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Scientific Instruments

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Scientific Instruments For Sale
Period: 20th Century
Beautiful Glass Apothecary Jar - price per piece
Located in Brussels, BE
Cut-glass top and blown glass jar beautiful quality. Multiple available
Category

20th Century European Scientific Instruments

Materials

Blown Glass, Cut Glass

German Art Deco Desk Top Barometer and Weather Station
Located in Hamilton, Ontario
German Art Deco desk top barometer and weather station. German desktop barometer, thermometer and hydrometer. This station is unsigned and made...
Category

20th Century German Art Deco Scientific Instruments

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

Brass Framed Monumental Sized Magnifying Glass with Natural Horn Handle
Located in Savannah, GA
This monumental sized horn handled magnifying glass with brass framework and stem, is of heavy weight and fine quality. The horn is quite substantial and supports this very large gla...
Category

Early 1900s German Black Forest Antique Scientific Instruments

Materials

Brass

Machine Age Art Deco Doctors or Bathroom Floor Model Scale Weigh Master by Hanso
Located in New York, NY
Great Machine Age, American Art Deco floor scale, Weigh Master by Hanson. The scale is fully functional, it shows cosmetic wear to the paint finish, and th...
Category

1930s American Art Deco Vintage Scientific Instruments

Materials

Metal

Fairbanks Scale Co American Doctors Scale
Located in Cheshire, GB
Fairbanks doctors scale in black with brass adjustable measuring stick, and cast iron pressure plate. Retaining there original weights. Dimensions: Heig...
Category

Early 20th Century American Scientific Instruments

Materials

Iron

Antique Aluminum Teaching Dental Phantom Head Skull on Stand Gold Tooth 1920's
Located in Portland, OR
Antique aluminum dental phantom teaching head model with a gold tooth, 1920's. A wonderful fun sculptural dental phantom, the aluminum head with lower...
Category

1920s German Brutalist Vintage Scientific Instruments

Materials

Aluminum, Gold, Steel

Struttura atomica didattica dell'acido carbonico (H2CO3) produzione Ceca 1950
Located in Milan, IT
Struttura atomica ad uso didattico dell'acido carbonico (H2CO3) in metallo, sfere in bachelite verniciate rosso e nero. Manifattura cecoslovacca degli anni cinquanta. Buono stato, m...
Category

1950s Vintage Scientific Instruments

Materials

Metal

20th Century Rotary Bakelite Telephone c.1930
Located in Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent
A superb and rare early 20th Century rotary Bakelite telephone. The phone features the original cord connecting handset to reciever and a small drawer at the front revealing a pad fo...
Category

1930s British Other Vintage Scientific Instruments

Materials

Bakelite

Astro tripod mounted telescope by Dollond of London
Located in London, GB
A mid 20th century tripod mounted "Astro" telescope by Dollond of London. 3 inch objective lens. Mounted on a teak tripod. Marked: DOLLOND ASTRO LONDON Chrome and grey finish. I...
Category

Mid-20th Century English Scientific Instruments

Materials

Chrome

Berkel Scales
Located in Roma, IT
Libra from Holland in good condition all original no parts missing or repaired
Category

Mid-20th Century Dutch Mid-Century Modern Scientific Instruments

Materials

Iron

Wall-Mounted Weather Station in Art Nouveau Style Carved Oak 1910s
Located in Verviers, BE
Wall-Mounted Weather Station in Art Nouveau Style Carved Oak 1910s Belgium High quality mechanism with jeweled movement barometer and thermometer (in centigrade) Unusual design wit...
Category

1910s Belgian Art Nouveau Vintage Scientific Instruments

Materials

Oak

Vintage Bausch & Lomb Brass Harbormaster 0905 Telescope on Tripod Stand
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Vintage Bausch & Lomb Brass 0905 Harbormaster 48" Telescope on Tripod Stand. Circa Mid to Late 20th Century. Measurements: 60" H x 48" W x 32" D.
Category

Mid-20th Century Scientific Instruments

Materials

Brass

Rudder-shaped aneroid barometer with 8 brass ankles from the 1950s
Located in Milan, IT
Barometer turned wooden aneroid in the shape of a rudder with 8 turned brass ankles. West Germany manufacture for the British market 1950s. Bon état. Working order. Diameter cm 2...
Category

1950s Vintage Scientific Instruments

Materials

Wood

1930s English aneroid barometer made of turned wood, brass and glass
Located in Milan, IT
1930s English aneroid barometer made of turned wood, brass, and glass. Bon état. Working order. Diameter cm 15.5 - inches 6.2, thickness cm 5.5 - inches 2.2. This is an ancient me...
Category

