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Clocks, Barometers & Scientific Instruments

Freeman's | Hindman’s Clocks, Barometers and Scientific Instruments department handles objects relating to horology, antique measuring tools, meteorological instruments, surveying equipment, medical and quackery tools and maritime objects.

These items are handled through our European Furniture and Decorative Arts auctions, in addition to select Scientific Instrument sales that Freeman's | Hindman holds for larger single-owner collections. The objects within the sales originate from all over the globe and span from the 17th century to modern times.

Department Highlights

A German Brass and Black Lacquered Microscope Height 13 1/2 inches.

Lot

A German Brass and Black Lacquered Microscope
R. FUESS, BERLIN, EARLY 20TH CENTURY
Height 13 1/2 inches.
Sold For
$16,250
An American Tellurium

Lot

An American Tellurium
Sold For
$6,875
A George III Portable Table Orrery

Lot

A George III Portable Table Orrery 
Sold For
$20,000
A French Gilt Metal and Onyx Mounted Compound Congreve Waterwheel Clock, Thermometer and Barometer

Lot

A French Gilt Metal and Onyx Mounted Compound Congreve Waterwheel Clock, Thermometer and Barometer
Sold For
$16,875
A Continental Brass and Enameled Orrery

Lot

A Continental Brass and Enameled Orrery
Sold For
$8,125
An English Brass Mounted Orrery

Lot

An English Brass Mounted Orrery
Sold For
$7,500
A French Porcelain Mounted Gilt Bronze Singing Bird Automaton Clock

Lot

A French Porcelain Mounted Gilt Bronze Singing Bird Automaton Mantel Clock, Attributed to Bontems, Circa 1875,
Height 26 1/4 inches.
Sold For
$28,750
A Large Chelsea Ship's Bell Mantel Clock

Lot

A Large Chelsea Ship's Bell Mantel Clock
Sold For
$12,500
A Rare and Impressive Live Steam 7 1/4-Inch Gauge Painted Metal Great Western Railway-Class 6000: King George V Locomotive and Ride-On Tender

Lot

A Rare and Impressive Live Steam 7 1/4-Inch Gauge Painted Metal Great Western Railway-Class 6000: King George V Locomotive and Ride-On Tender
Sold For
$17,500
A German Brass and Black Lacquered Microscope Height 13 1/2 inches.

Lot

A German Brass and Black Lacquered Microscope
R. FUESS, BERLIN, EARLY 20TH CENTURY
Height 13 1/2 inches.
Sold For
$16,250
An American Tellurium

Lot

An American Tellurium
Sold For
$6,875
A George III Portable Table Orrery

Lot

A George III Portable Table Orrery 
Sold For
$20,000
A French Gilt Metal and Onyx Mounted Compound Congreve Waterwheel Clock, Thermometer and Barometer

Lot

A French Gilt Metal and Onyx Mounted Compound Congreve Waterwheel Clock, Thermometer and Barometer
Sold For
$16,875
A Continental Brass and Enameled Orrery

Lot

A Continental Brass and Enameled Orrery
Sold For
$8,125
An English Brass Mounted Orrery

Lot

An English Brass Mounted Orrery
Sold For
$7,500
A French Porcelain Mounted Gilt Bronze Singing Bird Automaton Clock

Lot

A French Porcelain Mounted Gilt Bronze Singing Bird Automaton Mantel Clock, Attributed to Bontems, Circa 1875,
Height 26 1/4 inches.
Sold For
$28,750
A Large Chelsea Ship's Bell Mantel Clock

Lot

A Large Chelsea Ship's Bell Mantel Clock
Sold For
$12,500
A Rare and Impressive Live Steam 7 1/4-Inch Gauge Painted Metal Great Western Railway-Class 6000: King George V Locomotive and Ride-On Tender

Lot

A Rare and Impressive Live Steam 7 1/4-Inch Gauge Painted Metal Great Western Railway-Class 6000: King George V Locomotive and Ride-On Tender
Sold For
$17,500
A German Brass and Black Lacquered Microscope Height 13 1/2 inches.

