Scientific Instruments
to
38
198
135
348
118
28
16
7
1
1
1
1
1
1
140
601
823
8
385
285
63
27
45
35
36
33
54
36
23
10
194
99
70
68
50
202
72
58
54
47
348
348
348
5
4
4
3
3
Scientific Instruments For Sale
Period: Mid-20th Century
Period: Late 20th Century
1963s Italy Vallardi Box With 6 Wooden Geometric Solids Scientific Instrument
Located in Milan, IT
Box containing 6 dismounplate geometric solids of oak wood, height 20 cm, in their original wooden box complete with illustrative leaflet for calculating surfaces and volumes. Made for educational purposes for schools by Antonio Vallardi publisher in 1963. Box cm 24 x 40 H 12 cm.
The origins of the publisher Vallardi date back to 1750 when founder Francesco Cesare (1736-1799) acquired a small craft in the heart of old Milan. In the early nineteenth century, the publishing house was noted for the production of works of art, geography and science, including a "Tour of Italy" which took twenty-two printings between 1819 and 1835. The complete works of various maps and directions for travel, including timetables and fares for transportation of the time, can be considered the first modern tourist guide. The firm "Vallardi" was born in 1843 and the company became industrial, with the opening of branches on national...
Category
1960s Italian Vintage Scientific Instruments
Materials
Oak
Vintage Teaching Aid Modell of An Ear - Somso ca. 1960
By Somso
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Vintage Teaching Aid Modell of An Ear - Somso ca. 1960
A folding model of an ear. Used as teaching material in German schools ca. 1960. Made of wood and plastic by Somso, Germany.
...
Category
Mid-20th Century German Mid-Century Modern Scientific Instruments
Materials
Plaster, Wood, Paper
Rare Microscope "Neopan" by Carl Aubock 1963, Reichert Vienna
Located in Vienna, AT
A very rare award-winning microscope, model Neopan, designed in 1963 by the Viennese architect and designer Carl Aubock. Executed by Reichert Austria. In good condition, fully workin...
Category
1960s Austrian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Scientific Instruments
Materials
Metal
German Anatomical Muscular Bust Model
Located in Brooklyn, NY
German, anatomical, plaster model of a cross-section of a bust, depicting the muscular and circulatory systems.
Category
Mid-20th Century German Industrial Scientific Instruments
Materials
Plaster
Vintage Trade Scale Wood and Metal, France, circa 1940
Located in Labrit, Landes
This trade scale was made in the 1940's in France.
It was used to weigh food.
Oak
Shipping:
L50 P57 H28 18,1Kg.
Category
1940s French Napoleon III Vintage Scientific Instruments
Materials
Oak
Silvered Fire Suit
Located in Peekskill, NY
I'm guessing that this industrial safety garment dates to the mid 20th century. We had a custom made museum quality display stand created for this item and it just comes alive. This ...
Category
Mid-20th Century American Industrial Scientific Instruments
Materials
Canvas
Germany 1950 Didactics Medical Anatomy Enlarged Model of a Human Trachea
By Deutsches Hygiene Museum Dresden
Located in Milan, IT
Didactic anatomical enlarged model of a trachea made in the 1950s, made of hand-colored cellon and mounted on a bakelite base. On a label on the base you read Deutsches Hygiene Museu...
Category
1950s German Vintage Scientific Instruments
Materials
Bakelite
Sketch of a hind Korea 1970s Acrylic on Paper for an Animals Encyclopedia
Located in Milan, IT
Acrylic colors on paper depicting a hind; it is a preparatory sketch commissioned for an animals encyclopedia for children, created and signed by a Korean artist in the 1970s. Very g...
Category
1970s Korean Vintage Scientific Instruments
Materials
Paper
Vintage Industrial Foundry Wooden Block Mold Architectural Valcor Engine - Pair
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Vintage Industrial Foundry Large Wooden Block Mold Architectural Salvage from Valcor Engine Corp - a Pair. Approx 30 lbs each. Great to use as unique decorative objects or convert fo...
