Scientific Instruments

Antique print of Ferguson's method of constructing sun dials. This print originates from 'The Gentleman's Magazine'. Artists and Engravers: The Gentleman'...

Antique print titled 'A true Representation of sveral microscopes with some objects (..)'. Print of various microscopes, illustrating several microscope parts. This print originates ...

An elegant 18th century satinwood and ebony stick barometer by Edward Nairne, London. Nairne was a famous 18th century scientific instrument and barometer...

Apothecary tripod skillet from the end of the 17th century beginning of the 18th century From England. The skillet is in superb condition and has not undergone any restorations. Br...

17th century Spanish Talavera pharmacy jar in blue Glazed ceramic.

17th century Spanish Talavera pharmacy jar in blue glazed ceramic.

17th Century Spanish Talavera pharmacy jar in Blue Glazed ceramic.

English mahogany stick Barometer with a broken arch pediment, brass urn finial, Satin wood string inlay, hinged glass door revealing a numeral steel engraved dial with original mounted thermometer and barometric pressure gauge. Signed F. Tarone. Late 18th Century Barometer...

17th Century Spanish Talavera pharmacy jar in blue glazed ceramic.

Antique print titled 'Balance for weighing air - Balance for weighing fire'. Copper engraving of two balances. Source unknown, to be determined. Artists and Engravers: Anonymous ...

Antique print titled 'A curious Instrument which shews the Hour of the Day (..)'. Print of a scientific instrument. This print originates from 'The Gentleman's Magazine'. Artists a...

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.

18th century Indigo blue glazed ceramic jar.

Mahogany and brass box, with a drawer in the front. The upper part opens and inside a group of glass bottles ( some with labels), placed in comp...

18th Century tripod Apothecary skillet From England. The skillet is in superb condition and has not undergone any restorations. Bronze with a very beautiful patina.

Johann Michael Bergauer (Simonsfeld, 1676 - Innsbruck, 1745 circa) Mechanical equatorial sundial Signed: Michael Bergauer Insprugg? Innsbruck? Ante 1745 Gilded and silvered brass; glass. Measures: closed 1.29 x 3.50 x 4.92 in (33 x 89 x 125 mm); open 5.19 x 3.50 x 3.81 in (132 x 89 x 97 mm). Weight: the sundial 0.49 lb (224 g); the case 0, 20 lb (95 g) Original wooden case covered in brown leather. State of conservation: very good. It has some signs of use. The spring that allowed for the two parts of the instrument to remain open is missing (absent even in the comparative specimens kept in museums). The sundial is composed of two overlapping plates hinged together on the north edge. The base plate is octagonal and is supported by three turned legs. The upper face is gilded and a compass with a magnetic variation index has been inserted. The rest of the surface is occupied by a rich decoration of engraved scrolls, centered around the inscription “Michael Bergauer Insprugg”. A foldable oval support with a plumb-bob is attached with a hinge on the southern edge. On the reverse of the base plate a table of the latitudes of some European cities (expanded with the vertical writing “Meiland 40” on the edge and “Rome” deleted) and of Jerusalem has been engraved. A Cam marked for 0 °-70 ° is applied near the northern edge. This can be adjusted to change the inclination of the upper plate according to the latitude; originally a spring, now lost, made it possible to keep the two plates of the clock open. The second plate is round, has a toothed edge and measures 3.26 in (83 mm) in diameter: it is slightly smaller than the octagonal base which it rests upon and overlaps when the instrument is closed. The recto is gilded and there are three concentric graduated circles engraved on it: - the outermost is the equatorial hour dial, numbered I-XII, I-XII; - the second-one is that of days 1-30 of the lunar month and has “Aetas lunae” engraved on it; - the third, silvered, is a subsidiary hour dial, with double numbering 1-12; originally it could have been rotated. The engravings of the first two circles are enameled in red. In the center - on the polar axis - there is an alidade, at the end of which is associated the silvered minute dial. This, in turn, is welded, perpendicularly, to a small disc, also silvered, with a triangular gnomon. The plate, alidade and minute dial are connected to each other by toothed mechanisms. Below is the procedure for measuring the time: 1) Adjust the Cam under the base of the clock, based on the latitude of your location; 2) Place the watch on a flat surface using the plumb-bob and with the side closest to the compass facing south; 3) Keeping the instrument still, manually rotate the alidade until the shadow cast by the triangular gnomon on the small silvered disc falls on the line marked below it; 4) The hour and minutes can therefore be read on the hour and minute dials set on the alidade respectively. Johann Michael Bergauer, who sometimes only signs his works as Michael Bergauer, was born in Simonsfeld, north of Vienna. His apprenticeship as a watchmaker took place in Landshut and he probably worked as a laborer in Augsburg before becoming a watchmaker at the court of Karl Philipp von der Pfalz in Innsbruck in 1708. In the following years, his repeated attempts to obtain Innsbruck citizenship are documented and, in 1721, he is listed as a resident. In 1724 he was admitted to the guild of watchmakers, with which however he had continuous problems. In 1732 he presented a "masterpiece". This is the last reference to his business; he must have died before or in 1745 because in that year his widow appealed to the City Council. The mechanical sundial...