Lot

A German Brass and Black Lacquered Microscope
R. FUESS, BERLIN, EARLY 20TH CENTURY
Height 13 1/2 inches.
Sold For
$16,250
An American Tellurium

Lot

An American Tellurium
Sold For
$6,875
A George III Portable Table Orrery

Lot

A George III Portable Table Orrery 
Sold For
$20,000
A French Gilt Metal and Onyx Mounted Compound Congreve Waterwheel Clock, Thermometer and Barometer

Lot

A French Gilt Metal and Onyx Mounted Compound Congreve Waterwheel Clock, Thermometer and Barometer
Sold For
$16,875
A Continental Brass and Enameled Orrery

Lot

A Continental Brass and Enameled Orrery
Sold For
$8,125
An English Brass Mounted Orrery

Lot

An English Brass Mounted Orrery
Sold For
$7,500
A French Porcelain Mounted Gilt Bronze Singing Bird Automaton Clock

Lot

A French Porcelain Mounted Gilt Bronze Singing Bird Automaton Mantel Clock, Attributed to Bontems, Circa 1875,
Height 26 1/4 inches.
Sold For
$28,750
A Large Chelsea Ship's Bell Mantel Clock

Lot

A Large Chelsea Ship's Bell Mantel Clock
Sold For
$12,500
A Rare and Impressive Live Steam 7 1/4-Inch Gauge Painted Metal Great Western Railway-Class 6000: King George V Locomotive and Ride-On Tender

Lot

A Rare and Impressive Live Steam 7 1/4-Inch Gauge Painted Metal Great Western Railway-Class 6000: King George V Locomotive and Ride-On Tender
Sold For
$17,500
1 / 9
Full Biography Headshot of Corbin Horn
Corbin Horn
Vice President, Head of Department, European Furniture & Decorative Arts
Mr. Horn joined the firm in 2009 and has directed numerous sales of important collections, including those of Lilly Pulitzer, Lord Anthony and Lady Jacobs, Lars Bolander, Casa de Sueños in Miami Beach, and Villa Massei in Lucca, Italy. He has also achieved record results for consignments from prominent institutions, including the Toledo Museum of Art, the High Museum of Art, the Detroit Institute of Arts and the Minnesota Historical Society. Mr. Horn is a member of the Antiquarian Society of the Art Institute of Chicago and is an alumnus of the Attingham Trust.
Full Biography Headshot of Ben Fisher
Ben Fisher
Managing Director, Furniture and Decorative Arts
Mr. Fisher rejoined the firm in 2019 after working as a specialist in the American Furniture and Folk Art department at Sotheby’s New York. His areas of expertise include 18th, 19th, and 20th century American, Continental, and English furniture, decorative and folk art. Before coming to Hindman in 2013, Mr. Fisher worked in European Furniture and Decorative Arts in Philadelphia. He began his career working for a prints dealer focusing on works from the 16th through the 20th centuries.
Full Biography Headshot of Nick Coombs
Nick Coombs
Senior Specialist, Clocks, Barometers & Scientific Instruments
Nick Coombs is a senior specialist in the Clocks, Barometers & Scientific Instruments department at Freeman's | Hindman.
Prior to joining Freeman's | Hindman in 2014, Mr. Coombs worked for PCGS Currency in Peoria, Illinois, where he was responsible for the grading and authentication of paper money. This enabled him to travel to dozens of coin and currency shows a year and develop a lifelong passion for numismatics. In addition to heading the Coins, Medals & Banknotes department at Freeman's | Hindman, Mr. Coombs works closely with the Furniture & Decorative Arts departments and has directed auctions for philatelics, memorabilia, scientific instruments and fountain pens. He received a BA in art history from the University of Wisconsin–Madison and a master of letters in art and art world practice from the University of Glasgow.

Request a Complimentary Estimate

You are welcome to submit items electronically or to contact any of our offices below directly. Our specialists are eager to help you learn more about your collection and current auction sale estimates. To begin an estimate, our specialists will need:

At least 3 photos
Detailed description
Signatures or mark details
Request An Estimate

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Chicago
Hindman Headquarters
1550 W Carroll Ave
Chicago, IL 60607
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Tel: 312 280 1212 support@hindmanauctions.com
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