Category
Mid-20th Century Unknown Industrial Scientific Instruments
Materials
Wood
Three-Dimensional Anatomical Midcentury Wall Plaster Sculpture, Germany, 1950s
Located in Reggio Emilia, IT
Midcentury three-dimensional anatomical plaster painting representing human respiratory system, provenance Hygiene Museum Dresden with museum sticker ...
Category
1950s German Mid-Century Modern Vintage Scientific Instruments
Materials
Plaster, Wood
Antique Anatomical Model of the Human Ear Painted Plaster by Somso 1950s
By Somso
Located in Milan, IT
Didactic model of the human ear, painted plaster, made in 1950s by Somso, a German company active since the second half of the nineteenth century, known as an excellence in the devel...
Category
1950s German Vintage Scientific Instruments
Materials
Plaster
1930s Italian antique Sketch of a Campaign to Fight Tuberculosis
Located in Milan, IT
Sketch of a futurist poster, 1930’s, campaign against tuberculosis with united strength 10 cents for poor sicks with tuberculosis, for the national campaign to inform people about th...
Category
1930s Italian Vintage Scientific Instruments
Materials
Paper
Art Deco Motorized Store Display / ETALAGE-RECLAME CORP. New York City
By Advertising Metal Display Co. Inc.
Located in Buffalo, NY
Art Deco Motorized Store Display made by the ETALAGE-RECLAME CORP. New York City,, Truly ingenious design, The base has a spinning triangle that moves using a toothed pin that rides...
Category
1940s American Art Deco Vintage Scientific Instruments
Materials
Chrome, Metal
Old Blue Scale Gwarancja Olsztyn, Europe, 1970s
Located in 05-080 Hornowek, PL
A fantastic antique weighing scale with nicely aged blue paint. Made by Gwarancja Factory in Olsztyn, Poland in the late 20th century. It presents...
Category
1970s Polish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Scientific Instruments
Materials
Metal, Iron
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
Sketch of a tiger Korea 1970s Acrylic on Paper for an Animals Encyclopedia
Located in Milan, IT
Acrylic colors on paper depicting a tiger; it is a preparatory sketch commissioned for an animals encyclopedia for children, created and signed by a Korean artist in the 1970s. Very ...
Category
1970s Korean Vintage Scientific Instruments
Materials
Paper
Antique Botanical Plate Boehmeria tenacissima Bohemian Manufacture of the 1930s
Located in Milan, IT
Colored lithograph applied on light cardboard depicting botanical study with various sections of Boehmeria tenacissima Roxb and of Corchorus capsularis L. Bohemian manufacture of the...
Category
1930s Czech Vintage Scientific Instruments
Materials
Paper
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
Sketch of two gibbons Korea 1970s Acrylic on Paper for an Animals Encyclopedia
Located in Milan, IT
Acrylic colors on paper depicting two gibbons; it is a preparatory sketch commissioned for an animals encyclopedia for children, created and signed by a Korean artist in the 1970s. V...
Category
1970s Korean Vintage Scientific Instruments
Materials
Paper
Italy 1939s Sketch Futurist Poster "Day of Two Crosses" Against Tuberculosis
Located in Milan, IT
Sketch of the futurist poster "Day of two crosses, 16th April 1939, XVII", mixed technique of pastel and water-color, for an Italian campaign against tuberculosis, to inform people a...
Category
1930s Italian Futurist Vintage Scientific Instruments
Materials
Paper
British Admiralty Pattern Clinometer Inspectors Level
Located in Norwell, MA
World War II Bristish inspectors Mark III admiralty pattern clinometer by Watts and Son, London, England. The heavy brass relic is in a fitted hardwood case. The instrument consists ...
Category
1940s European Vintage Scientific Instruments
Materials
Brass
Walter Bosse Cow Figurine with Thermometer by Herta Baller, Austria, 1950s
Located in Vienna, AT
A charming Austrian desk thermometer, consisting of a nice cow figurine and a lantern-shaped thermometer. A humorous design by Walter Bosse, executed by H...
