: 100 lbs. George Salter & Co.: Established in 1760 by Richard and William Salter, spring makers, began making ...
Category

Early 20th Century English Industrial Scientific Instruments

Materials

Brass, Steel

Triangular Vintage White Opaline Art Glass and Brass Kaleidoscope
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
Vintage Art Glass and Brass Kaleidoscope. This white opaline kaleidoscope has triangular form and has a rotating blue glass ball for amazing effects.
Category

20th Century American Modern Scientific Instruments

Materials

Brass

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

Galvanometer Antique Measuring Instrument Used for Telegraph Cables 1850 circa
Located in Milan, IT
Vertical mirror galvanometer made in 1850 circa, oak and glass, three adjustable screws at the base. Tool constituted by a magnet bar movable inside a coil and connected to a needle. In the absence of current the needle is positioned vertically while when the coil is crossed by the current it creates a magnetic field that moves the needle. This type of galvanometer was used for measurement of insulation of telegraph cables...
Category

1850s British Antique Scientific Instruments

Materials

Wood

1940s Antique Surveyors Wood Tripod Base
Located in Chula Vista, CA
AMBIANIC presents Vintage Solid Wood Tripod Surveyor Camera Base Decorative item 44 h x 19 w x 20 d Preowned unrestored Refer to images
Category

Mid-20th Century Mid-Century Modern Scientific Instruments

Materials

Wood

Louis XV Parcel-Gilt And Painted Wood Barometer
Located in Bradenton, FL
18th century Louis XV period hand carved and painted parcel gilt French wall barometer. Louis XV giltwood case with ornately hand-carved scrollwork on a green painted wood back. A be...
Category

18th Century French Louis XV Antique Scientific Instruments

Materials

Wood, Glass

Alnmått (Cubit measure) in iron with gilded details. Baroque, dated 1731
Located in Knivsta, SE
Swedish Alnmått (Cubit measure) in iron with gilded details. Baroque, dated 1731. Provenance: Baron Carl Emanuel Cederström, great collector during the mid-19th Century in Sweden. W...
Category

1730s Swedish Baroque Antique Scientific Instruments

Materials

Iron

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

Large Silvered Bronze Armillary Sphere – 1950s AND 115 C
Located in Madrid, ES
This impressive, large armillary sphere from the 1950s is a beautiful representation of celestial design, crafted from silvered bronze with intricate hand-engraved zodiac symbols. St...
Category

1940s Vintage Scientific Instruments

Materials

Bronze

1893 Antique Lippich Brass Polarimeter Antique Physic Analysis Instrument
By Societé Genevoise
Located in Milan, IT
Lippich polarimeter, scientifi instrument made in 1893 signed Societé Genevoise Genève, brass and black metal. It is an optical instrument of analysis used to determine the concentra...
Category

1890s Swiss Antique Scientific Instruments

Materials

Brass

Mushroom Botanical Scientific Specimen Model Europe, 1950s or older
Located in Nuernberg, DE
This rare vintage model of a botanical scientific specimen depicts a mushroom native to Central Europe. This kind of items are used as teaching material in German schools or as showp...
Category

20th Century Czech Folk Art Scientific Instruments

Materials

Wood, Paper

Set of Two Rustic Wooden Spools of Thread, circa 1930
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Rustic wooden spools of thread, by unknown manufacturer from Spain, circa 1930. In original condition, with minor wear consistent with age and use, pre...
Category

1930s Spanish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Scientific Instruments

Materials

Wood

Italy 1930s Ing Ferrero Double Strain Gauge Original Box Measuring Instrument
Located in Milan, IT
Double strain gauge signed Brevetti F.lli Ingg. Ferrero Savona n.384583 mod E74 - S3, circa 1930, in its original box complete with accessories and magnifying glass. It is an instrument used to...
Category

1930s Italian Vintage Scientific Instruments

Materials

Brass

Mahogany cased barograph and barometer by Negretti & Zambra
Located in Cheshire, GB
Unusual mahogany-cased barograph and barometer by Negretti & Zambra, having five glazed removable lid. The mechanical eight-day movement is housed in the drum, fitted with a seven-da...
Category

Early 20th Century British Scientific Instruments

Materials

Wood

Antique L. M. Ericsson AC110 Iron Skeleton Telephone Taxen Eiffel Dachshund #3
Located in Sweden, SE
Desktop telephone model AC 110 (Old catalogue No. 375) made by L. M. Ericsson, Stockholm in period of 1895-1910. A legendary model that enjoys special attention from collectors. Size app.: 30 cm (roughly 11.8 in) high, 27 cm (roughly 10.6 in) wide, 14 cm (roughly 5.5 in) deep. Quite good condition, age and usage wear, attritions, damages, losses of 2 feet out of 4, original finish! Please study high-res pictures for cosmetic condition! In person actual item may appear darker or brighter than in our pictures, strictly depending on sufficient light in your environment. Weight of app. 6 kg it is going to measure some 8 kg packed for shipment. Lars Magnus Ericsson began his association with telephones in his youth as an instrument maker. He worked for a firm which made telegraph equipment for the Swedish government agency Telegrafverket. In 1876, aged 30, he started a telegraph repair shop with help from his friend Carl Johan Andersson. The shop was in central Stockholm (No. 15 on Drottninggatan, the principal shopping street) and repaired foreign-made telephones. In 1878 Ericsson began making and selling his own telephone equipment. His phones were not technically innovative, as most of the inventions had already been made in the US. In 1878, he made an agreement to supply telephones and switchboards to Sweden's first telecom operating company, Stockholms Allmänna Telefonaktiebolag. Also in 1878, local telephone importer Numa Peterson hired Ericsson to adjust some telephones from the Bell Telephone Company. This inspired him to buy a number of Siemens telephones...
Category

Late 19th Century Art Nouveau Antique Scientific Instruments

Materials

Metal, Brass, Bronze

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

Late 19th Century Educational Human Anatomical Ear Model German manufacture
Located in Milan, IT
Ear anatomical model, plaster and papier mâché hand painted, depicting the inner and outer ear and the cochlea. German manufacture of the end of the 19th century. Good condition, som...
Category

Late 19th Century German Antique Scientific Instruments

Materials

Plaster

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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