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Scientific Instruments For Sale
Period: Early 20th Century
Period: Early 1900s
Small Vintage Spirit Level, English, Brass, Instrument, Preston and Sons,
Located in Hele, Devon, GB
This is a small vintage spirit level. An English, rosewood and brass instrument by E. Preston and Sons, dating to the early 20th century, circa 19...
Category
Early 20th Century English Art Deco Scientific Instruments
Materials
Brass
Table Magnifier, with Bone Handle, Case in Wood, Italy
Located in Torino, IT
Table magnifier, with bone handle, case in
wood
ORIGIN
Italy
TEMPLATE
Table magnifying lens
MATERIALS
Bone handle, lens, wood
DIMENSIONS
Custody
24.5 x 13 x H 4 cm
...
Category
Early 20th Century Italian Scientific Instruments
Materials
Brass
Curiosity Cabinet Naturalism Collection of Shells circa 1900
Located in Beuzevillette, FR
Very interesting set of shells collected by an amateur between the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century. The shells are classified by size and age either in ...
Category
Early 20th Century Scientific Instruments
Materials
Shell
Set of 2 Early XX Century Metal Dragon Shaped Fireplace Holders
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Antique metal traditional Catalan fireplace holders with a dragon shape.
Made in Spain by unknown manufacturer, circa 1900.
In original condition, with minor wear consistent wi...
Category
Early 20th Century Spanish Mid-Century Modern Scientific Instruments
Materials
Metal
Antique Scientific Visual Aid, Bone Cut of the Human Elbow
Located in Berghuelen, DE
An antique visual aid of a longitudinal bone cut of the elbow. Genuine bone mounted on cardboard with hand-painted structure of muscles, bursae and tendons. With German explanation. ...
Category
Early 20th Century German Early Victorian Scientific Instruments
Materials
Bone
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-day chart that covers one full rotation of the drum. The ink trace, or barogram, on the recording paper, is a visual record of changes in pressure. The aneroid barometer mechanism has eleven stacked vacuum capsules and utilizes a gate suspension, with an unusual half-round barometer...
Category
Early 20th Century British Scientific Instruments
Materials
Brass
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
Antique Surveyor's Level, English, Brass, Scientific Instrument, Halden & Sons
Located in Hele, Devon, GB
This is an antique surveyor's level. An English, brass scientific instrument by J. Halden & Sons of Manchester, dating to the early 20th century, circ...
Category
Early 20th Century British Scientific Instruments
Materials
Brass
Italy Early 1900s Antique Oakwood Abaco Vintage Calculator Tool
Located in Milan, IT
Old abaco of oakwood, with ten horizontal metal parallel rods fixed to the base on which are strung ten balls free to slide in horizontal line. Each row of balls has a different colo...
Category
Early 20th Century Italian Scientific Instruments
Materials
Wood
Antique Glass Apothecary Bottle with Hand-Painted & Gilded Label, Circa 1900
Located in New Orleans, LA
Antique glass apothecary bottle with hand-painted & gilded label, Circa 1900. Beautiful mouthblown glass bottle.
"Ol. Myrist." or oil...
Category
Early 20th Century Scientific Instruments
Materials
Glass
Vintage Wooden Mortar and Pestle, Italy
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Wooden footed mortar and pestle hand turned and carved from one piece of dense fruitwood.
Handcrafted by artisan in Italy, vintage Mid-Century Modern hand turned wood Mortar and Pestle...
Category
Early 20th Century Italian Organic Modern Scientific Instruments
Materials
Wood, Fruitwood
Walnut cased Barograph
Located in Cheshire, GB
XJohn Trotter walnut-cased Barograph, having five beveled glazed removable lid, and a drawer below to house the charts. The mechanical eight-day movement is housed in the drum, fitte...
Category
Early 20th Century British Scientific Instruments
Materials
Walnut
Nautical Brass Magnetic Compass with Original Box by E. Vion Paris, Early 1900
Located in Milan, IT
Antique and rare magnetic surveying compass, brass with original wooden box, signed E. Vion Paris, early 1900. Very good condition. Height of box cm 32 – inches 12.61.
