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Scientific Instruments

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Scientific Instruments For Sale
Antique "Le Jockey Club" 1930 s Horse Racing Binoculars with Compass
Located in Vancouver, British Columbia
A French silvered brass and brown leather Horse Racing binoculars stamped "Le Jockey Club Paris" presented in their original brown leather case. ...
Category

Early 20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Scientific Instruments

Materials

Brass

19century English Balancing Scale
Located in Tarrytown, NY
19century English balancing scale.
Category

19th Century European Industrial Antique Scientific Instruments

Materials

Iron

Vintage Chinese Telephone with Brass Details and French-Inspired Design
Located in Yonkers, NY
This vintage Chinese telephone combines French-inspired elegance with the charm of mid-century craftsmanship. The handset, with its brass bells and ivory-tone accents, recalls the cl...
Category

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

Materials

Brass

Antique Kitchen Mortar Pestle, English, Bronze, Apothecary, Chemist, Georgian
Located in Hele, Devon, GB
This is an antique kitchen mortar and pestle. An English, bronze apothecary or chemist's shop aid, dating to the Georgian period, circa 1780. Useful kitchen or apothecary aid from ...
Category

Late 18th Century British Georgian Antique Scientific Instruments

Materials

Bronze

Precision demountable scale for travel, France 1880.
Located in Milan, IT
Apothecary traveling scale entirely demountable. All the pieces fits inside the front drawer. Oak wood box, brass elements and glasses. Glass protection sides. France 1880.
Category

Late 19th Century French Antique Scientific Instruments

Materials

Brass

Carved oak wall hanging Banjo barometer
Located in Cheshire, GB
Carved oak barometer, the shaped carved oak frame with rectangular thermometer encased by glass. Above the silvered dial with silvered bezel, flanked by crisp scrolling carved decora...
Category

Early 20th Century British Scientific Instruments

Materials

Oak

Telescope with original leather case from World War II, English circa 1940
Located in Central England, GB
This fine example of a World War II military spotting telescope is the type issued to a British army sniper, who would have used it to locate an enemy sniper in a hidden position. T...
Category

Mid-20th Century British Other Scientific Instruments

Materials

Brass

Rococo Style Gilt Bronze Cartel Clock and Barometer
Located in London, GB
In their elaborate use of C-scrolls, putti figures, stylised acanthus leaves and flowers, this clock and barometer are clearly Rococo in their style. The Rococo came into fashion in ...
Category

19th Century French Rococo Antique Scientific Instruments

Materials

Enamel, Ormolu, Bronze

Ornate Antique Gilt Floral Hand Painted Soda Fountain Cash Register C1920
Located in Big Flats, NY
***Reduced Delivery Rates - See Below or Click “Ask The Seller” to Request a Quote*** Ornate & Petite Antique Gilt & Floral Hand Painted Ice Cream or Soda Fountain Country Store Cash Register C1920 Measures - 20.5"h x 12"w x 15.5"d An exquisite antique cash register...
Category

Early 20th Century Art Nouveau Scientific Instruments

Materials

Metal

Engraved Brass Portable Sundial Signed “Menant à Paris”
Located in Madrid, ES
Elegant portable brass sundial, finely engraved and signed “Menant à Paris”, demonstrating the precision and artistry of French scientific instrument making. This compact and beautif...
Category

1740s Antique Scientific Instruments

Materials

Brass

Large 18th c. Wooden Jointer Plane c.1700-1799
Located in San Francisco, CA
ABOUT Antique wooden carpentry plane used to make trim and moldings. Shown with life size hand mold for scale. CREATOR Unknown. DATE OF MANUFACTURE c.1700s. MATERIA...
Category

18th Century Industrial Antique Scientific Instruments

Materials

Fruitwood

Pair of 19th Century Brass Parabolic Reflectors
Located in Chicago, IL
In the 19th century, parabolic reflectors such as these were employed in scientific experiments to study the behavior of light, heat, and sound. These brass parabolic mirrors, when p...
Category