Category
Mid-20th Century Austrian Mid-Century Modern 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
Sketch of a weasel Korea 1970s Acrylic on Paper for an Animals Encyclopedia
Located in Milan, IT
Acrylic colors on paper depicting a weasel attacked by a snake; it is a preparatory sketch commissioned for an animals encyclopedia for children, created and signed by a Korean artis...
Category
1970s Korean Vintage Scientific Instruments
Materials
Paper
Sketch of two herons Korea 1970s Acrylic on paper for an Animals Encyclopedia
Located in Milan, IT
Acrylic colors on paper depicting two herons; it is a preparatory sketch commissioned for an animals encyclopedia for children, created and signed by a Kore...
Category
1970s Korean Vintage Scientific Instruments
Materials
Paper
Sketch of a jay Korea 1970s Acrylic on Paper for an Animals Encyclopedia
Located in Milan, IT
Acrylic colors on paper depicting a jay; it is a preparatory sketch commissioned for an animals encyclopedia for children, created and signed by a Korean artist in the 1970s. Very go...
Category
1970s Korean Vintage Scientific Instruments
Materials
Paper
Three-Dimensional Midcentury Anatomical Wall Plaster Sculpture, Germany, 1950s
Located in Reggio Emilia, IT
Midcentury three-dimensional anatomical plaster painting, provenance Hygiene Museum Dresden with museum sticker label, Germany 1950s.
Please note tha...
Category
1950s German Mid-Century Modern Vintage Scientific Instruments
Materials
Plaster, Wood
1964 Ray Simpson Original Teakwood Tool Rake Grate
Located in Chula Vista, CA
1960s Vintage Rake Tool Brush in Teakwood Modern Aluminum Grate
Stamped Ray Simpson Original 1964
22.13 long x 3.88 w x 1.25
Preowned original vintage co...
Category
1960s Mid-Century Modern Vintage Scientific Instruments
Materials
Aluminum
Large Vintage Mongolian Wooden Math Abacus with Painted Wooden Balls
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Large Vintage Mongolian Wooden Math Abacus with Painted Wooden Balls. Item features Painted wooden balls in red, pink, gray, orange, blue, yellow, green and brown. Circa Mid 20th Cen...
Category
Mid-20th Century Chinese Export Scientific Instruments
Materials
Wood
Antique Ophthalmoscope Gowllands ‘May ophthalmoscope improved’. England, 1940.
Located in Milan, IT
Antique Gowllands Ophthalmoscope "May's Improved Ophthalmoscope". Wooden box covered with paper. The top is stamped in gold 'MAY'S OPHTHALMOSCOPE'. Inside the box is divided into com...
Category
Mid-20th Century English Scientific Instruments
Materials
Metal
Early 20th Century Belgian Black Board, Chalkboard
Located in Udenhout, NL
Early 20th Century Belgian Black Board, Chalkboard, in a good state.
Category
1940s Belgian Vintage Scientific Instruments
Materials
Slate
1950s Vintage Weight Plumb Bob Tool Level Iron & Wood
By Stanley
Located in Chula Vista, CA
Plumb Tool
Mid Century Modern Vintage Weight Plumb Bob Tool Instrument Level
Collectible level made in Iron and Wood
5.25 x 1.5 diameter
Fair Condition in Or...
Category
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Scientific Instruments
Materials
Iron
Vintage Industrial Foundry Wooden Block Mold Architectural Valcor Engine Corp
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Vintage Industrial Foundry Wooden Block Mold Architectural Salvage from Valcor Engine Corp (Single Mold), Approx 20 lbs. Great to use as a unique decorative object or convert for use...
Category
Mid-20th Century Unknown Industrial Scientific Instruments
Materials
Wood
1940s Plaster Anatomical Heart Model on Wood Stand
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Instructional, anatomical, plaster, heart model on 7" diameter wood base, circa 1940s.