1930s Vintage Scientific Instruments

Materials

Wood

Chrome-plated brass and leather telescope signed W. OTTWAY from the first war 1915
Located in Milan, IT
Chrome-plated brass and leather telescope signed W. OTTWAY & Co Ltd Ealing London A49 in use by British Army officers during World War I. Single-length focus, focal diameter cm 3...
Category

1910s Vintage Scientific Instruments

Materials

Brass

Terrestrial globe, Italy 1940.
Located in Milan, IT
Terrestrial globe, physical and political, in paper mache on a round metal base. Cartographic design G. Pugno, lithographic typography C. Brandoni. Italian globe laboratory, Turin, I...
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Scientific Instruments

Materials

Metal

Large 1920's Globe on Wood Base
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
Large Vintage Globe on Wood Base, circa 1920's Decorate an office or a desk with this beautifully preserved antique globe. Crafted in Europe, circa 1920's this piece is mounted on a...
Category

1920s European Biedermeier Vintage Scientific Instruments

Materials

Brass

Vintage Polaroid SX-70 Tan Land Camera by Henry Dreyfuss
Located in Wallkill, NY
A very nice Polaroid SX - 70 camera, developed by Edwin Land and Richard Wareham, designed by Henry Dreyfuss Associates. This was state of the art and re...
Category

1970s American Vintage Scientific Instruments

Materials

Stainless Steel

1970's Vintage Olivetti Lettera 35 Typewriter
Located in San Carlos, CA
Beautiful vintage 1970's Olivetti Lettera 35 typewriter, made in Italy. This typewriter comes with a very cool vintage Olivetti shoulder bag. This typewriter is in very good cosmeti...
Category

1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Scientific Instruments

Materials

Metal

Italian Artist's Mannequin from the 19th Century
Located in Madrid, ES
This elegant Italian artist's mannequin from approximately 1900 is a beautiful representation of craftsmanship from the 19th century. Crafted from solid fruitwood, it stands as a tes...
Category

Early 1900s Antique Scientific Instruments

Materials

Fruitwood

Italian Artist's Mannequin from the 19th Century
Located in Madrid, ES
This elegant Italian artist's mannequin from approximately 1900 is a beautiful representation of craftsmanship from the 19th century. Crafted from solid fruitwood, it stands as a tes...
Category

Early 1900s Antique Scientific Instruments

Materials

Fruitwood

Campbell–Stokes sunshine recorder by Casella & Co of London
Located in London, GB
A mid twentieth century Campbell–Stokes sunshine recorder, by Casella & Co, London. Pattern: Mk III C 45- 65 (latitudes 45° – 65°, North or South). 4 inch glass sphere. Serial numb...
Category

Mid-20th Century English Scientific Instruments

Materials

Brass, Bronze

Italian Artist's Mannequin from the 19th Century
Located in Madrid, ES
This elegant Italian artist's mannequin from approximately 1900 is a beautiful representation of craftsmanship from the 19th century. Crafted from solid fruitwood, it stands as a tes...
Category

Early 1900s Antique Scientific Instruments

Materials

Fruitwood

Art Deco Nudy Lady Thermometer
Located in Hamilton, Ontario
Celluloid nude lady Art Deco thermometer.
Category

20th Century Art Deco Scientific Instruments

U.S. Army officer's pocket compass during WW1 signed WITTNAUER
Located in Milan, IT
U.S. Army officer's pocket compass during World War I made of chrome-plated brass in the shape of an onion clock, signed WITTNAUER. The compass is equipped with a snap-lock cover wi...
Category

1910s Vintage Scientific Instruments

Materials

Brass

Brass Lorgnettes 'Long-Handled Opera Glasses' Mid-Century Italian Design 1930s
Located in Palermo, IT
A splendid pair of 'lorgnettes' (long-handled opera, or theatre, glasses). Lorgnettes, eye glasses held in place by long handles rather than resting on the bridge of one's nose, were...
Category

1930s Italian Vintage Scientific Instruments

Materials

Brass

Solid Brass Ships Telephone On Pedesta
Located in Norwell, MA
Highly polished brass ships telephone on pedestal. Meticulously polished andl lacquered head by Hose-McCann Telephone Co, Inc., Brooklyn New York. Type A, model WTP, with phone insid...
Category

1920s North American Vintage Scientific Instruments

Materials

Brass

Vintage Specimen Collector's Chest of Drawers, French, Walnut Desk Box, Art Deco
Located in Hele, Devon, GB
This is a vintage specimen collector's chest of drawers. A French, solid walnut four drawer executive desk box, dating to the Art Deco period, circa 1930. Exceptional figuring and f...
Category

Early 20th Century French Art Deco Scientific Instruments

Materials

Walnut

Weather Station in Art Nouveau Style Carved Walnut C. Engel & Cie Verviers
Located in Verviers, BE
Wall-mounted weather station in carved walnut made in Verviers Belgium by C. Engel & Cie Opticiens Verviers High quality mechanism with jeweled movement barometer and thermometer (in...
Category