19th Century American Victorian Antique Scientific Instruments

Materials

Brass

French 19th Century Louis XV Style Kingwood and Ormolu Barometer/Thermometer
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A stunning and extremely high quality French 19th century Louis XV st. kingwood and ormolu barometer/thermometer, signed F. Linke. The barometer is centered by a fine richly chased f...
Category

19th Century French Louis XV Antique Scientific Instruments

Materials

Ormolu

Italian Modern Wooden Botanic Model
Located in Roma, IT
A botanic didactical specimen in the manner of the famous German botanist Robert Brendel. "In the late 19th century Robert Brendel and his son Reinhold produced beautiful and accur...
Category

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

Materials

Wood

Victorian Brass Novelty Clock by Elkington Co
Located in Lymington, Hampshire
A Victorian brass novelty clock by Elkington & Co., in the form of a double steering-wheel, one wheel enclosing a clock and the other a barometer, with ...
Category

1880s English Victorian Antique Scientific Instruments

Materials

Brass

Rare 17th Century Japanese Export Lacquer Medical Instrument Box
Located in Amsterdam, NL
A rare Japanese export lacquer medical instrument box Edo-period, 1650-1700 L. 19 x W. 6 x H. 8.5 cm This unconventionally shaped lacquer b...
Category

17th Century Japanese Edo Antique Scientific Instruments

Materials

Gold

Polaroid SX-70 Tan Land Camera by Henry Dreyfuss Vintage
Located in Newfoundland, PA
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

Pair of Steampunk Brass Industrial Architectural Pressure Gauges
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A super cool pair vintage General Electric pressure gauges. Each brass and glass gauge houses an aluminum faced dial marked for the General Electric Co. Perfect for a steam punk set...
Category

Early 20th Century American Steampunk Scientific Instruments

Materials

Brass

Compensated brass barometric altimeter signed Stanley London from the early 1900s
Located in Milan, IT
Brass compensated barometric altimeter signed Stanley London No. 1581 from the early 1900s. Diameter 7.6 x 3 cm - inches 3x1.2. An altimeter is an instrument for measuring the heig...
Category

Early 20th Century Scientific Instruments

Materials

Brass

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

: Wooden pocket diptych sundial Ernst Christoph Stocket. Germany 1780 - 1811.
Located in Milan, IT
Wooden pocket diptych sundial Ernst Christoph Stocket - type, Bavaria. A folding wooden sundial is partially covered in paper with engraved/printed decorations and text. A compass is...
Category

Late 18th Century German Antique Scientific Instruments

Materials

Wood, Paper

Antique 3 Draw Telescope, English, Leather, Broadhurst Clarkson Co, Edwardian
Located in Hele, Devon, GB
This is an antique 3-draw telescope. An English, leather and brass terrestrial refractor by Broadhurst, Clarkson & Co, dating to the Edwardian period, circa 1910. Perfect for bird ...
Category

Early 20th Century British Edwardian Scientific Instruments

Materials

Brass

French Early 19th Century Gilt Barometer
Located in Stockbridge, GA
French early 19th century gilt barometer.
Category

Early 19th Century French Restauration Antique Scientific Instruments

Materials

Giltwood

Important Utah/MIT Dextrous Hand Robotic Prototype
Located in Peekskill, NY
This is one of two early examples of this ground breaking experimental robotic hand. Its known as the Dextrous Hand and was designed at MIT in Utah and built by Sarcos Inc. and is si...
Category

20th Century American Industrial Scientific Instruments

Materials

Aluminum

Aircraft Design Wind Tunnel Scale Model of a Late 1960s GAC-100 Airliner
Located in London, GB
A 1/10 scale wind tunnel model of a GAC-100 Commuter airliner. Wingspan: 7ft (214 cm) The model is constructed out of laminated mahogany, and is built to the highest standards,...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Industrial Scientific Instruments