The firm Vion, that still works today, was established in 1830 in Paris and it has always manufactured navigation equipment, in particular compasses and marine instruments...
Category
Early 20th Century French Scientific Instruments
Materials
Brass
Milan 1920/30 Antique Microscope by F.lli Koristka Wooden Box with Accessories
Located in Milan, IT
Optical microscope signed F.lli Koristka Milano n. 42870 produced between 1920/30, of chromed and black painted brass, three-magnification turret, consisting of a stand and a plate w...
Category
1920s Italian Vintage Scientific Instruments
Materials
Brass
Micro-Barograph by Short & Mason of London
Located in London, GB
An open scale Micro-barograph by Short & Mason of London in enameled glass case.
Number: 551/41
Seven day clockwork drive by Horstmann Gear Co Ltd, of Bath. Serial number: 7027/59
With Meteorological Office “MO” logo.
Meteorological Office calibration certificate dated 27.6.96
Literature: Barometers - Aneroid and Barographs, Edwin Banfield, 1985. page 131 fig. 116.
Short and Mason...
Category
Early 20th Century English Industrial Scientific Instruments
Materials
Metal
Bronze Sculptural Thermometer, Long Bodied Lady, Artist Signed and Dated 1911
Located in Petaluma, CA
It wasn't easy trying to title this bronze in one sentence. The first thing about it to my eye is the wonderful whimsy displayed. The fact that it's a thermometer just adds to the jo...
Category
1910s American Art Nouveau Vintage Scientific Instruments
Materials
Bronze
Milan 1910/20 F.lli Koristka Antique Microscope Wooden Box with Accessories
Located in Milan, IT
Tri-ocular optical microscope Euskop model, antique scientific instrument of painted brass and chromed steel, with four-magnification turret n. 40122 by Fratelli Koristka, Milano, ci...
Category
1910s Italian Vintage Scientific Instruments
Materials
Brass
Antique Prestwich Fluid Gauge, English, Aeronautical, Scientific Instrument
Located in Hele, Devon, GB
This is an antique Prestwich fluid gauge. An English, cased aeronautical scientific instrument for display, dating to the early 20th century, circa 1920.
Early 20th century fluid ...
Category
Early 20th Century British Scientific Instruments
Materials
Glass
Edwardian Mahogany Barograph by Hamilton and Inches, Edinburgh
Located in Norwich, GB
Edwardian Mahogany Barograph by Hamilton and Inches, Edinburgh
Edwardian mahogany Barograph housed in a bevelled glass display case with satin...
Category
1910s English Edwardian Vintage Scientific Instruments
Materials
Mahogany
Antique Carved Oak Barometer Lloyd, Payne & Amiel Manchester England
Located in Toledo, OH
Antique oak carved barometer by Lloyd, Payne & Amiel Manchester England. Thermometer mounted above opening. Porcelain dial. Operating condition. Bevel...
Category
Early 1900s European Art Nouveau Antique Scientific Instruments
Materials
Oak
Vintage Technical Drawing Set, German, Architect, Cartographer, Riefler, 1930
Located in Hele, Devon, GB
This is a vintage technical drawing set. A German, silver nickel architect or cartographer's instrument set by Riefler of Munich, dating ...
Category
Early 20th Century German Art Deco Scientific Instruments
Materials
Nickel
Italian Antique Botanical Model Early 1900s Plaster on Wooden Base
Located in Milan, IT
Botanical model made of painted plaster and mounted on black painted wooden boards of an orthotropic ovule made by prof. T. Ferraris for Vallardi publisher Milan Scientific material, complete with plate with the legend of the names of the various parts of the mushroom, early 1900s. Good condition. Measures: 20.5 x 15.7 cm, height 25.5 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 scale...
Category
Early 20th Century Italian Scientific Instruments
Materials
Plaster, Wood
Large Format Box Camera, circa 1915
Located in Hudson, NY
This large format box camera was made by the Folmer & Schwing Division of Eastman Kodak in Rochester NY. The case constructed of mahogany in a rich old red finish has many original details and was being used as a working camera until around 1960. See photo 5 for a retrofitted aftermarket shutter lens that was its last upgrade and done professionally to make the antique camera...
