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Scientific Instruments For Sale
Period: 19th Century
Period: Early 20th Century
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 an ovoid body and long downward-bent neck that gradually narrows toward the mouth.
Very...
Category
1820s Antique Scientific Instruments
Materials
Glass
French Metamorphic Opera Glasses, 18K Gold
Located in New Orleans, LA
These unique 18K metamorphic gold French opera glasses are the epitome of both elegance and luxury. Exquisitely engraved with delicate floral motifs, these glasses fold up perfectly ...
Category
19th Century French Antique Scientific Instruments
Materials
Gold
Rare 12 inches terrestrial globe signed Cary, London United Kingdom 1800.
Located in Milan, IT
Large 12" terrestrial globe made by the famous Cary brothers, made with a wooden frame, refined plaster polished to perfection, and colored paper gores. The globe is supported by a f...
Category
Early 19th Century English Antique Scientific Instruments
Materials
Brass
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 Scholar's Microscope, English, Brass, Scientific Instrument, Victorian
Located in Hele, Devon, GB
This is an antique scholar's microscope. An English, brass and enamelled metal scientific instrument by Henry Crouch, dating to the late Victorian period, circa 1900.
Appealing micr...
Category
Late 19th Century British Late Victorian Antique Scientific Instruments
Materials
Brass
Storta da laboratorio in vetro soffiato trasparente dei primi del XIX sec.
Located in Milan, IT
Storta da laboratorio in vetro soffiato trasparente dei primi del XIX sec., utilizzata per la distillazione, presenta corpo ovoidale e lungo collo piegato verso il basso che si restr...
Category
1820s Antique Scientific Instruments
Materials
Glass
Large Studio Portrait Camera
Located in Peekskill, NY
Cameras are not my expertise but we could not pass up on this beauty. The camera is signed ANSCO and the large lens reads DARLO OPTICIEN, PARIS 35436. I'm told that this lens is the most valuable...
Category
Early 19th Century Industrial Antique Scientific Instruments
Materials
Wood
Antique Cased Microscope, English, Scientific Instrument, J Swift, Victorian
Located in Hele, Devon, GB
This is an antique cased microscope. An English, enamelled metal and brass scientific instrument by J. Swift & Son of London, dating to the late Victorian period, circa 1900.
Presen...
Category
Late 19th Century British Late Victorian Antique Scientific Instruments
Materials
Brass
Anatomical Cut of Human Skull Papier-maché, Didactical Collectables, Dr.Auzoux
Located in Leuven , BE
Anatomical cut of a human skull composed in natural painted papier-maché, with numbered labels on the different elements
Category
19th Century French Antique Scientific Instruments
Materials
Plaster, Paper
Eclectic Dutch Barometer With Thermometer From the Early 20th Century
Located in Opole, PL
Eclectic Dutch Barometer With Thermometer From the Early 20th Century
An original barometer and thermometer set in an oak wood frame. The thermometer ...
Category
Early 20th Century Dutch Art Deco Scientific Instruments
Materials
Wood, Oak
Antique Laboratory Microscope, German, Scientific Instrument, Carl Zeiss Jena
Located in Hele, Devon, GB
This is an antique laboratory microscope. A German, brass and enamelled metal scientific instrument by Carl Zeiss Jena, dating to the early 20th cen...
Category
Early 20th Century German Mid-Century Modern Scientific Instruments
Materials
Brass
Antique English Victorian Brass Postal Scale, Circa 1880-1890.
Located in New Orleans, LA
Antique English Victorian Brass Postal Scale, Circa 1880-1890.
Category
Late 19th Century English Victorian Antique Scientific Instruments
Materials
Brass
Antique English Victorian Brass Letter Scale & Weights, Circa 1880-1890.
Located in New Orleans, LA
Antique English Victorian Brass Letter Scale with Weights, Circa 1880-1890.
Category
Late 19th Century English Victorian Antique Scientific Instruments
Materials
Brass
Early Twentieth Century Boat Compass
Located in Norwell, MA
Solid brass boat compass in varnished wood box. Highly polished and lacquered finish. By M.C. & Co, Polaris.