Materials

Mahogany

French 19th Century Culinary Scale
By Trussant Cie
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
An antique French counter or grocer scale in ebonized hardwood and mahogany inlay with white marble top, circa 1880. The scale is made of hardwo...
Category

19th Century French Antique Scientific Instruments

Materials

Marble, Copper

Antique German Barometer with Hand-Carved Oak Leaves and Acorns, 1920s
Located in Barntrup, DE
German Black Forest style barometer with fine hand-carved oak branches, leaves, and acorns. Dimensions: height 30 cm / 11.81 in; width 24 cm / 9.44 in; depth 5 cm / 1.96 in. In good ...
Category

1920s German Black Forest Vintage Scientific Instruments

Materials

Metal

Curiosity Cabinet Naturalism Collection of Shell 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 French Scientific Instruments

Materials

Shell

19th Century Pocket Telescope Gilt Brass And Faux Tortoiseshell Spyglass
Located in Norwich, GB
19th Century pocket telescope gilt brass and faux tortoiseshell spyglass, each friction fitting is tapering and collapsible with millegrain edges. In good condition, showing some li...
Category

Mid-19th Century Antique Scientific Instruments

Materials

Brass

Antique Telescope, Large, Single Draw Refractor, Cary London, circa 1820
Located in Hele, Devon, GB
This is an antique telescope, a large single draw refractor for terrestrial or astronomical use. An English, late Georgian piece dating to circa 1820. Perfect for bird watching, landscape appreciation, wildlife, or maritime observation. Equally suitable for observing the night sky. Supplied ready to enjoy; Fully inspected and lenses cleaned by our in-house restorer. Larger than most presenting a clear, sharp optical performance Tapered, original painted, primary barrel in good order Draw tube in good order with smooth action 56mm, 2.25" objective lens Presents a good, sharp and bright image Engraved 'Cary, London' Complete with lens CAP and swivel dust cover Supplied with an London Fine oak and brass 'Captain's Stand' for display An historic, period piece as good to use today as it was two hundred years ago. Dimensions: Max Drawn Length: 112cm (44'' Closed Length: 76cm (30'') Objective Glass Diameter: 5.6cm (2.25'') About Cary, The Stand, London William Cary was born in 1759, the third of four brothers to George and Mary Cary. The eldest, George, was a haberdasher, John a map maker and the youngest, Francis, an engraver. William served his apprenticeship under Jesse Ramsden, arguably one of the finest instrument makers in England, and went on to produce Fine instruments himself, working alongside his brother John. They produced telescopes, microscopes, navigation and surveying equipment, mechanical calculators...
Category

Early 19th Century English Georgian Antique Scientific Instruments

Materials

Brass

Antique Pluviometer Set, English, Copper, Meteorological, Rain Gauge, Victorian
Located in Hele, Devon, GB
This is an antique pluviometer set. An English, copper and glass meteorological rain gauge, dating to the Victorian period and later, circa 1900. ...
Category

Late 19th Century British Victorian Antique Scientific Instruments

Materials

Copper

20th Century Japanese Pair Of Naval Bridge "Big Eye" Binoculars By Nikon c.1940
Located in Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent
A rare 20th Century set of Japanese naval bridge “big eye“ binoculars by Nikon manufactured during WWII by Tokyo Kogaku Kikai (Tokyo Optical Company). They have been expertly cleaned...
Category

20th Century Japanese Other Scientific Instruments

Materials

Metal

Torricellian mahogany barometer signed Davis 65 Bold St. Liverpool 1839/1841
Located in Milan, IT
Torricellian mercury barometer in mahogany wood, signed Davis 65 Bold St. Liverpool active at this address from 1839 to 1841, complete with reading nonius for checking pressure varia...
Category

