Early 18th Century Scientific Instruments

A fine and rare Queen Anne walnut barometer, unsigned, but exhibiting all the stylistic characteristics of the first quarter of the 18th century, circa 1705-1710. Made in the manner ...

This is an antique chemist's mortar & pestle. An English, weathered bronze apothecary aid, dating to the early Georgian period, circa 1720. Superb, 300 year old example with appeal...

The hourglass cage displays hexagonal bases. Six smooth iron columns complete the cage. Inside the glass bulbs joined in the center by a ring of fabric and rope. Germany, early 1700s.

The hourglass cage displays octagonal bases, dressed in a red velvet cushion. Eight smooth iron columns complete the cage. Inside the glass bulbs joined in the center by a ring of fa...

A rare unsigned ebonised fruitwood and brass-mounted siphon tube barometer. The barrel-shaped cistern base has the brass adjustment knob in the base and a gilt-brass collet at the to...

Compass Pierre de Baillou Milan, first quarter of the 18th century Brass, steel and glass It measures 3.81 in x 3.81 x 0.59 (9.7 cm x 9.7 x 1.5) It weights 0.57 lb (259 g) State of conservation: some signs of use and some slight scratches on both the metal and the glass. The whole instrument is made of brass, apart from the glass cover and the magnetic steel needle. The cup of the compass has a lid and is attached to a square plate; inside the wind rose is engraved and the cardinal points are marked. The square plate is graduated 0 ° / 360 ° around the compass and is divided into four vertices, bearing the inscription: Pierre de Baillou Fait à Milan A shaped radial hand, which pivots between the cup and the plate, acts as a movable indicator. Nothing is known of the biography and activity of Pierre de Baillou. The fact that he signed a scientific instrument, defining it "made in Milan", allows us to hypothesize with some certainty that he was related to François de Baillou (Milan, 1700-1774), a Milanese optician and one of the most famous manufacturers of telescopes and microscopes of his time. Descending from a French family who had settled in Milan, François was nominated Royal Optician by Empress Maria Theresa in 1750. Pierre was probably his relative - perhaps his father - and may have started his business as a manufacturer of scientific instruments in Milan. This was then continued by François. A compass of proportions signed by Pierre is present in the collections of the Civic Collections of Applied Art of the Castello Sforzesco (Tullio Tomba, La collezione Scientifica delle civiche raccolte del Castello Sforzesco, in Rassegna di Studi e di Notizie, 1973, p. 114). A brass sundial from the first quarter of the 18th century signed Pierre Baillou Fait à Milan is kept at the Poldi Pezzoli museum in Milan (inv. 4141). Anthony John...

This interesting and rare 18th Century astronomy print represents an eclipse of the Sun and one of the Moon. Entitled " The Zodiac and Eclyptics", it explains what the Zodiac is and its main uses. The french texts develop numerous observations on the Zodiac. In the centre we find the illustrations of the different eclipses. The text and the drawing are surrounded by an engraved frame made up of various plants and shell motifs but also of scientific objects...

Cartographer from Germany 1678-1757. Hand colored. Gilt wood frame. Estate of William Hodgins.

A good example of an Martin of Augsberg equinoctial pocket sundial in original leather and velvet lined case. The well engraved dial has silvered hour ring and gilt brass with a numb...

Bronze mortar and pestle. 17th or 18th century Measures: Mortar height: 4 inches Pestle height: 7.5 inches.

Early 18th century bronze sundial. Dated 1710. Continental.

Pharmacy mortar. Bronze. Spain, 1706. Mortar with flared mouth, conical body and base separated from the front by moldings that are repeated before th...