Category
Mid-20th Century American Industrial Scientific Instruments
Materials
Plaster, Wood
Open Scale Barograph by C F Casella & Co of London
By Casella
Located in London, GB
An open scale barograph by C F Casella & Co of London, circa 1960.
7 day clockwork "Gluck" barometer recorder.
Measures: Width: 32 cm.
Depth:18 cm.
Height: 23.5 cm.
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.
AS advertised in 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 Industrial Scientific Instruments
Materials
Metal
Antique colored stick hemometer in bakelite, Germany, 1930.
Located in Milan, IT
Antique colored stick haemometer. Inside its original box, with ‘Haemometr’ stamped on the lid, two hinges allowed it to be opened. Inside the blue satin padded lid a transverse ribb...
Category
Mid-20th Century German Scientific Instruments
Materials
Bakelite
Vintage Mid-Century Modern Hand Turned Wood Mortar and Pestle 1950
Located in Topeka, KS
Handsome Mid-Century Modern mortar and pestle hand turned from one piece of dense wood. It is in wonderful vintage condition. Please see photos, circa 1950-1960.
Whether you need or...
Category
1950s Unknown Mid-Century Modern Vintage Scientific Instruments
Materials
Wood
Rope Barometer. French Work by Adrien Audoux & Frida Minet, circa 1950
Located in Marcq-en-Barœul, Hauts-de-France
This very unusual barometer is made of rope. This is a French work by Adrien Audoux & Frida Minet. circa 1950.
Category
1950s French Mid-Century Modern Vintage Scientific Instruments
Materials
Rope
1986 Gray and Black Enorme Telephone by Ettore Sottsass for Enorme
Located in Brooklyn, NY
A perfectly postmodern telephone designed by the Memphis Milano master, Ettore Sottsass, and produced in 1986. The Enorme phone was produced in another color way but this is the much rarer gray and black version. The Enorme telephone was the result of a collaboration between Sottsass and David Kelley, founder of the design firm IDEO. Sottsass created the conceptual design, and Kelley and his team were responsible for the engineering and detail design. To produce the telephone, the two formed the Enorme Corporation with Jean Pigozzi. Examples of this phone design are found in the collections of The Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Museum of Modern Art, RISD Museum, and the Los Angeles County Museum.
In good vintage condition with wear consistent with age and use. Works great! Molded manufacturer's mark on handset and base: "Designed by Ettore Sottsass Enorme...
Category
Late 20th Century Post-Modern Scientific Instruments
Materials
Plastic
Rare Charles and Ray Eames Sphere's "Mathematica world of numbers" 1961 Exhibit
Located in Buffalo, NY
Super rare. The spheres in this image are components of one of the exhibits... originally aquired from an IBM employee.
Mathematica: A World of Numbers…and Beyond, is the title of...
Category
1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Scientific Instruments
Materials
Stone
Brass Boat Compass in Varnished Wood Box
Located in Norwell, MA
Classic twentieth century boat compass by American maker Wilcox Crittenden of Middletown Connecticut. The gimballed compass has been meticulously polished and lacquered. This classic...
Category
1950s North American Vintage Scientific Instruments
Materials
Brass
US Navy Mark 74 Aiming Telescope
Located in Norwell, MA
1943 United States Navy Telescope. Used primarily as part of the Mark 16 Aiming System on 50 caliber anti-aircraft gun mounts. Fitted with three sun filters...
Category
1940s North American Vintage Scientific Instruments
Materials
Brass
Shock Therapy McIntosh Polysine Generator Quck Medical Device
Located in Norwalk, CT
A very interesting piece having to do with the treatment of mental health in america. this machine dates to the 1940s or earlier, its missing and of the...
Category
Mid-20th Century American Scientific Instruments
Materials
Metal
Recording Copper Rain Gauge by Casella & Co of London
By Casella
Located in London, GB
An 8" diameter recording copper rain gauge by C F Casella & Co of London.