Mid-19th Century Antique Scientific Instruments

Materials

Wood

Five 19th C. French Bronze Metric (Apothecary ) Weights, Original Wooden Block
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Set of 5 Antique French Bronze (Apothecary) Metric Weights with Original Wooden Block, Circa 1880 A handsome and authentic set of 19th-century French bronze metric weights, housed i...
Category

Late 19th Century French Industrial Antique Scientific Instruments

Materials

Bronze

Art Deco Table or Desk Top Brass Mounted 7" Double Convex Magnifying Glass
Located in Chapel Hill, NC
Art Deco desk/table top adjustable magnifying glass. A 7" diameter double convex lens in an open topped brass frame suspended between two vertical posts rising from a stepped two-tie...
Category

Early 20th Century American Art Deco Scientific Instruments

Materials

Brass

Paravia Magnetism and Electricity Cassette with Original Instruments, 1960su2028
Located in Milano, IT
Paravia, scientific instruments, vintage educational kit, 1960s, Norstedts, magnetism, optics, thermology, mechanics, applied electricity, top vintage lab, educational set, experimen...
Category

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

Materials

Copper, Magnets

Magnifying Glass in Mother of Pearl and Solid Wood 1920s
Located in Meer, VAN
Magnifying Glass in Mother of Pearl and Solid Wood 1920s Magnificent early 20th century magnifying glass in solid wood and inlaid mother of pearl. Wonderful curved handle and high...
Category

Early 20th Century European Art Deco Scientific Instruments

Materials

Mother-of-Pearl, Wood

Fassamano French Tortoise antique Eyeglasses second half 19th Century
Located in Milan, IT
Fassamano (from the French face-a-main) eyeglasses with handle that turns into a case shaped like the lenses; dark tortoise eyeglasses, oval lenses...
Category

1860s French Antique Scientific Instruments

Materials

Bakelite

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

Large certified precision ruled diffraction grating by Bausch Lomb
Located in London, GB
A large certified precision ruled diffraction grating by Bausch & Lomb of Rochester, New York. 600 grooves / mm Blaze angle 28 degrees, 41 minutes. Radius concave Serial number: 88...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Scientific Instruments

Materials

Aluminum

19th c. Bock-Steger Anatomical Brain Model, Germany
Located in San Francisco, CA
ABOUT A hand crafted and painted plaster anatomical model of the human brain. Franz Josef Steger and pathological anatomist Carl Ernst Bock collaborated at the University of Leipzig...
Category

19th Century German Victorian Antique Scientific Instruments

Materials

Plaster

Large Vintage Mongolian Wooden Standing Math Abacus with Painted Wooden Balls
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Large Vintage Mongolian Wooden Standing Math Abacus with Painted Wooden Balls. Item features painted wooden balls in red, purple, gray, orange, blue, yellow, green and brown. Circa M...
Category

Mid-20th Century Unknown Primitive Scientific Instruments

Materials

Wood

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

Small chrome-plated brass pocket compass for the U.S. Army in 1917
Located in Milan, IT
Small chrome-plated brass pocket and travel compass, issued to the U.S. Army during World War I; cover reads ENG. DEPT. U.S.A. 1917. Pocket compass in the shape of an onion clock, e...
Category

1910s Vintage Scientific Instruments

Materials

Brass

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 Cased Optometrist s Set, English, Optical Instrument, Boxed, Victorian
Located in Hele, Devon, GB
This is an antique cased optometrist's set. An English, mahogany optical instrument box, dating to the late Victorian period, circa 1900. Fine display ...
Category

Late 19th Century British Antique Scientific Instruments

Materials

Wood

Antique Brass Plumber s Blowtorch c.1900, Made in England
Located in San Francisco, CA
ABOUT An antique brass Heathware No: 66 English plumber's blowtorch with a Bakelite handle. Original sticker. Shown with life size hand model for scale. CREATOR Heathware Pr...
Category

