European Scientific Instruments

Bronze Apothecary mortar, fitted with mortar pestle. Italy early 18th century.

17th century Dutch bronze mortar, dated 1632 and with border text "lof God van al anno 1632". Height 12.5 cm, Diameter 14 cm

This is a vintage stereoscope bar parallax. An English, brass scientific instrument for measuring depth in aerial photographs or maps, by JM Glauser & Sons of London, dating to the m...

Brass adjustable desk magnifier 20th century Elegant desktop magnifying glass made of golden brass, with original magnifying glass and very ...

Highest quality and minimalistic design tape measure in a solid leather casing. Around the late 1930s to 1940s, Germany. Sturdy seams and leather remind of Hermès and is decorative i...

Early 20th Century antique Colmont French FT binoculars with leather and brass. Binoculars, also known as field glasses, have a rich history dating back to the early 17th century, be...

Rare large barometer complete with clock signed Silvani Brighton, dated from 1820 and 1835. Finely crafted mahogany wood case with double thread at th...

Vintage Metal Oil Can. An automotive oil can made by Wesco, Birmingham. A fantastic piece of vintage motoring ephemera, the perfect gift for the motoring enthusiast. Who would have t...

This cast iron scale was made in France, circa 1900. A ubiquitous classic in the home or the market, scales of these dimensions were commonly used to weig...

This is a vintage surveyor's level. An English, brass scientific instrument with enamelled finish, dating to the mid 20th century, circa 1950. Appe...

This is an antique apothecary mortar and pestle. An English, brass chemist's shop aid, dating to the early Victorian period, circa 1850. ...

1920's Gladstone Bag in perfect condition. The bag closings are in perfect shape and condition and everything works perfectly. The bag has some minor spots but for the age of the bag...

This is a vintage pair of binoculars. A Scottish, enamelled brass racecourse spotter's binocular with leather case, dating to the early 20th century, circa 1930. Fascinating set of ...

Wooden barometer with cedar wood trim at the edges, signed Caux Opticien Rue Rivoli près du Louvre Paris, mid-19th century; dial with the meteorological indications on paper printed ...

This is a fine set of antique apothecary weighing scales. An English, brass, mahogany and walnut countertop balance for the tobacconist or chemist’s shop, dating to the early Victori...

This early 1900s French Metal Scale is an evocative piece of history that marries function with rustic charm. Featuring a robust metal frame with an aged, weathered patina, the scale...

This is an antique rotary wrap reel machine. An English, brass and cast iron factory cotton skein winder by John Nesbitt of Manchester, dating to the late...

This authentic early 20th-century coffee grinder was crafted in France by Peugeot Frères, renowned for their exceptional cast iron mills long before they became famous for automobiles. Stamped with the original oval brass badge reading “Peugeot Frères, Valentigney (Doubs)”, this piece was produced in the company’s historic foundry in eastern France. The cast iron body features deeply embossed lettering: “Peugeot Frères Brevetés S.G.D.G.”, a French patent mark meaning “Patented Without Government Guarantee,” used between 1844 and 1968. The top grinding chamber is enclosed by a domed lid, while the open bevel gear mechanism is powered by a curved crank fitted with a worn, turned wood handle. Below, a single walnut drawer in warm hardwood collects the freshly ground coffee, accented by a decorative turned knob. With its crisp castings, sculptural industrial form, and rich patina, this antique Peugeot...

ABOUT An original pair of leather wrapped expandable binoculars with "Marquise Paris" embossed in the center. Leather case with brass studs. The lens expands out to sharpen the view...

This is a pair of antique opera glasses. An English, leather and brass binocular by Ross of London, dating to the early 20th century, circa 1920....

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...

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...

George III Mahogany Banjo Barometer By Edie & Son. Edinburgh Alexander James Adie FRSE MWS (7 November 1775, Edinburgh – 4 December 1858, Edinburgh) was a Scottish maker of medical ...

This is an antique pestle and mortar set. An English, brass chemist shop instrument, dating to the early Victorian period, circa 1850. Dashing Victori...

Elegant vintage Boulle-style desk telephone with fine brass details and decorative inlays on a tortoiseshell effect background. The square body made of fine wood is embellished with ...

