Scientific Instruments
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Scientific Instruments For Sale
Vintage Reichert Austria Microscope 241 653 in Wooden Box with Accessories
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Vintage Reichert Austria Microscope Number 241 653 in Wooden Box with Accessories as Pictured. Circa Late 20th Century. Measurements: Box: 14.5" H x 9" W x 10.5" D.
Category
Late 20th Century Art Deco Scientific Instruments
Materials
Metal
18th Century Medical Syringe
Located in London, GB
18th Century Medical Syringe
For historical medical use and dating from the 18th century, and certainly from the beginning of the 18th century. This hand-crafted example is made to...
Category
1780s Unknown Antique Scientific Instruments
Materials
Natural Fiber
19 century Islamic Persian Brass Celestial Globe
Located in New York, NY
19 century Persian celestial globe astrolabe mounted on axle, decorated with bands, Farsi inscriptions and animals, raised on four baluster shaped legs with secondary ring raised on...
Category
Early 20th Century Persian Scientific Instruments
Materials
Brass
Large Format Mahogany Studio Camera on Adjustable Stand c.1890-1930
Located in San Francisco, CA
ABOUT
An antique large format camera sitting on an articulating and geared stand. Camera has a Mahogany case constructed with dovetail joinery on solid Mahogany with brass track and...
Category
Late 19th Century American Industrial Antique Scientific Instruments
Materials
Brass, Iron
18th Century Louis XVI Giltwood Wall Barometer
Located in Vancouver, British Columbia
A beautifully carved and giltwood 18th century Louis XVI wall barometer having its original mercury tube and mechanism but presently with the mercury missing.
Category
Late 19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Scientific Instruments
Materials
Giltwood
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
1986 Enorme Telephone Handset by Ettore Sottsass
Located in Brooklyn, NY
A perfectly postmodern telephone handset designed by the Memphis Milano master, Ettore Sottsass, and produced in 1986. The Enorme telephone was the result of a collaboration between...
Category
Late 20th Century Post-Modern Scientific Instruments
Materials
Plastic
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
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
Antique Scientific Didactic Model of the Yew Seed, Germany made in the Twenties
Located in Milan, IT
Taxus baccata, enlarged and removable didactic model of the yew seed, tree very used as hedge, belonging to the order of the conifers. German manufacture of the twenties made of papi...
Category
1920s German Vintage Scientific Instruments
Materials
Wood
A scale weighs travel letters, France 1880.
Located in Milan, IT
A scale weighs travel letters of gilt brass, S-shaped round plate of gilt brass. Ring to hold it between the fingers of one hand and pliers to insert the travel letters to be weighed...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Scientific Instruments
Materials
Brass
Didactic Flower Model German Manufacture of 1860 circa Made of Painted Plaster
Located in Milan, IT
Didactic flower, German manufacture of 1860 circa, depicting Marchantia Polymorpha L., made of painted plaster on a wooden base; the seed is removab...
Category
1860s German Antique Scientific Instruments
Materials
Plaster
English Regency Gilt Figural and Ebonized Dital Harp, Maker E. Light, Circa 1815
Located in Hollywood, SC
English Regency gilt stenciled figural and floral ebonized dital harp signed by maker Edward Light. Retailed at Srohl Foley place London, Early 19th century.
Category
1810s English Regency Antique Scientific Instruments
Materials
Giltwood, Ebony, Wood, String
Art Deco Nudy Lady Thermometer
Located in Hamilton, Ontario
Celluloid nude lady Art Deco thermometer.
Category
20th Century Art Deco Scientific Instruments
French 19th Century Brass Fabric Scale on Wooden Base by the Maison Piat
Located in Atlanta, GA
A French brass fabric scale from the 19th century with wooden base, from the Maison Piat. Created in Paris during the 19th century, this fabric scale, made of brass, is mounted on a ...
Category
19th Century French Antique Scientific Instruments
Materials
Brass
Antique Student's Field Microscope, English, Scientific Interest, Edwardian
Located in Hele, Devon, GB
This is an antique student's field microscope. An English, brass scientific instrument in carry case, dating to the Edwardian period, circa 1910.
Superb brass instrument with fine ...
Category
Early 20th Century British Edwardian Scientific Instruments
Materials
Brass
Wall-Mounted Large Weather Station in Art Nouveau Style Carved Walnut Belgium
Located in Verviers, BE
Wall-mounted weather station in carved walnut made in Spa Belgium by Valentine Engel
High quality mechanism with Jeweled movement barometer and thermometer (in centigrade)
Unusual de...
Category
1910s Belgian Art Nouveau Vintage Scientific Instruments
Materials
Walnut
Antique 3 Draw Telescope, English, Fruitwood, Brass, Henry Hughes, Victorian
Located in Hele, Devon, GB
This is an antique 3 draw telescope. An English, fruitwood and brass terrestrial refractor by H. Hughes, dating to the early Victorian period, circa 1850.