A George III period carved mahogany wind vane dial. The silvered engraved dial with all the points of a compass housed in the finely carved mahogany frame, ...

17th century tripod apothecary skillet dated 1698 by Ward Rymens. The skillet is in superb condition and has had a restoration on one of the feet. bronze with a very beautiful patina.

Sundial with compass and case. Bronze. BION, Nicholas. Paris, 18th century. Polygonal sundial with a bird-shaped gnomon and engraved triangular piece, which presents, on one side, ...

Compass with pocket sundial, with case. Bronze. BUTTERFIELD, Michael (1635-1724). Paris, circa 1700. Pocket sundial made of engraved metal, with a gno...

A good example of a 18th century brass ring dial by John Gilbert, London. The well engraved 6" dial is complete with sliding suspension ring and peep hole sight moving over calendar and zodiac signs. John Gilbert was a mathematical instrument maker at Tower Hill...

Antique 18th Century Diptych Sundial and Compass a portable wooden boxwood sundial with compass, of German origin, by David Beringer, Nuremberg, dating back to the 1790 circa, in good age related condition, with signs of wear consistent with age and use. David Beringer (1756 – 1821) was a German scientific instrument maker and craftsman active in Nuremberg and famous for his cubic wooden sundials visible in Metropolitan Museum of Art di New York. A portable sundial...

Standing at nearly 51 inches in height, this large Italian scale from the 18th century features its original copper pans and crosspiece stamped by the I...

Colored wax anatomic model depicting a human organ: Thyroid mounted on black painted wooden base. Germany end of XVIII sec.

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...

Pocket globe London, between 1775 and 1798 Re-edition of the globe of Hermann Moll (1678-1732) dated 1719 The globe is contained in its original case, which itself is covered in sh...

Sundial and compass with case. Bronze. SCHRETTEGGER, Johan. Augsburg, Germany, around 1800. Sundial with a polygonal shape made of bronze, engraved with plant elements on the front,...

Period late 18th century giltwood barometer. Original gilding. Carved overall with globe, and navigation instruments. Foliate and neoclassical motifs. Maker signed.

Antique astronomy print titled 'L'inégalité des Saisons et des Jours'. Interesting print explaining why there is an inequality in the length of days and seasons. Source unknown, to b...

A 3 inch George III pocket globe after Herman Moll, the terrestrial globe inscribed in a cartouche ‘A correct globe with the new discoveries’ and fitted within a hinged black shagreen case, the concave interior of the case applied with the engraved celestial charts...

A magnificent nearly 250 year old Louis XVI period (1774–1793) hand carved and painted parcel gilt French wall thermometer and barometer signed Carcano. Exquisitely hand-crafted in Paris, France in the second half of the 18th century, exceptionally executed in Neoclassical inspired opulent period King Louis 16th taste. Impressive large size and fine quality craftsmanship, richly detailed, sculpted, polychrome decorated wooden case, surmounted by an ornate carved pineapple topped urn finial, garnished with a single garland swag, over a contoured and rounded solid wood frame creating a most elegant elongated banjo cartel clock silhouette, adorned with brilliant water gilded running ornamentation, outlining the beautifully aged light and airy muted pale green paint finish. Featuring the original hand decorated enamel dial signed Antonio Carcano (1755-1820) a distinguished scientific instrument inventor. The dial is signed: "Jofeph" "Carcano" "Rue du Faubourg-Saint-Denis"  "Fripiere au phenix" Having a hand-blown glass thermometer retaining remnants of the hand-painted paper label inscribed with atmospheric condition details, over an early barometer with hand painted dial and metal hands, protected behind convex glazed glass face. Mechanical: The wooden planked verso is fitted with an open channel that retains the original mechanical components, including a pair of liquid metal mercury filled glass tubes, vacuum mechanism, long column blown glass tube, stringing, and more. It does not appear to be working / operational, the string/rope deteriorating with age, etc.. but having the original parts is an exceptionally rare occurrence and highly unusual, as workings were commonly damaged and lost centuries ago. Dimensions (approx): 43" High, 12" Wide, 2.5" Deep History: Antoine Carcano (c. 1755-1820) An early maker of barometers, thermometers, and an inventor of various scientific instruments. Of Italian descent, he became famous in Paris, first at 37 rue de la Roquette and then at Place Dauphine. He supplied barometers and other scientific instruments to the Ecole Militaire in 1786; the following year he supplied a tube barometer to British optical instruments manufacturer Peter Dollond (1731-1821). During the Empire his clientele included Sir Benjamin Thompson...