Category
Early 20th Century American Scientific Instruments
Materials
Leather, Glass, Wood
Antique Technical Drawing Set, German, Architect, Cartography, Wichmann
Located in Hele, Devon, GB
This is an antique technical drawing set. A German, architect's or cartographer's instrument case by Wichmann, dating to the early 20th c...
Category
Early 20th Century German Edwardian Scientific Instruments
Materials
Nickel
Japanese Blacksmith Tongs and Woodcarver Brace Drill, Early 20th Century
Located in Miami, FL
REDUCED FROM $225....Antique Japanese Tools, a Blacksmith Tong Pincer and Woodcarver Brace Drill, both early 20th century. Most likely late Meij...
Category
Early 20th Century Japanese Japonisme Scientific Instruments
Materials
Iron
Antique Three Draw Telescope, English, Brass, Terrestrial, Ross, Edwardian, 1910
Located in Hele, Devon, GB
This is an antique three draw telescope. An English, brass terrestrial refractor by Ross of London, dating to the Edwardian period, circa 1910.
Perfe...
Category
Early 20th Century British Scientific Instruments
Materials
Brass
Antique Art Deco Sterling Silver and Bakelite Telephone Child's Toy Baby Rattle
Located in Hamilton, Ontario
This antique figural telephone child's baby rattle is presumed to have been made in the United States in circa 1930 in the period Art Deco style. The toy rattle is composed of a mold...
Category
Early 20th Century American Art Deco Scientific Instruments
Materials
Sterling Silver
Antique, Pair of Binoculars, German, Neo Universal, CP Goerz, Berlin, circa 1920
Located in Hele, Devon, GB
This is an antique pair of binoculars. A German, 4.5x magnification Neo Universal by CP Goerz of Berlin, dating to the early 20th century, circa 1920.
Delightful binocular from a sought-after German specialist
Displaying a desirable aged patina - optical elements in clear order
Elegantly milled brass with painted black finish
Complete with black leather carry pouch
CP Goerz Berlin logo present on left barrel; Neo Universal model name to the right
Knurled central focus wheel encased within pleasingly formed, folding bridge
Smaller adjustment wheel with marking range from 64-72
Serial number of 580854 engraved into front fascia
Turned eyecups, adjustment wheel to the right
Hand grips dressed in quality textured leather
Carry pouch in original condition - clasp not situated
Interior dressed with smooth, dark blue velour
This is a wonderful pair of vintage binoculars...
Category
Early 20th Century German Scientific Instruments
Materials
Brass
Compound Microscope with Box and Key by R. Winkel, Göttingen, Nr. 18507
Located in Austin, TX
A fine working German compound microscope, circa 1910, by R. Winkel, Gottingen, Germany, in a fitted box of mahogany with nickel hardware and key.
Marked on column front: R. Winke...
Category
Early 20th Century German Scientific Instruments
Materials
Metal, Brass, Nickel
Antique English Spring Balance Scale Made by Salter 100 Years Old, Custom Stand
Located in New Orleans, LA
Antique English spring balance scale made by "Salter Co." on custom made stand, 100 years old.
(shown at left in group photo)
Me...
Category
Early 20th Century English Scientific Instruments
Materials
Brass
1920s Carl Zeiss Brass Antique Theodolite Surveyor's Measurement Instrument
Located in Milan, IT
Theodolite by Carl Zeiss Jena D.R.G.M. 1920s, light gray and black painted brass, internal horizontal and vertical circle with microscope readings, rack and pinion focusing. Very goo...
Category
1920s German Vintage Scientific Instruments
Materials
Brass
Log Caliper, Made by William Greenleaf Company, Belmont, MA
By William Greenleaf
Located in Nantucket, MA
A large caliper for calculating the number of board feet a log will yield. The central wood shaft engraved with multiple scales on each of the four sides with a large metal mounted c...
Category
Early 20th Century American Rustic Scientific Instruments
Materials
Metal
Pair of Bronze Mortar with Mascarons
Located in Beuzevillette, FR
Pair of bronze mortar decorated with a mascaron and their pestle, early 20th century.