The cup shaped cast body decorated with incised ring-turned detail, rising from a waisted & stepped circular foot, together with its original pestle. Combined weight, 3.75 lbs.  

A collection of human gold teeth, with two having their original metal pegs. Most gold teeth are of a particularly high carrot, and these are heavy to hold. Tarnished and untouched,...

About A late 19th century balance scale. The body is Mahogany with two brass trays, brass and glass window and bronze inner mechanism. Th...

A stylish armillary sphere - sundial raised upon two architecturally shaped blocks of red/maroon onyx marble. It has a small bronze plaque saying in Danish 'Do as I, count only the l...

Designed in the French Rococo style, this clock and barometer set have been beautifully ornamented with scrolling foliate gilt bronze forms. The two are diamond shaped, with symmetri...

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 ...

Scultetus amputation saw, late 17th century, early 18th century. It measures 32cm in length, with an 11cm blade. The blade can be removed by loosening the two screws, which are in go...

A fine 3" Gregorian telescope by Springer of Bristol, although signed this model is very similar to examples we have had by George Adams and could have been made by him for Springer ...

This is a large antique 2-draw telescope. An English, terrestrial or maritime ‘Day or Night’ instrument by Richardson of London, dating to the Regency period, circa 1820. Perfect fo...

This antique Victorian knife cleaning and sharpening machine was made by Kent's of London England in circa 1880 in the period Victorian style. The machine is composed of two sharpening stones...

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 ...

Early twentieth century library barometer with rope carved case. Great old piece. Fitted with a brass hanging tab. Circa 1920.

Antique Drawing Instrument Set in Rosewood Box, France, 1900. A wonderful set of drawing instruments / calipers / compasses to draw and dr...

2 English Renaissance-style (20th Century) etched pewter hour glass. (PRICED EACH)

This is a vintage egg timer. An English, brass and glass 3 minute sand countdown, dating to the mid 20th century, circa 1960. Charming vintage timer set w...

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...

Ptolemaic armillary sphere Charles-François Delamarche Paris, ante 1798 Wood and papier-mâché covered with printed and partly hand-colored paper It measures 16.37 in in height x Ø 10.94 in (41.60 cm - Ø 27.80 cm) It weights 2.33 lb (1,058 g) State of conservation: consistent with its age and use, the paper shows some signs of use, stains and abrasions. The sphere is Ptolemaic, with the Earth placed at its center, surrounded by the Moon and the Sun mounted on two metal arms. The sphere is composed of six horizontal and two vertical rings (armillae), each bearing graduations and its own name. The first horizontal ring is illegible. The others, in descending order are: North Pole, Tropic of Cancer, Equator, Tropic of Capricorn, South Pole. The vertical rings consist of two double meridians. The sphere is then connected to the large meridian by two pins, a vertical ring inserted perpendicularly into the circle of the Horizon, in turn supported by four semicircles connected to the turned and black-stained wooden base. Each element is covered with printed paper. It contains various pieces of information: latitudes, length of days, names and zodiac symbols, calendar, wind directions, etc. The vertical circles mention the latitudes and longitudes of different cities: Rome, Bordeaux, Madrid, Boston, Batavia (Jakarta), Acapulco, etc. Even the small terrestrial globe is covered with printed paper: continents and oceans appear with numerous geographical markings indicating the most recent explorations. In the Pacific Ocean, west of South America bears the following inscription: GLOBE TERRESTRIAL à Paris chez Delamarche Géog Rue du Foin Jacques Au Collège de M.e Gervais The North American coasts are well delineated and California appears correctly as a peninsula - reports from Spanish explorers in the region had given rise to confusion as to whether it was connected to the mainland or not. The geographical nature of California was confirmed after the explorations of Juan Bautista de Anza (1774-1776). Alaska is not described and is only partially traced; it would become part of the United States in 1867. Various Pacific islands are indicated. Australia (the name definitely used from 1824) is called "Nouvelle Hollande." Tasmania is still represented as a peninsula and this is an important detail for the dating of our armillary sphere. The island is separated from Australia by Bass Strait, which was crossed by Matthew Flinders for the first time in 1798, showing that it was not a peninsula. Delamarche certainly would not have waited a long time to update such an important geographical datum: presumably he did so shortly after receiving the news. Charles-François Delamarche (1740-1817) founded his laboratory around 1770 and, in a few years, he became the most famous French cartographer and globe maker between the 18th and 19th centuries. After having acquired the laboratory of the late Didier Robert de Vaugondy (1723-1786; himself a renowned cartographer who continued the family business founded by his grandfather Nicolas Sanson in the seventeenth century) and after having purchased, between 1788 and around 1800, the businesses of Jean-Baptiste Fortin (1750-1831) and Jean Lattré (around 1750-1800), he began to call himself "Successeur de MM. Sanson and Robert de Vaugondi, Géographes du Roi and de M. Fortin, Ingénieur-mécanicien du Roi pour les globes et les sphères." Thus, at the end of the eighteenth century, Delamarche possessed the warehouse stocks, as well as the manufacturing skills of the globes of his main rivals in Paris. In addition to this aggressive acquisition policy, the key to its success also lay in the combination of high-quality cartography combined with extremely attractive globes and armillary spheres; and, of course, its famous red paint finishing touch. His laboratory was located on Rue de Foin St Jacques "au Collège Me. (or "Mtre") Gervais" in the Latin Quarter of Paris until around 1805, when he moved to rue du Jardinet No. 13. On the death of Charles-François in 1817, the reins of the company passed to his son Félix (1779-1835), who continued to publish, often in collaboration with the engraver Charles Dien, Sr. In 1835 the company first moved to rue du Jardinet No. 12 and a little later to rue du Battoir No. 7. Bibliography: Dekker, Elly, et al. Globes at Greenwich...