A fine and rare 3" celestial pocket globe by G & W Cary, Strand, London circa 1791, housed in its original sharkskin case. A companion globe to terrestrial globes of this type we...

An most elegant and extremely high quality French late 18th/ beginning of the 19th century, ormolu and Sèvres porcelain barometer, signed Giroux. The barometer has a central bottom a...

Antique English George III fruitwood barometer featuring a banjo shape with open pediment and inliad satinwood sea shell and floral motif. Made by F. Peduze Co. Circa 1780s-1820s. Me...

This beautifully carved Louis XVI barometer follows the designs of Evangelista Torricelli, an Italian physicist who was a student of Galileo and...

An elegant and extremely decorative French 18th century Louis XVI period giltwood barometer thermometer. The most decorative barometer thermometer retains its original glass pane enc...

A handsome French 18th century balance scale in iron and brass. The balance mechanism is in iron. The foot and the plates are in brass. The...

An exceptional late 18th century mahogany cased stick barometer by Dolland of London, The mahogany case of a very solid construction and with a superbly made turned mahogany cistern ...

Decorative and tactile, late 18th century mortar set. Mortars have been used for centuries by private people and by people in certain trades. In the kitche...

A highly decorative Swedish Gustavian barometer dating from the 1800s by Iohannes Lerra. The dial sits centrally in a mahogany wood frame with applied gilded scrolled leaf decorat...

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...

This interesting and rare 18th Century astronomy print represents an eclipse of the Sun and one of the Moon. Entitled " The Zodiac and Eclyptics", it explains what the Zodiac is and its main uses. The french texts develop numerous observations on the Zodiac. In the centre we find the illustrations of the different eclipses. The text and the drawing are surrounded by an engraved frame made up of various plants and shell motifs but also of scientific objects...

"Occasus Ortus" This engraving illustrates an 18th-century measuring device. The instrument, built after the principle of the double reflection, allowed precise observations wi...

Antique print titled 'A New Machine for exhausting a large quantity of water'. Print of a new water exhausting machine. This print originates from 'The Universal Magazine...

18th century antique black painted rosewood banjo barometer having a swan neck pediment with a quality shaped figured Rosewood case. It boasts a silvered engraved dial with original ...

18th century English treen mortar and pestle hand turned and carved from yew wood with the rich and warm patina that only comes with age and use. Beautifully carved by hand from a si...

Description: Antique print, titled: 'To Ralph Macro of Clapton (…)' This original old antique print shows people at an anatomy display with a human skeleton, ecorche, male body. ...

Stick barometer mounted on a mahogany board complete with vernier reading the variation of atmospheric pressure signed by Jesse Ramsden, end of the 18th century. Very good condition...

A stunningly beautiful 18th century French gold gilt barometer is a weather instrument with mercury-filled glass thermometer still in working order...

Late 18th century lacquered brass table telescope.

Rare pair of original hand-colored prints from Sir Albertus Seba's cabinet of natural curiosities. Prints come from published volumes in Amste...

A rare George II period mahogany stick barometer with finely carved cistern cover and surround to partly conceal the mercury tube. Most unusually the signed register plate is made of...

A sensational 18th century mortar and pestle in iron with its base constructed from a solid block of walnut. A stunning sculpture for any tradition...

Cartographer from Germany 1678-1757. Hand colored. Gilt wood frame. Estate of William Hodgins.

Rare antique 18th century French Lyonnaise bronze scientific Instrument used for weighing Silk, in anchor form, 1789-1795. Made by "J. Berthaud et Cie...

Substantial antique Italian bronze mortar and pestle, finely cast with shell and floral band, complete with 12" x 1.5" D pestle. The base of t...

Two anatomical copper engravings by Francesco Valesio. From De humani corporis fabrica libri decem Evangelista Deuchino, Venice: 1627. Laid paper.    

Brass and ebony pantograph, in its original mahogany box. Bone wheels. The instrument shows the signature of the maker Lennel à La Sphére à Paris. France, 1780.