Measures: Height mortar 4 inches
Height pestle 7 inches.
Category
Early 20th Century French Scientific Instruments
Materials
Bronze
Antique Teaching Model Longitudinal Profile of the Kidney, ca. 1900
Located in Berghuelen, DE
A great antique hand-painted anatomical model of the kidney. Made of papier maché and plaster, mounted on a turned wooden base. Manufactured most probably by SOMSO or PHYWE, Germany ...
Category
Early 20th Century German Mid-Century Modern Scientific Instruments
Materials
Plaster, Wood, Paper
Antique Hand Carved Black Forest Barometer, Flowers ans Nesting Birds Sculptures
Located in Lisse, NL
Large and wonderful, Swiss Black Forest barometer with thermometer.
This mother nature inspired, charming and beautifully hand-carved barometer...
Category
Early 20th Century Swiss Black Forest Scientific Instruments
Materials
Glass, Opaline Glass, Wood
Antique Teaching Model of the Adipose Spleen, ca. 1900
Located in Berghuelen, DE
A great antique hand-painted anatomical model of the adipose spleen. Made of papier maché and plaster, mounted on a turned wooden base. Manufactured most probably by SOMSO or PHYWE, ...
Category
Early 20th Century German Mid-Century Modern Scientific Instruments
Materials
Plaster, Wood, Paper
U.S. Navy Steel and Brass Quadrant, First Half of the 20th Century
Located in Nantucket, MA
Antique steel and brass quadrant, first half of the 20th century, made in London for the U.S. Navy, in very good condition with lenses, shades and scale. The essential mariner's navi...
Category
Early 20th Century English Other Scientific Instruments
Materials
Brass, Steel
Oxidised Surveyors Level by Reid and Young
Located in Norwich, GB
Oxidised surveyors level by Reid and Young
Mounted on a circular base with threaded aperture or tripod mounting with four holding rings. Thirteen an...
Category
1920s British Edwardian Vintage Scientific Instruments
Materials
Brass
Antique Teaching Model Stages of the Appendix, Ca. 1900
Located in Berghuelen, DE
A great antique hand-painted anatomical model of the appendix in different stages. It is made of plaster and mounted on a wooden base. Manufactured most probably by SOMSO or PHYWE, G...
Category
Early 20th Century German Mid-Century Modern Scientific Instruments
Materials
Wood, Paper, Plaster
Oak Barograph by C P Goerz
Located in Cheshire, GB
Art Deco barograph by C P Goerz. The oak and plated metal Barograph encase with rounded ends. The mechanical eight-day movement is housed in the drum, fi...
Category
Early 20th Century German Scientific Instruments
Materials
Oak
Antique English Spring Balance Scale Made by Salter 100 Years Old, Custom Stand
Located in New Orleans, LA
Antique English spring balance scale made by "Salter Co." on custom made stand, 100 years old.
(Shown at center in group photo)
...
Category
Early 20th Century English Scientific Instruments
Materials
Brass
Art Deco Era Weber-Costello 12 Inch Desk World Globe with Turned Wooden Base
By Weber
Located in Hamilton, Ontario
This small Art Deco era desk World globe was made by the Weber-Costello Co. of Chicago Heights Illinois of the United States in 1921 in the period Ar...
Category
Early 20th Century American Art Deco Scientific Instruments
Materials
Brass
Cooke Troughton & Simms Theodolite
Located in Hamilton, Ontario
Cooke Troughton & Simms Theodolite in fitted mahogany case.
Category
Early 20th Century English Scientific Instruments
Materials
Brass
Antique Anatomical Wall Chart Depicting the Human Skeleton
Located in Berghuelen, DE
A rare 19th century anatomical wall chart depicting the human skeleton. On the sides On the sides are detailed description in German language. The wall...
Category
Early 20th Century German Victorian Scientific Instruments
Materials
Paper
1911, The Lady Claire Dress Form, Very Rare
Located in Peekskill, NY
I've had an example of this dress form in my personal collection. It's an amazing piece of engineering and one of my favorite items... something I decided to never sell it. The Lady Claire...