Dimension: 4"H x 6"W x 6"D
Weight: 2 lbs.
Made: America
Material: Brass,...
Category
1920s North American Vintage Scientific Instruments
Materials
Brass
Antique 1897 Wooden Eastman Kodak Bulls Eye Camera Tripod
Located in San Carlos, CA
Fantastic antique wooden Bulls-Eye tripod made by Eastman Kodak in Rochester, New York.
With over 100+ years of life, this tripod is in surprisingly good ...
Category
1890s American Industrial Antique Scientific Instruments
Materials
Wood
Antique Brass Czech Orrery Astronomical Instruments Made by Jan Felkl in 1870
By Jan Felkl
Located in Milan, IT
Antique brass orrery planetarium made for the German market by Jan Felkl Prag in the second half of the nineteenth century. Cast iron base, papier mâché´ globe, with detailed territorial map and oceanic currents. Very good condition. Measures: Length 75 cm - 29.5 inch, height 48 cm - 18.8 inch, width 28 cm - 11 inch.
Shipping in insured by Lloyd's London and the gift box is free (look at the last picture).
Jan Felkl (1817-1878) was born in Bohemia and already in 1840 he had designed some globes in 6 different sizes. During the following 20 years he became the biggest maker of globes in market Austro-Hungarian, making terrestrial and celestial globes in 17 different languages, lunar globes and planetaria.
Felkl showed his globes at international fairs in 1867 in Paris and in 1873 in Vienna. He established his Geographic and lithographic Institute in Prague for Making globes and maps. In 1870 he moved his factory from Prague to Roztok and his youngest son became his partner in the firm now named Felkl & Son, making globes and selling them all over the Europe and also in the Usa.
Shipping is insured by Lloyd's London; our gift box is free (look at the last picture).
The orrery is the most detailed and complex representation of the cosmos and in addition to the movement of stars,it includes movement of the sun, moon and planets, like a giant clock mechanism. Among these devices one of the oldest was an orrery by Archimedes, which Cicero speaks widely in Tusculanae Disputationes I, 63: when Roman troops sacked Syracuse in 212 BC, the consul Marcus Claudius Marcellus in Rome brought the instrument of Archimedes, who, thanks to his ability and divine intelligence that he possessed, had managed to generate the motions of planets, each so different, from a single rotation.
Because of heliocentric system theorized by Copernicus, it was possible to create mechanical antique orreries...
Because of heliocentric system theorized by Copernicus, it was possible to create mechanical antique orreries...
Category
1860s Czech Antique Scientific Instruments
Materials
Iron
Antique Cylinder Sundial Late 19th Century
Located in Firenze, IT
Shipping policy No additional costs will be added to this order. Shipping costs will be totally covered by the seller (customs duties included).
A boxwood cylinder sundial, also kn...
Category
Late 19th Century British Late Victorian Antique Scientific Instruments
Materials
Wood, Paper
Anatomical model for class: a heart, France 1890.
Located in Milan, IT
Anatomical model for class, depicting an animal’s heart, made out of painted papier mache. Ebonized wooden base, square shape. France circa 1890.
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Scientific Instruments
Materials
Wood
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
Oak cased barograph and barometer
Located in Cheshire, GB
Oak-cased barograph and barometer retailed by Harrods London, having five bevelled glass panelled removable lid, and a drawer below to house the charts. The mechanical eight-day move...
Category
Early 20th Century British Scientific Instruments
Materials
Oak
Antique Cased Scholar's Microscope, English, Brass Scientific Instrument, C.1920
Located in Hele, Devon, GB
This is an antique cased scholar's microscope. An English, brass scientific instrument, dating to the early 20th century, circa 1920.
Fascinating cased microscope with distinctive a...