1910s Belgian Art Nouveau Vintage Scientific Instruments

Materials

Walnut

Refinished Gerstner & Sons Machinist's Toolbox
Located in New York, NY
Gerstner & Sons is a renowned American company with a long history of manufacturing high-quality tool chests and wooden cases. The company was founded in 1906 by Harry Gerstner in Da...
Category

20th Century American Industrial Scientific Instruments

Materials

Felt, Faux Leather, Oak

John Hardy Jokey Y2K New Millennium Silver Overlay Flashlight
Located in New York, NY
Jokey Y2K flashlight. Traditional flashlight encased in heavy silver weave. At end is applied medallion with the year 2000 encircled by the phrase “Light Your Way into the New Millen...
Category

Late 20th Century United States Minor Outlying Islands Modern Scientific Instruments

Materials

Silver

Didactic atomic structure of zinc-iron sulfide Czech production 1950s
Located in Milan, IT
Atomic structure for educational use of zinc-iron sulfide, made of metal with Bakelite spheres painted gray and yellow. It is an inorganic compound found naturally in wurtzite, a mi...
Category

1950s Vintage Scientific Instruments

Materials

Metal

Small brass thermometer with dual Celsius and Fahrenheit scales France 1930s
Located in Milan, IT
Small brass table thermometer with dual temperature measurement scale in Celsius and Fahrenheit. French manufacture of the 1930s. Good condition small mark on glass. Measurements 6...
Category

1930s Vintage Scientific Instruments

Materials

Brass

Nautical Double Gauge Bubble Clinometer on Teak Back Plate by Conn. Valley Ind.
Located in Nantucket, MA
A double gauge bubble clinometer with precision glass tubing and nickel face mounted on a teak back plate. These tilt gauges were used on vessels to measure the angular slant of the ...
Category

Late 20th Century North American Industrial Scientific Instruments

Materials

Chrome

Brass and Bakelite telescopic acoustic cornet England early 1900s
Located in Milan, IT
Telescopic acoustic cornet made of brass and Bakelite , English manufacture of the early 1900s. The principle of its operation is based on the reflection of sound on the inner walls,...
Category

Early 1900s Antique Scientific Instruments

Materials

Brass

Didactic atomic structure of graphite made Czech manufacture circa 1950s
Located in Milan, IT
Atomic structure for educational use of graphite made metal with black Bakelite spheres. Czechoslovakian manufacture of the 1950s. Good condition, Measures 28x28x20 cm - inches 11...
Category

1950s Vintage Scientific Instruments

Materials

Metal

20th Century Edwardian Solid Silver Map Reading Tool, London, c.1908
Located in Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent
Antique early-20th Century Edwardian very rare solid silver map reading tool, with a magnifying glass, compass and distance measure, one side in English the other in Russian, present...
Category

20th Century British Edwardian Scientific Instruments

Materials

Silver

Large Estate Solid Iron Mortar And Pestle, Circa 1930's-1940's.
Located in New Orleans, LA
Large Estate Solid Iron Mortar And Pestle, Circa 1930's-1940's. Very heavy and substantial piece. Mortar H = 10.25 inches Dia = 6.5 inches Pestle H = 10.25 inches Dia = 2 inches
Category

Early 20th Century American Scientific Instruments

Materials

Iron

Charles and Ray Eames Molded Plywood Leg Splint for Evans in Original Wrapper
Located in Chicago, IL
These leg splints were designed by Charles and Ray Eames and produced for the United States Navy by the Evans Products Company, molded plywood division. They're still in their origin...
Category

1940s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Scientific Instruments

Materials

Plywood

English Porcelain Mortar and Pestle #7
Located in Garnerville, NY
Porcelain mortar and pestle. Signed on the underside with the size #7, Acid Proof, Made in England. Wood handled pestle. Great for use in the kitchen, artist's studio or office. It d...
Category

1950s English Rustic Vintage Scientific Instruments

Materials

Paste, Porcelain

Large Antique Double Barel Victorian Brass Tripod Telescope London 1915
Located in Sofia, BG
20th Century large antique double barel Victorian brass telescope raised on a foldable wooden tripod made in London in 1915. Very good original condition.
Category

Early 20th Century English Scientific Instruments

Materials

Brass

Early 19th Century Negretti and Zambra Bakelite Weather Forecaster
Located in Norwich, GB
19th century Negretti and Zambra Bakelite Weather Forecaster. Housed in a black metal case with a cream coloured bakelite front plate. The dial with barometer scale, hand turned ind...
Category