Category
Early 20th Century American Industrial Scientific Instruments
Materials
Iron
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
Old Mobile Sulphating Machine to Treat the Vine, Ets Perras, France, 1920-1930
Located in Paris, FR
Interesting old mobile machine for treating vines, built by the Perras establishments in Belleville sur Saône (Dpt 69. France).
This sulphating machine is the work of the Perras C...
Category
1920s French Vintage Scientific Instruments
Materials
Copper, Iron
Antique Mineral Specimen Collection
Located in London, GB
A rare set of antique mineral specimen jars.
Some remnants of labels.
Some solid rocks others are powders.
Sourced in Holland.
Dimensions:...
Category
Early 20th Century Dutch Scientific Instruments
Materials
Glass
Zoological Lithograph Water Predators 1912 Cardboard by H Aschehoug & Co Norway
Located in Milan, IT
Zoological didactic plate n. 21 lithograph on cardboard made in 1912 depicting water predators. Dybdhals Zoologiske Plancher P.M.Bye & Co Oslo. Made by H Aschehoug & Co. Good conditi...
Category
1910s Norwegian Vintage Scientific Instruments
Materials
Paper
French Wooden Scale, Late 19th-Early 20th Century
Located in Atlanta, GA
Having a large weighing surface and a smaller side for weights.
Category
Early 20th Century French Scientific Instruments
Wall Mounted Calipers from the Ross Optical Company London
Located in London, GB
A set of graduated calipers from the Ross of London optical company, mounted on a later wall hanging backboard.
Each caliper with various markings.
Ross of London was a maker o...
Category
Early 20th Century English Industrial Scientific Instruments
Materials
Steel
Antique Foldable Anatomical Wall Chart Depicting Human Musculature
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Antique Foldable Anatomical Wall Chart Depicting Human Musculature
The rare 19th century anatomical wall chart depicts the human musculature and inter...
Category
Early 20th Century German Victorian Scientific Instruments
Materials
Wood, Paper
Large, Good Condition and Stylish Antique English Victorian Oak Wall Barometer
Located in Lisse, NL
Stunning design and top quality executed antique barometer.
This late 19th-early 20th century, English manufactured wall barometer has everything that makes an antique worthwhile. F...
Category
Early 20th Century English Victorian Scientific Instruments
Materials
Brass
Zoological Lithograph of Coelenterates 1912 Cardboard by H Aschehoug & Co Norway
Located in Milan, IT
Zoological didactic plate n. 63 lithograph on cardboard made in 1912 depicting the family of coelenterates with jellyfish, coral and sea anemone. Dybdhals Zoologiske Plancher P.M.Bye...
Category
1910s Norwegian Vintage Scientific Instruments
Materials
Paper
Zoological Lithograph of a Cockroach 1925 Cardboard by H Aschehoug & Co Norway
Located in Milan, IT
Zoological didactic plate n. 64 lithograph on cardboard made in 1925 depicting an enlarged cockroach with the digestive and reproductive system. Dybdhals Zoologiske Plancher P.M.Bye ...
Category
1920s Norwegian Vintage Scientific Instruments
Materials
Paper
Vintage Cell Counting Slide, German, Glass, Hemacytometer, Franke and Heidecke
Located in Hele, Devon, GB
This is a vintage cell counting slide. A German, glass hemacytometer and carry case by Franke and Heidecke, dating to the early 20th century, circa 1930.
...
Category
Early 20th Century German Scientific Instruments
Materials
Glass
Early 20th Century Walnut Cased Barometer
Located in San Francisco, CA
Early 20th century walnut cased barometer
Beautiful barometer. Dimensions 43" long x 13" wide x 5.5" at the crown x 5" at the bottom.
The door on the back reveals the inner wor...
Category
Early 20th Century American Edwardian Scientific Instruments
Materials
Walnut
Surveyor's Level or Theodolite by W.F. Stanley, London, in Original Fitted Box
Located in Austin, TX
A fine working English surveyor's theodolite or transit instrument (aka a dumpy level or surveyors level) of brass, No.80148, by W.F. Stanley (Great Turnstile, Holborn, London), circ...
Category
Early 20th Century English Scientific Instruments
Materials
Metal, Brass
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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