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Scientific Instruments For Sale
Style: Modern
Style: Baroque
Vintage Westinghouse Shortwave Radio in French Polished Mahogany Case
Located in San Francisco, CA
A handsome Westinghouse combination shortwave radio, the French polished mahogany case housing a tube movement with multiple radio settings, made and signed by Westinghouse. This rad...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Modern Scientific Instruments

Materials

Mahogany

Mortar with pestle. Bronze. Spanish school, 17th century.
Located in Madrid, ES
Mortar with pestle. Bronze. Spanish school, 17th century. Bronze mortar with a convex mouth, a raised base facing outwards and a cylindrical body decorated on the outside with relie...
Category

17th Century Spanish Baroque Antique Scientific Instruments

Materials

Bronze

Nice Acupuncture Model Statue Sculpture, Composition on Wood Stand Vintage 1960s
Located in Nuernberg, DE
A decorative Acupuncture Model. Some wear with a nice patina. Made of composition, metal and a wooden stand. It is painted in different colors and covered with clear varnish. Found a...
Category

1960s German Modern Vintage Scientific Instruments

Materials

Composition, Metal

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

Large Mid-Century Italian Giorgio Armani Eye Glasses Factice Shop Display Piece
Located in Nuernberg, DE
This is a rare and unique item! The Armani Eyeglasses Factic for display in a shop comes with its original cardboard packaging and is made of metal a...
Category

1980s Italian Modern Vintage Scientific Instruments

Materials

Metal

Baroque Style Venetian Gilt Carved Barometer by Palladio
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Gorgeous intentionally aged Venetian barometer made in the baroque taste by Italian artisans Palladio. The diamond shaped frame is painted and embellished with gilt scrollwork and ro...
Category

20th Century Italian Baroque Scientific Instruments

Materials

Metal

Memento Mori by Callum Campbell
Located in Geneve, CH
Memento Mori by Callum Campbell Objects for Self Collection Signed Dimensions  W 3.5 x H 9.3 cm Materials: Brass Finish: Polished Engraved with clients name and date of birth...
Category

2010s Australian Modern Scientific Instruments

Materials

Brass

19th Century Irish Giltwood Barometer in the Baroque Style
Located in Dublin, IE
A fascinating Irish giltwood barometer in the baroque style. The large stick barometer features a large carved giltwood frame with a shell motif. The dial having the original twin Ve...
Category

19th Century Irish Baroque Antique Scientific Instruments

Materials

Giltwood

Render by Callum Campbell
Located in Geneve, CH
Render by Callum Campbell Objects for self-collection Signed and numbered Dimensions: W 24 x D 8.8 H 36 cm Materials: Brass, stainless steel Finish: Polished Physical appearance...
Category

2010s Australian Modern Scientific Instruments

Materials

Brass, Stainless Steel

Honne by Callum Campbell
Located in Geneve, CH
Honne by Callum Campbell Objects for self collection Signed and numbered Dimensions: W 9.5 x H 19- 25 cm Materials: Brass, LED Finish: Polished Note: 220-240w Australian elect...
Category

2010s Australian Modern Scientific Instruments

Materials

Brass

Silver Magnifying Glass with a Feather Handle Letter Opener
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A very nice silver magnifying glass with a feather handle, which could be used for opening letters as well. The magnification is good and works well. A compliment to any desk or work...
Category

20th Century Modern Scientific Instruments

Materials

Silver

Vintage Laboratory Microscope, German, Scientific Instrument, Carl Zeiss Jena
Located in Hele, Devon, GB
This is a vintage laboratory microscope. A German, enamelled metal scientific instrument by Carl Zeiss Jena, dating to the late 20th century, circa ...
Category

Late 20th Century German Modern Scientific Instruments

Materials

Metal, Brass

Vintage Montblanc Meisterstuck Classique Fountain Pen with Papers & Boxes
Located in Hamilton, Ontario
This fountain pen was made by the well known Montblanc factory of Germany in approximately 1990 in their classic modern style. This fountain pen is their 'Meisterstuck' model and has...
Category

Late 20th Century German Modern Scientific Instruments

Materials

Gold, Stainless Steel

18th Century Italian Bronze Pestle for a Mortar, 9 Inches Long
Located in Stamford, CT
If you've got the mortar, I have the pestle! There are so many mortars out there, and so few pestles. It's nice to have both. Here is your opportunity to marry this large scale pestl...
Category

18th Century Italian Baroque Antique Scientific Instruments

Materials

Bronze

17th Century Norther European Wrought Iron Pestle, 8.5 Inches
Located in Stamford, CT
Unusual wrought iron pestle, most are bronze like most mortars. This one is at least 17th century, quite possibly dating to the Gothic period. I have owned two iron mortars in my ti...
Category

Early 17th Century German Baroque Antique Scientific Instruments

Materials

Wrought Iron

Italian Radiophonograph RR126 and Record Player by Castiglioni Brionvega, 1960s
Located in MIlano, IT
Italian modern radiophonograph RR126 and record player by Castiglioni Brionvega, 1960s Radiophonograph RR126 and record player with rectangular base, in wood with dark brown profiles. There are two sound boxes...
Category

1960s Italian Modern Vintage Scientific Instruments

Materials

Metal

Pair of Vintage Montblanc Meisterstruck & Starwalker Pens with Boxes & Papers
Located in Hamilton, Ontario
This pair of vintage rollerball pens were made by the well known Montblanc factory of Germany in approximately 1990 in their classic modern style. theiThe black cased pen from this grouping is their "Meisterstruck" model with a clear tip on the cap, and a gold band around the center of the barrel with "MONTBLANC" and "MEISTERSTRUCK" in block letters. The other pen of this group with the brushed metal case is their "Starwalker" model. Both pens come with thier original fitted boxes, and we have one outer box and some paperwork. Both of these Montblanc rollerball pens...
Category