Early 20th Century Swedish Industrial Scientific Instruments

Materials

Brass

19th c. Giltwood Barometer
Located in New Orleans, LA
Carved and Giltwood Louis XVI Style Barometer
Category

19th Century French Antique Scientific Instruments

Materials

Giltwood

Baume Mercier 18 Karat Yellow Gold Ladies Wristwatch with Original Leather Band
Located in Hamilton, Ontario
This ladies wristwatch was made by the well known Baume et Mercier of Switzerland in approximately 1970 in their period Mid-Century style. The watch and lugs are composed of eighteen...
Category

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

Materials

Gold

Actinometer Antique Measuring Instrument made by Griffin Tatlock London in 30s
By Griffin Tatlock ltd
Located in Milan, IT
Herschel actinometer, 1930s, wood and brass, signed Griffin & Tatlock ltd London. It is an instrument invented in 1825 by John Herschel and used for the measurement of the solar heat...
Category

1930s British Vintage Scientific Instruments

Materials

Wood

Antique 19th Century Folding English Medical Bloodletting Bleeder Fleam
Located in Stamford, CT
Antique 19th Century folding english medical or veterinary bloodletting bleeder fleam also known as phlebotomy, was a common medical practice for centuries, believed to cure a wide r...
Category

Late 19th Century English Antique Scientific Instruments

Materials

Brass, Steel

Curiosity Cabinet Naturalism Collection of Shell 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 French Scientific Instruments

Materials

Shell

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

Floor Standing Telescope by Piet G. Meesters
Located in Vlimmeren, BE
This beautiful floor standing telescope, 60mm f/15 NEDOPTIFA, dates from the 1930s and was made by Piet G. Meesters. One of the most famous Dutch amateur astronomers of the last cent...
Category

1930s Dutch Vintage Scientific Instruments

Materials

Brass, Iron

Vintage Human Body Educational Model / Anatomical Model, circa 1940s
Located in Lucenec, SK
Fantastic looking vintage anatomical model of a full human body on a black granite base. The height of the model with base (4 cm) is 82 cm. Unfortunately, removable parts are missing.
Category

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

Materials

Granite

Triangular Vintage White Opaline Art Glass and Brass Kaleidoscope
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
Vintage Art Glass and Brass Kaleidoscope. This white opaline kaleidoscope has triangular form and has a rotating blue glass ball for amazing effects.
Category

20th Century American Modern Scientific Instruments

Materials

Brass

Rare French Childs Leather Surgical Spinal Corset
Located in Godshill, Isle of Wight
We have two medical items here, they both date from the mid-19th century, the full upper body corset is a child’s size, it is formed in leather with nick...
Category

Mid-19th Century French Steampunk Antique Scientific Instruments

Materials

Leather

French 1940 s Equestrian Brass Mercury-in-Glass Thermometer
Located in Hanover, MA
Even Maria Pergay would have to respect the quality and artfulness of the brass-work on this wall hanging in the form of a stirrup suspended from a buckled harness made of hand rivet...
Category

1940s French Mid-Century Modern Vintage Scientific Instruments

Materials

Brass

Antique Cast Metal Figural Mechanical Robed Woman Dinner or Service Bell
Located in Hamilton, Ontario
This antique dinner or service counter bell is unsigned, but presumed to have originated from England and date to approximately 1900 and done in the period Edwardian style. The bell features a cast metal robed female holding up and two piece plated bell. The bell functions by turning the knob at the top which spins back and forth. This sculptural bell stands...
Category

Early 20th Century English Edwardian Scientific Instruments

Materials

Metal, Silver Plate, Steel

French 19th Century Bronze Wall Thermometer Attrib. to François Linke
Located in North Miami, FL
Original 19th Century wall mounted thermometer measuring in centigrade in the Louis XVI style. All bronze and very elegant thermometer attributed to François Linke. All weather m...
Category

Early 20th Century French Louis XVI Scientific Instruments

Materials

Bronze

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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