Category
Early 20th Century British Mid-Century Modern Scientific Instruments
Materials
Brass
19th C. Diminutive Plaster Phrenology Head, Atribb. A.L. Vago London, C.1870
By Vago
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
19th C. Diminutive Plaster Phrenology Head, Attributed to A.L. Vago London. C 1870
This diminutive plaster Phrenology head, attributed to A.L. Vago London circa 1870, stands as a f...
Category
19th Century English High Victorian Antique Scientific Instruments
Materials
Plaster
Antique 2 French Electro Therapy Devices "Institut Electrotherapy" Dated 1905
Located in London, GB
Of scientific interest two French Electrotherapy devices, both wih plaques to the tops stamped "Institut Electrotherapy, 27 Rue Godot de Mauroy, Paris"
Complete with original instru...
Category
Early 1900s French Antique Scientific Instruments
Materials
Other
SECOND HALF OF THE 19th CENTURY NAPOLEON III'S BAROMETER
Located in Firenze, FI
This beautiful wall barometer with room thermometer is a highly valuable craftsmanship, attributable to French manufacture and dating back to the period of Napoleon III (approximatel...
Category
1860s French Napoleon III Antique Scientific Instruments
Materials
Bronze
Antique English Postal Scale Brass Oak Circa 1880-1890
Located in New Orleans, LA
Antique English Postal Scale Brass Oak Circa 1880-1890
Category
Late 19th Century English Victorian Antique Scientific Instruments
Materials
Brass
Antique Schaeffer & Budenberg Stationary Steam Engine Model w Copper Boiler
Located in Dayton, OH
Antique 19th century Schaeffer & Budenberg stationary steam engine model. Made of cast iron featuring copper boiler
The Budenberg Gauge Company was founded in 1918. The original pa...
Category
Late 19th Century Industrial Antique Scientific Instruments
Materials
Metal, Copper
English or French Antique Brass Surveyor's Transit Theodolite, last quarter 19th
Located in Atlanta, GA
From Wikipedia:
“A THEODOLITE is a precision optical instrument for measuring angles between designated visible points in the horizontal and vertical planes. The traditional use has been for land...
Category
1880s English Victorian Antique Scientific Instruments
Materials
Brass
French 19th Century Iron & Brass Tabletop Scale
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
A smart French metal hanging balance scale from the 1900’s. Two straight stirrups hang from the arms with round brass dishes that hold the weighted item in one, and counterweights in...
Category
19th Century French Other Antique Scientific Instruments
Materials
Brass, Iron
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
Early 20th Century French Laboratory Scale
Located in High Point, NC
Made in early 20th Century France, this mechanical wonder was crafted with an eye for aesthetics, the richly polished wood and meticulously crafted mechanism elevate this piece with ...
Category
Early 20th Century French French Provincial Scientific Instruments
Materials
Metal
Antique French Cast Iron Scale
Located in High Point, NC
This cast iron scale was made in France, circa 1900. A ubiquitous classic in the home or the market, scales of these dimensions were commonly used to weig...
Category
Early 1900s French French Provincial Antique Scientific Instruments
Materials
Brass, Iron
Dutch Opera glasses by J.M.Schmidt, Amsterdam, ca 1890
Located in Delft, NL
Dutch Opera glasses by J.M.Schmidt, Amsterdam, ca 1890
Mother of pearl Opera glasses with brass adjustable in degrees and length for visibility. The name and address of the optician...
Category
Late 19th Century Antique Scientific Instruments
Materials
Brass
Antique English Mahogany Cased Compass by Stanley, London
By Stanley & Co., London 1
Located in Bath, GB
A very handsome Victorian military explorer's compass dating to around 1840 / 1860 set in a hinged mahogany block measuring 2" square.
The compass has a shapely blued-steel needle (...
Category
1850s British Victorian Antique Scientific Instruments
Materials
Wood
Late 19th C Gregory Bottley Scientific Collection of Mineral Fossils Shell
Located in Lowestoft, GB
A good collection of Gregory Bottley mineral, fossils and shell all contained in there original teak trays and card board sleeves.