Perfect for bird watching...
Category
Mid-19th Century British Early Victorian Antique Scientific Instruments
Materials
Brass
Wooden box containing a travel surgical set, signed Galante, Paris 1870.
Located in Milan, IT
Oak wood box, containing a set of 8 iron surgical instruments, equipped with black horn and rosewood handles. Signed H.Galante & fils. Paris, France circa 1870.
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Scientific Instruments
Materials
Iron
English Silver Plated Bronze Barometer Covered with Hand-Sewn Leather
Located in Marbella, ES
English Silver Plated Bronze Barometer Covered with Hand-Sewn Leather
Category
Late 20th Century English Scientific Instruments
Materials
Aluminum, Bronze
19th Century Bronze and Lead Weight in its Interior of Seven Pounds
Located in Marbella, ES
19th Century Bronze and Lead Weight in its Interior of Seven Pounds
Category
Late 20th Century English Scientific Instruments
Materials
Bronze
Decorative French Ceramic Thermometer by Mithê Espelt (circa 1960s)
By Mithé Espelt
Located in London, GB
Decorative, French vintage ceramic thermometer and casing by Mithé Espelt (circa 1960s). A delightful piece with stylised French coq and castle motifs. The hen is in a lovely deep gr...
Category
1960s French Vintage Scientific Instruments
Materials
Ceramic
19th Century French Iron Balance - Antique Small Brass Scale
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A small, antique French intricate brass balance with different weights in solid brass, in good condition. The iron scale is topped with the original polished brass plates. The scale ...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Scientific Instruments
Materials
Metal, Brass, Iron
Rare 1914 Industrial cast Iron Lawn Sprinkler/Sculpture Pennsylvania Rainmaker
Located in Buffalo, NY
Rare 1914 Industrial cast Iron Lawn Sprinkler/Sculpture Pennsylvania Rainmaker, 40 years and I have never seen one,, Amazing piece of industrial design / sculpture , Would make a gr...
Category
1910s American Industrial Vintage Scientific Instruments
Materials
Iron
Small French 20th Century Terrestrial Globe on Turned Black Wooden Base
Located in Atlanta, GA
A small French terrestrial globe from the 20th century, with metal protractor and circular black wooden base. Created in France during the 20th century, this terrestrial globe is con...
Category
20th Century French Scientific Instruments
Materials
Metal
A set of botanical models of a plant embryo, Fisons Scientific, London UK 1930.
Located in Milan, IT
A set of five botanical models depicting in numbered sequence the development of a vegetal embryo. Made out of hand painted plaster, the models are mounted on a wooden base. T. Gerra...
Category
Mid-20th Century English Scientific Instruments
Materials
Plaster, Wood
Bilancia Da Farmacia Inglese F E Becker & CO Entro Teca Inizio 1900
By F. E. Becker & Co
Located in Milan, IT
Antica Bilancia Da Farmacia F. E. Becker & CO conservata entro una teca a giorno costruita in legno e vetro. Alla bilancia si accede sollevando l’antina frontale, dopo di che si può ...
Category
Early 20th Century Scientific Instruments
Materials
Brass
Vintage 2 Draw Telescope, English, Leather, Brass, Terrestrial Refractor, C.1960
Located in Hele, Devon, GB
This is a vintage 2 draw telescope. An English, leather on brass terrestrial refractor, dating to the mid 20th century, circa 1960.
Perfect for bird watching, landscape appreciatio...
Category
Mid-20th Century British Mid-Century Modern Scientific Instruments
Materials
Brass
Antique Art Nouveau Barometer, Sheraton Inlaid Aneroid Barometer, Scotland, 1910
Located in Vancouver, BC
Antique Art Nouveau barometer, Sheraton inlaid aneroid barometer, Scotland 1910, H143
Scotland, 1910
Solid Walnut and veneer
The Walnut case is inlaid with exotic fruitwood
Porcelai...
Category
1910s Scottish Vintage Scientific Instruments
Materials
Walnut
Antique Danish SNTS Morse Telegraph Round Relay of brass and mahogany
Located in Sweden, SE
The telegraph relay made in late 19th century by The Great Northern Telegraph Company (Det Store Nordiske Telegrafselskab A / S) that was founded in Denmark in June 1869. It was set ...
Category
Late 19th Century Danish Art Deco Antique Scientific Instruments
Materials
Brass
An Antique Brass Library Telescope With Tripod
Located in New York, NY
A large brass library telescope with a tripod of three folding metal legs. The telescope consists of 3 sections. The first and largest is the main body of the telescope, the second i...