With an internal 24 hour "Gluck" barometer recorder.
Height:63 cm.
Diameter: 28 ...
Category
Mid-20th Century English Scientific Instruments
Materials
Copper
French Modern Painted And Giltwood Sunburst Barometer
Located in Houston, TX
French Modern Painted and Giltwood Sunburst Barometer.
This unusual French mid century modern star shaped barometer is executed in a beautiful shade of red with gilt
wood accents.
Th...
Category
1940s French Mid-Century Modern Vintage Scientific Instruments
Materials
Wood, Giltwood
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
Analytical Beam Balance Scientific Scale in Glass Case
Located in Van Nuys, CA
Hand built analytical beam balance scientific scale. The scale is used to measure both solid and liquid masses (10/100g capacity). Highly sensitive silver cylinders dampen the harmon...
Category
1940s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Scientific Instruments
Materials
Iron
Large Painted Plexiglas Terrestrial Globe, France circa 1950
Located in Paris, FR
Important relief earth globe representing the oceans and the continents.
The globe is made of painted plexiglas, fixed to the marble base by a brass axis. France around 1950.
Category
1950s French Vintage Scientific Instruments
Materials
Marble, Brass
Huge Waterman Figural Fountain Pen Advertising Store Display Model
By Waterman
Located in Hamilton, Ontario
This enormous figural fountain pen store display is unsigned, but presumed to have been made by the Waterman Co. of France in approximately 1965 and d...
Category
Mid-20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Scientific Instruments
Materials
Metal
Vintage, Commercial Grade Tri Pod by Samson
Located in New York, NY
High quality vintage camera trim pod by Samson. The trim pod is adjustable in various ways, including height ( 42- 73.5 in ) in addition the camera platform tilts and can be related ...
Category
Late 20th Century American Industrial Scientific Instruments
Materials
Aluminum, Steel
Postmodern Funnytime 105 Kitchen Timer by Roberto Pezzetta for Wikidue
Located in Brooklyn, NY
A whimsical Italian postmodern multicolor kitchen timer designed by Roberto Pezzetta for WikiDue. Stacked green, red and yellow discs give it a fun Me...
Category
Late 20th Century Post-Modern Scientific Instruments
Materials
Plastic
1950s Swiss Chef Food Chopper Dicer Cutter Slicer
Located in Chula Vista, CA
1950s Swiss chef food fruit vegetable veggie chopper.
Zylyss stamp
Swiss made
9.5 h x 3 diameter
Unrestored original vintage condition preowned
Patin...
Category
Mid-20th Century Swiss Mid-Century Modern Scientific Instruments
Materials
Metal
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
Rummy Grapefruit Soda Advertising Tin Thermometer Sign
Located in San Diego, CA
Vintage "Rummy Grapefruit Soda" advertising sign / thermometer, circa 1950s. The piece is in very good working condition with great color and graphics. A rare piece of soda memorabil...
Category
Mid-20th Century American Scientific Instruments
Materials
Metal
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
Anatomical model: a male human body in life-size proportions, Italy 1930.
Located in Milan, IT
Anatomical model for schools, educational use, depicting the flayed male human body in life-size proportions, with removable organs, made of painted resin, all placed on a black wood...
Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Scientific Instruments
Materials
Resin, Wood
Anatomical Model of the Human Ear by Somso, 1950s
By Somso
Located in Naples, IT
Didactic model of the human ear, materiale plastico, made in 1950s by Somso, a German company active since the second half of the nineteenth century, known as an excellence in the de...
Category
1950s German Mid-Century Modern Vintage Scientific Instruments
Materials
PVC
Space Age Food Scale by Marco Zanuso for Terraillon
By Marco Zanuso
Located in San Diego, CA
Great design on this beautiful scale design by Marco Zanuso for Terraillon, circa 1970's, very light use and perfect working condition.
Category
Late 20th Century French Space Age Scientific Instruments
Materials
Plastic
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.