Pretty as a picture and in outstanding condition, this lovely pair of early twentieth century opera glasses come complete with their original case (wear commensurate with age). Th...

This fine, antique mantel clock is constructed in ebonised wood by the renowned Parisian maker of automata, Xavier Tharin (French, active mid 19th Century). The clock face is set onto a curled, stylized pediment atop the clock case. The face is of white enamel, featuring black Roman numerals and signed 'Tharin a Paris', and is bordered in beaded ormolu. The pediment in which the face is set is decorated with ormolu mounts of stylized acanthus leaf form. The pediment is set onto a rectangular frame of ebonised wood, inside which is set a musical automaton...

Huger West Germany meteobar design in years '60 rare and real fine skeleton barometer the barometer is in brass and is perfect vintage and original, working condition

A 19th century French counter or grocer’s scale with two brass trays mounted on a white marble top. This wonderful antique instrument was used to measure various ingredients and prod...

This is an early and high quality hand-painted plaster antique anatomical model of an adult human head. I would date this to 1900. The detail...

Vertical mirror galvanometer made in 1850 circa, oak and glass, three adjustable screws at the base. Tool constituted by a magnet bar movable inside a coil and connected to a needle. In the absence of current the needle is positioned vertically while when the coil is crossed by the current it creates a magnetic field that moves the needle. This type of galvanometer was used for measurement of insulation of telegraph cables...

Mid-Century Brass Barometer, 1950s Working and in good condition.

A fine example of a silver Butterfield type sundial in the original green shagreen case. The finely engraved dial has Premier cadran (first dial) engraved with the city names and lat...

A botanic didactical model, depicting a Solarum Tuberosum flower, pale pink color, made out of papier machè, plaster and wood, hand painted. Extremely detailed. Paravia, Milan, Italy...

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.

Gilt-bronze and Tortoiseshell Clock and Barometer set by Gleizes French, 19th Century Height 115cm, width 30cm, depth 7cm In the Louis XV style, t...

An essential tool in the creation and finishing of furniture, this 19th-century English ornamental lathe is an object of beauty in and of itself. The extraordinary machine...

Pair of wonderfully aged brass field binoculars with moveable brass eye shields, which help to give clearer views without additional light coming through the sides. This pair of bin...

AMBIANIC presents Vintage Colmont FT Paris binoculars Colmont a French optical company known for producing high-quality binoculars  leather-covered body maker stamp present 7.75 x 5 ...

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 ...

This is a beautiful and decorative 1800 magic lantern full boxed set. It was created by Ernst Plank and each slide box is signed. It comes with an amazing ...

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...

Didactic flower, German manufacture of 1860 circa, depicting Marchantia Polymorpha L., made of painted plaster on a wooden base; the seed is removab...