Each specimen has its original hand written and nu...
Category
Late 19th Century English Late Victorian Antique Scientific Instruments
Materials
Natural Fiber, Hardwood
Metallic Polyhedron From The 19th Century – Hexaoctahedron With 48 Faces
Located in Madrid, ES
Behold a masterpiece from the 19th century—a remarkable representation of an irregular polyhedron with 48 faces, specifically a hexaoctahedron, featuring 12 vertices. This exquisite ...
Category
19th Century Antique Scientific Instruments
Materials
Metal
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
19th C Scientific James DeVille L N Fowler Phrenology Plaster Bust Head Curio
By L. N. Fowler
Located in Lowestoft, GB
A larger than the normal plaster cast phrenology head, with its original painted finish and paper labels.
The original makers label is partially missing leaving it a bit of a myster...
Category
Mid-19th Century English Antique Scientific Instruments
Materials
Plaster
Pair WW1 Binoculars - British Officer's Issue by LeMaire, Paris
Located in Bath, GB
A fabulous pair of French made World War 1 British Officers Military binoculars with both the brass on the binoculars and the leather case with the British military crows foot mark. ...
Category
1910s French Vintage Scientific Instruments
Materials
Brass
Antique English Brass Cased Floating Card Explorers Pocket Compass c.1890
Located in Bath, GB
A very attractive Victorian explorers compass dating to around 1890.
The floating card dial pivots on a bearing and is housed under a glass crystal which is clean and free from any ...
Category
1890s British Late Victorian Antique Scientific Instruments
Materials
Brass
Antique Kodak No. S Model E Folding Camera c.1900 (FREE SHIPPING)
Located in San Francisco, CA
ABOUT
The body is wrapped in leather with red bellows. Chrome, brass and leather accents on the lens. The camera may or may not work but is sold as a decorative object.
Shown with ...
Category
Early 20th Century Industrial Scientific Instruments
Materials
Metal, Brass, Chrome
Antique Trade Scale Brass and Painted Cast Iron, France, circa 1880
Located in Labrit, Landes
This trade scale was made in the late 19th century in France. It was a scale used by traders for retail.
Brass and painted cast-iron
Patina and signs of use which make this antique o...
Category
Late 19th Century French Napoleon III Antique Scientific Instruments
Materials
Brass, Iron
Early 20th Century Boxed Pair of Crown Castle Quality Straight Razors Germany
Located in High Wycombe, GB
Early 20th Century Boxed Pair of Crown Castle Quality Straight Razors With Decorative Bakelite Handles Made and Ground In Germany
From a Gentleman's Priv...
Category
Early 20th Century German Late Victorian Scientific Instruments
Materials
Bakelite
Ancient anatomical model of the hand, Italy 1900.
Located in Milan, IT
Anatomical model for schools, educational use, depicting the hand swinging on a fork supported by a black lacquered wooden base.
Made of plaster and finished entirely in colour. Ital...
Category
Early 20th Century Italian Scientific Instruments
Materials
Plaster, Wood
Microscope cloth counting glass by Casartelli
Located in London, GB
Microscope cloth counting glass by J. Casartelli & Son of Manchester. Circa 1910.
In original black leather case with satin and velvet lining.
Marked: J. CASARTELLI & SON SALFORD.6...
Category
Early 20th Century English Scientific Instruments
Materials
Brass
Antique Underwood Typewriter, C.1945
Located in San Francisco, CA
About
An original Underwood typewriter with black crinkle finish. The typewriter functions properly except the space bar has ceased up and needs repair. New ribbon. The keys are bra...
Category
Early 20th Century Industrial Scientific Instruments
Materials
Steel, Nickel
Wall-Mounted Weather Station in Art Nouveau Style Carved Walnut G.Tart Belgium
Located in Verviers, BE
Wall-mounted weather station in carved walnut made in Liege Belgium by G.Tart.
High quality mechanism with jeweled movement barometer and thermometer (in centigrade)
Unusual design ...