Category
19th Century English Victorian Antique Scientific Instruments
Materials
Brass, Iron
A Rare Victorian Johnston Patent Optometer Device
Located in New York, NY
A rare Victorian-era optometer device patented by George Johnston of Detroit, Michigan in 1882. This device was used to determine the strength of lenses needed for eyeglasses by meas...
Category
Late 19th Century American Late Victorian Antique Scientific Instruments
Materials
Brass, Steel
A German Combination Compass With Sundial
Located in New York, NY
An 18th century German combination compass and sundial, complete with its original box. The inside of the cloth and leather box is affixed with a medallion listing various cities alo...
Category
18th Century German Antique Scientific Instruments
Materials
Brass
Edmé Beauchêne disarticulated human skull with museum provenance, France
Located in Leuven , BE
Edmé François Chauvot de Beauchêne (1780, Île-de-France – 1830, Paris), was a French physician, surgeon and anatomist. He was Chief of l'hopital Saint-Antoine Paris, the Deputy Chief...
Category
19th Century French Antique Scientific Instruments
Materials
Brass
A Victorian Brass Microscope By J.P. Cutts & Sons
Located in New York, NY
A Victorian English brass microscope marked ‘J. P. Cutts & Sons / Opticians to her Majesty / Sheffield’. The company operated for most of the 19th Century under many variations of th...
Category
Mid-19th Century English Victorian Antique Scientific Instruments
Materials
Brass
19th Century French Glazed Porcelain Water Filter Pharmacy Display Item
Located in Dallas, TX
This antique ceramic water filter, complete with pewter spout and lid, was created in Provence, France, circa 1870. In the old days, it was used as a promotional display in a Pharmac...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Scientific Instruments
Materials
Ceramic, Porcelain
Antique Danish SNTS Morse Telegraph Register Wheatstone transmitter
Located in Sweden, SE
The telegraph apparatus made in late 19th century and was driven by weight on chain like Old Father clock.
The brass and steel instrument is state of the art creation by legendary Da...
Category
Late 19th Century Danish Art Deco Antique Scientific Instruments
Materials
Brass
Leiden bottle from the second half of the 19th century holds electrical charges
Located in Milan, IT
Leiden bottle from the second half of the 19th century, this is an electrical component that accumulates and stores a high-voltage electrical charge by means of an external source ...
Category
1880s Antique Scientific Instruments
Materials
Glass
Early 19th Century Gilt Brass Spy Glass Telescope
Located in Lincolnshire, GB
A fine example of a early 19th century pocket spy glass telescope signed by Ebsworth, London.
Category
Early 19th Century English Antique Scientific Instruments
Materials
Brass
A Very Rare and Fine 19th Century Telescope by Browns of Glasgow
Located in Dublin, IE
A very rare 19th Century lacquered brass telescope by Browns of Glasgow. This stunning three draw brass telescope is of exceptional quality, in full working order with a spare astro...
Category
19th Century Scottish Antique Scientific Instruments
Materials
Brass
Leiden bottle second half of the 19th century accumulates preserves electrical charges
Located in Milan, IT
Leiden bottle from the second half of the 19th century is about an electrical component that accumulates and stores a high-voltage electrical charge by means of an external source ...
Category
1880s Antique Scientific Instruments
Materials
Glass
Engraved boxwood sun clock English manufacture mid-19th century.
Located in Milan, IT
Engraved boxwood diptych sun clock with brass hinges and locking hooks, book-shaped, mid-19th-century English manufacture. The clock has an orientation compass inserted in the base w...
Category
Mid-19th Century Antique Scientific Instruments
Materials
Wood
English oak wall-mounted aneroid barometer signed Smiths 1940s
Located in Milan, IT
aneroid barometer square-shaped wall-mounted English oak wood signed Smiths from the 1940s.
Good working condition. Measures 20x20x 5 cm - inche 7.9x7.9x2.
The last photo is the ...
Category
1940s Vintage Scientific Instruments
Materials
Wood
Wall-Mounted Large Weather Station in Art Nouveau Style Carved Walnut Belgium
Located in Verviers, BE
Art Deco Style Barometer with Mercury Thermometer Weather Station Antique Decorative Cherrywood Wall Barometer Austria 1920s
Please don't hesitate to get in touch with any further q...
Category
1920s Austrian Art Deco Vintage Scientific Instruments
Materials
Brass
Bussola magnetica da topografo da viaggio in legno di rovere e ottone metà '800
Located in Milan, IT
Bussola magnetica da topografo e da viaggio, in legno di rovere e ottone; strumento costituito da un ago calamitato libero di ruotare su un piano orizzontale segnando con la punta de...
Category
Mid-19th Century Antique Scientific Instruments
Materials
Wood
Iron pharmacy mortar. 18th-19th centuries.