Late 20th Century German Modern Scientific Instruments

Materials

Stainless Steel

Bronze Mortar with Pestle, Spain, 17th Century
Located in Madrid, ES
Mortar with hand. Bronze. XVII century. Mortar with a circular base, cylindrical body and slightly outwardly flared mouth, decorated with a series of smooth horizontal moldings arranged both in the lower and upper areas and with simple vertical elements (which still maintain slight balustraded shapes) derived from of the ribs that these specimens used to have in the medieval Spanish...
Category

17th Century Spanish Baroque Antique Scientific Instruments

Materials

Bronze, Other

Mechanical Equatorial Sundial, Johann Michael Bergauer, Ante 1745
By Johann Michael Bergauer
Located in Milano, IT
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...
Category

1730s Austrian Baroque Antique Scientific Instruments

Materials

Brass

Brushed Aluminum Industrial Hourglass on Stand
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Modern industrial brushed aluminum hourglass - in the style of Bauhaus industrial - German, Berlin. An interesting contrast of blown glass and heavy industrial material gives this...
Category

20th Century Modern Scientific Instruments

Materials

Aluminum

Hughes Telegraph Set Built by Siemens & Halske 19th Century
Located in Madrid, ES
Hughes typewriting telegraph .A Printing Telegraph Set built by Siemens & Halske .This teletyper was invented by David Edward Hughes in 1856.Good condicion overall.Similar telegraph ...
Category

19th Century German Baroque Antique Scientific Instruments

Materials

Wood

Kinetoscope Projector Thomas Edison, Dated About 1904, USA
By Edison
Located in Madrid, ES
Kinetoscope projector Thomas Edison, dated about 1904, is a museum piece. Film Projector Thomas Edison, USA, in excellent condition. Mounted on a ...
Category

Early 20th Century American Modern Scientific Instruments

Materials

Metal

London Mid-19th Century Vanity Kit Set Sterling Silver
Located in Brescia, IT
Not easy to find this original box, with this kit set composed of 8 pieces for nail manicure. A piece to collect or to add in a wunderkammer. In sterling silver, all marked. With ce...
Category

Mid-19th Century British Baroque Antique Scientific Instruments

Materials

Crystal, Sterling Silver

19th Century, J. Florenz Wien Chrome Steel Austrian Balance, 11 Brass Weights
Located in Vigonza, Padua
19th century, chrome steel Austrian balance, by J. Florenz Wien, 11 brass weights, 5 kg. This precious antique table scale was from the famous Caffè Florian in Venice Caffè Florian is a historic café in the city of Venice, located under the arcades of the Procuratie Nuove in Piazza San Marco. It is the oldest Italian coffee and the oldest coffee in the world. It was inaugurated on December 29, 1720 by Floriano Francesconi with the name of Alla Venezia Trionfante, but immediately the Venetians simply said “andemo da Florian-let's go to Florian”, from the name of the owner in the Venetian dialect. Since then it has continued its daily coffee business uninterruptedly to the present day, becoming a favorite destination for Venetians, Italians and foreigners. Floriano Francesconi inspired the character of Ridolfo in Carlo Goldoni's coffee shop. Giacomo Casanova courted the ladies there and Carlo Goldoni entered as a boy. Famous people such as Gasparo Gozzi, Giuseppe Parini, Silvio Pellico, Lord Byron, Ugo...
Category

1850s Austrian Baroque Antique Scientific Instruments

Materials

Steel

Camera Gilles-Faller 'Paris' Studio with Easel, France, circa 1925
By Gilles-Faller
Located in Madrid, ES
Study camera with bellows in very good condition, two objectives and mounted on easel on casters for professional use that has crank for the adjustment of the camera in height and in...
Category

1920s French Modern Vintage Scientific Instruments

Materials

Metal

Substantial Antique Italian Bronze Mortar and Pestle
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
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...
Category

18th Century Italian Baroque Antique Scientific Instruments

Materials

Bronze

17th Century Lantern Alarm Clock by Johannes Quelch, Oxford
Located in Oxfordshire, United Kingdom
An English 17th century lantern clock made of brass and iron, circa 1665-1670. The clock consists of going and striking trains, as well as a...
Category

17th Century British Baroque Antique Scientific Instruments

Materials

Brass

19th Century, Compass and Sundial Together
Located in Miami, FL
19th century, compass and sundial together.
Category

Late 19th Century French Baroque Antique Scientific Instruments

Materials

Wood

19th Century Compass and Sundial Together
Located in Miami, FL
19th century compass and sundial together.
Category

Late 19th Century French Baroque Antique Scientific Instruments

Materials

Wood

French Bronze Mortar, Early 17th Century
Located in Spencertown, NY
The mortar with fleurs de lys decoration.
Category

Early 17th Century French Baroque Antique Scientific Instruments

Materials

Bronze

Medical Model by Denoyer Geppert
Located in Cathedral City, CA
Early 20th century wood and fiberglass medical model by Denoyer Geppert.
Category

1940s Modern Vintage Scientific Instruments

Materials

Fiberglass, Wood

Italian Modern Plexiglass and Glass Mercury Wall Thermometer, 1980s
Located in MIlano, IT
Italian modern plexiglass and glass mercury wall thermometer, 1980s Old mercury thermometer for wall, Coming from an old doctor's office site in Mil...
Category

1980s Italian Modern Vintage Scientific Instruments

Materials

Glass, Plexiglass

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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