Category
1910s Belgian Art Nouveau Vintage Scientific Instruments
Materials
Walnut
Oak cased weather station
Located in Cheshire, GB
Oak-cased Weather station by James Brown Glasgow. with silvered dials comprising a clock set with Roman numerals and subsidiary seconds dial, barometer, and central barograph over th...
Category
Late 19th Century British Antique Scientific Instruments
Materials
Oak
A Fine 19th Century Noon Day Cannon
Located in Pease pottage, West Sussex
A Fine 19th Century Meridian or Noon Cannon, Large Marble Base into which is carved a sundial with a bronze Gnomen, also engraved is the operational latitude 48 50 13'. Mounted cann...
Category
Mid-19th Century French Antique Scientific Instruments
Materials
Marble, Brass
Antique Gilbert & Barker Red Self Measuring Type 208 Vintage Curbside Gas Pump
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Antique Gilbert & Barker Red Self Measuring Type 208 Vintage Curbside Gas Pump. Item featured weighs approx 180 lbs, remarkable red color, original lab...
Category
Early 1900s Art Deco Antique Scientific Instruments
Materials
Metal
Ptolemaic Armillary Sphere Charles-François Delamarche Paris, 1805-1810 Circa
Located in Milano, IT
Charles-François Delamarche
Ptolemaic armillary sphere
Paris, circa 1805-1810
Wood and papier-mâché
covered with printed and partly hand-coloured paper
It measures 15.74” in height, ...
Category
Early 1800s French Empire Antique Scientific Instruments
Materials
Paper, Wood
Wall-Mounted Weather Station in Art Nouveau Style Carved Walnut 1910s
By A. de Lambert
Located in Verviers, BE
Wall-mounted weather station in carved walnut made in Belgium by A. de Lambert. High quality mechanism with jeweled movement barometer and thermometer (in centigrade)
Unusual design ...
Category
1910s Belgian Art Nouveau Vintage Scientific Instruments
Materials
Walnut
Antique 3D Anatomical Foot Model Made by SOMSO ca. 1930
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Antique 3D Anatomical Foot Model Made by SOMSO ca. 1930
A delicately handpainted and highly detailed anatomical foot model for class. It is made of papier ...
Category
Early 20th Century German Other Scientific Instruments
Materials
Plaster
Antique Teaching Aid - Median Incision of the Human Head by PHYWE
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Antique Teaching Aid - Median Incision of the Human Head by PHYWE
A great antique hand-painted and hand lettered anatomical model. A median incision of the head for class. It is mad...
Category
Early 20th Century German Other Scientific Instruments
Materials
Plaster, Wood
Kinora monochrome motion picture viewer, circa 1905.
Located in London, GB
A Kinora monochrome motion picture viewer on folding dark oak base. Circa 1905.
Marked: THE KINORA REGISTERED TRADE MARK PATENTED THROUGHOUT THE WORLD ...
Category
Early 20th Century English Victorian Scientific Instruments
Materials
Optical Glass, Oak
Early 19th century brass surveyor's level with compass
Located in London, GB
An early 19th century brass surveyor's level with telescope, compass and spirit level.
With original brass mounted pine case.
Telescope length: 18 1/4 inches. - 46.5 cm.
Fitting for tripod mount, now re-mounted on a modern brass plate for desk top display.
Category
Early 19th Century English Antique Scientific Instruments
Materials
Brass
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
Ernst Plank Steam Engine
Located in Madrid, ES
The Ernst Plank steam engine is a fascinating and remarkable piece, especially the Union model with dimensions of 43x14x14 cm. Manufactured by the Ernst Plank brand, this steam engin...
Category
Late 19th Century Antique Scientific Instruments
Materials
Copper
Antique Seibert Witzlar Microscope, app. 1920
Located in Hoogeveen, NL
Beautiful antique microscope by German manufacturer of precision equipement Seibert Witzlar. Was made around 1920. It was the microscope brand of ch...
Category
1920s German Vintage Scientific Instruments
Materials
Metal
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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