1910s English Vintage Scientific Instruments

Materials

Bakelite

20th Century Czech Set of 3 Wooden Decoration
Located in High Point, NC
This striking set of three wooden decorations from the 20th century is a fine example of Czech craftsmanship. Each piece, unique in height, features a minimalist design that showcase...
Category

20th Century Czech Scientific Instruments

Materials

Wood

20th Century Central European Glass Beaker Stand
Located in High Point, NC
An intriguing and unique accent, this vintage lab-ware stand holds various vintage technical glasswares. Industrial, utilitarian, and scientific, yet also playful and curious, this v...
Category

20th Century European Scientific Instruments

Materials

Metal

Large Didactical Model of a Bee labeled “ Denoyer-Geppert Company of Chicago "
Located in Leuven , BE
Model of the worker bee (Apis mellifica) magnified 35 times, mounted on foot. One side shows the outer shape, the other the inner constitution and viscera that can be removed.This la...
Category

Early 20th Century German Scientific Instruments

Materials

Plaster, Paper

20th Century Central European Glass Beaker Stand
Located in High Point, NC
An intriguing and unique accent, this vintage lab-ware stand holds various vintage technical glasswares. Industrial, utilitarian, and scientific, yet also playful and curious, this v...
Category

20th Century European Scientific Instruments

Materials

Metal

1900s European Glass Beaker Stand
Located in High Point, NC
An intriguing and unique accent, this vintage lab-ware stand holds various vintage technical glassware. Industrial, utilitarian, and scientific, yet also playful and curious, this vi...
Category

20th Century European Scientific Instruments

Materials

Metal

1900s French Metal Scale
Located in High Point, NC
Made in the 1900s in France and traditionally employed for weighing fruits and vegetables, this antique scale features two metal weighing pans suspended from gracefully curved arms. ...
Category

20th Century French Scientific Instruments

Materials

Metal

20th Century Central European Glass Beaker Stand
Located in High Point, NC
An intriguing and unique accent, this vintage lab-ware stand holds various vintage technical glasswares. Industrial, utilitarian, and scientific, yet also playful and curious, this v...
Category

20th Century European Scientific Instruments

Materials

Metal

20th Century Central European Glass Beaker Stand
Located in High Point, NC
An intriguing and unique accent, this vintage lab-ware stand holds various vintage technical glasswares. Industrial, utilitarian, and scientific, yet also playful and curious, this v...
Category

20th Century European Scientific Instruments

Materials

Metal

1900s French Metal Scale
Located in High Point, NC
Made in the 1900s in France and traditionally employed for weighing fruits and vegetables, this antique scale features two metal weighing pans suspended from gracefully curved arms. ...
Category

20th Century French Scientific Instruments

Materials

Metal

Vintage Sharp Electronics Corp Compet 641B Electronic Printing Calculator Japan
Located in Dayton, OH
Vintage Sharp Compet-641 Electronic Printing Calculator with IC, Model CS-641B, Serial Number 17227009. Rating: 120V 300mA AC 60Hz 22W. Made in Jap...
Category

Late 20th Century Scientific Instruments

Materials

Metal

Vintage Steel Laboratory Beaker Stand
Located in High Point, NC
An intriguing and unique accent, this vintage lab-ware stand holds three round-bottomed flasks. Once used as a tool for conducting laboratory analysis or experimentation, the globe-l...
Category

20th Century Belgian Scientific Instruments

Materials

Metal

Oak barometer
Located in Cheshire, GB
Carved oak barometer, the shaped carved oak frame with rectangular thermometer above the silvered dial inscribed J. Durkin, Middlesbrough, encased in copper frame. Dimensions Height ...
Category

Early 20th Century British Scientific Instruments

Materials

Oak

Vintage Steel Laboratory Beaker Stand
Located in High Point, NC
An intriguing and unique accent, this vintage lab-ware stand holds three round-bottomed flasks. Once used as a tool for conducting laboratory analysis or experimentation, the globe-l...
Category

20th Century Belgian Scientific Instruments

Materials

Metal

Copper & brass fuel measures by Sutherland Astell
Located in London, GB
Two copper and brass metric "Checkpump" fuel measures by Sutherland Astell, circa 1950. Made for the County Borough of Blackpool. Marked: 10 and 20 litres, at 20°. 20L, Height: 23...
Category

Mid-20th Century English Scientific Instruments

Materials

Brass, Copper

Large Set of 8 Vintage Lab Sieves, English, Brass, Stacking, Scientific, C.1965
Located in Hele, Devon, GB
This is a large set of 8 vintage laboratory sieves. An English, brass stacking scientific apparatus, dating to the mid 20th century, circa 1965. Fascinating set with superb period a...
Category

Mid-20th Century British Mid-Century Modern Scientific Instruments

Materials

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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