Located in Madrid, ES
Iron pharmacy mortar. 18th-19th centuries.
Old mortar for pharmaceutical use, made of cast iron. It follows the usual structure for this type of utensil between the 15th and 19th ce...
Category
19th Century Spanish Neoclassical Revival Antique Scientific Instruments
Materials
Iron
Wall-Mounted Large Weather Station in Art Nouveau Style Carved Walnut Belgium
Located in Verviers, BE
Wall-mounted weather station in carved walnut made in Liege Belgium by G.Tart.
High quality mechanism with Jeweled movement barometer and thermometer (in centigrade)
Unusual design ...
Category
1910s Belgian Art Nouveau Vintage Scientific Instruments
Materials
Walnut
Vintage Hydroway Scales Inc, HydroScale 1000 Pound Crane Weigh Scale
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Vintage Hydroway Scales Inc, HydroScale 1000 Pound Crane Weigh Scale. Item itself weighs approx 40-50 lbs. Circa Late 20th Century. Measurements: 13.5" H x 13.5" W x 8" D
Category
Late 20th Century Industrial Scientific Instruments
Materials
Iron
English 20th Century Iron Armillary Held by the Titan Atlas on Stone Pedestal
Located in Atlanta, GA
An English iron armillary depicting Atlas carrying the world from the early 20th century, with carved stone pedestal. Created in England during the 20th century, this armillary featu...
Category
20th Century English Scientific Instruments
Materials
Stone, Iron
5 dial Elegant Victorian Barometer First half of 19th century by P Corti Exeter
Located in Sweden, SE
Literally “Weather Station” (known as a '5 dial' type wheel barometer) incorporates, wheel Barometer with silvered barometer dial finely engraved, encased in a cast bezel and covered...
Category
Early 19th Century British Victorian Antique Scientific Instruments
Materials
Silver Plate, Brass
Rare paradoxical planetarium of Jupiter and the Medici satellites, France 1840.
Located in Milan, IT
This rare paradoxical planetarium demonstrates the rotation and revolution motion of the system of the planet Jupiter and the Medici satellites. The base is made of ebonized fruit wo...
Category
Mid-19th Century French Antique Scientific Instruments
Materials
Brass
Piccola bussola da viaggio in ottone con coperchio manifattura francese anni '20
Located in Milan, IT
Piccola bussola da viaggio in ottone con coperchio, strumento costituito da un ago calamitato libero di ruotare su un piano orizzontale segnando la direzione del Nord magnetico.
Ros...
Category
1920s Vintage Scientific Instruments
Materials
Brass
Early 19th century equinoctial sundial clock signed S. Yeates 1762-1834
Located in Milan, IT
Rare early 19th-century equinoctial sundial in turned and engraved brass, signed Samuel Yeates Dublin (1762-1834).
Good working condition. Measures 9.5x2 cm - inches 3.8x0.7.
The la...
Category
1810s Antique Scientific Instruments
Materials
Brass
Antique Wooden Plate, Wabi Sabi Style, Scandinavia, 1800s
Located in Hønefoss, 30
A wonderful wooden wabi sabi plate from Scandinavia, circa 1800s. In good vintage condition showing beautiful patina from age and use.
Measures:
Ø: 2...
Category
19th Century Norwegian Romantic Antique Scientific Instruments
Materials
Wood
Set of Three Victorian Set Squares, C. 1880
Located in High Point, NC
This is a set of three antique shipwright's set squares. The squares are made from rosewood and have brass caps. They are right-angled tools, dating to the Victorian period, circa 1...
Category
19th Century English Victorian Antique Scientific Instruments
Materials
Brass, Steel
Edison 35mm Projecting Kinetoscope, Hand Crank Patented 1897, Built Ca. 1910 OBO
By Thomas A. Edison
Located in Dallas, US
Submitted for your consideration is this 1897 designed & patented, Circa 1910 built, Edison Projecting Kinetoscope.
This circa 1910 Improved Exhibition Model 35mm projection machine...
Category
1890s American Art Nouveau Antique Scientific Instruments
Materials
Metal
1900s French Metal Scale
Located in High Point, NC
This 1900s French Metal Scale is an enchanting piece of historical craftsmanship, designed to bring a timeless aesthetic to any setting. Constructed with a durable, iron base that ha...
Category
Early 20th Century French Scientific Instruments
Materials
Metal
Traveler's pocket compass, Victorian-era turned brass
Located in Milan, IT
Traveler's pocket compass, Victorian-era turned brass, late 19th century England, rose on sixteen-twenty copperplate engraving paper complete with goniometric circle.
Conservation s...
Category
1890s Antique 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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Patent Model Antique
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Telescope London
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Wooden Instrument Case