BEAUTIFUL THEN & AWAYS GIFTS

We collected a beautiful list of gifts for science lovers. We went low-tech this time.

 

1. STAGHORN CORAL WITH BARNACLES

 

Give an ancient piece or the sea. This barnacle encrusted staghorn coral is an extraordinary specimen, collected in the last century. FInd it at 1st Dibs.

Photo: Courtesy of Ruby Lane. Bausch and Son set.

2. BAROMETER, ALTIMETER, COMPASS, & THERMOMETER

 

The Weather Channel or this set of antique weather instruments -- which is more accurate? It might be a toss up. But this beautiful gold-plated barometer, altimeter, compass, and thermometer wins, hands down, both on character and looks.

 

The compass is inlaid with mother of pearl and graced with black enamel. The barometer has a rotating beveled glass bezel.

 

You can find this Bausch & Son set nestled in it’s emerald green silk and velvet lined leather box. It’s all in great condition and ready for gift-wrapping at Ruby Lane.

Photo: Courtesy of David Friend Productions. Binocular microscope.

3. BINOCULAR MICROSCOPE

 

This 1895 Wenham Binocular Challenge Microscope, from Gemmary, is made of polished brass, with a black oxidized brass base and limb. It comes with a range of eyepieces and objective lenses. And, it comes with its own original wooden giftbox. is made from brass, with a black oxidized brass base and limb.

 

Photo: Courtesy of 1st Dibs. Astronomical Brass Orrery

 

4. 19TH CENTURY ASTRONOMICAL BRASS ORRERY

 

This rare piece is a true work of art -- a beautiful gift for someone you love a lot. Watch the world spin around and around, perched on a pedestal or a large coffee table.

 

The Orrery comes with a glass-sided display case. Order from Lost City Arts at 1st Dibs.

 

Photo: Courtesy of Sydows Antiques.  Brass Postal Scale.

5. BRASS POSTAL SCALE

 

We bet you’ll get a handwritten thank-you note, on real paper, in a real envelope -- maybe even with a wax seal -- for this gorgeous gift. It’s a brass English postal scale, produced around 1860, back when letters carried some weight. With its floral and foliate embellishments and delicate lines, this scale doesn’t just look pretty, it’s dead accurate. It comes with a set of weights, ranging from 0.25 to 4.0 ounces. You can order it from Sydows Antiques at rubylane.

Photo: Courtesy of David Friend Productions. Shaft Drive Tellurian.

6. SHAFT DRIVE TELLURIAN

 

This is crazy-beautiful. In the late 19th century, people who pondered the solar system could use a tellurian, like this, to demonstrate the daily and seasonal rotations, orbits, and light cycles of the earth, the moon, and the sun.

 

This Swedish Shaft Drive Tellurian was produced in the late 19th century by Svanstrom & Rylander. It is rotated by a crankable gear box to see the effects of movement. The polished brass holder in the center is meant to hold a candle representing the sun. You can find more information on this Tellurian at Gemmary.

Photo: Courtesy of Scientific Collectables. Pocket Barometer.

7. POCKET BAROMETER

 

If your friend loves pocket watches, chances are this will be a thrill. This combination pocket barometer and altimeter was produced by J. Lizars around 1885 in Scotland.

 

The altimeter can measure from 0 to 8,000 feet, while the barometer has a scale range from 23 to 31 inches.

 

The face is silvered. And the casing is made from gilded bronze. The device’s carrying case is lined in green silk and velvet. Find it at Scientific Collectables.

Photo: Courtesy of Tesseract. Microscopic Art.

8. MICROSCOPIC ART -- A MASTERFUL ARRANGEMENT OF 300 INSECT SCALES, DIATOMS, ETC.

 

If wallspace is an issue, this gift is an exquisite option. A standard 1” x  3” slide glass microscope slide is the canvas for this early 20th century artwork. It is a complex floral display made of over 300 tiny bits, including single diatoms, single platelets from butterfly wings. It is signed "Clarke & Page, Preparers, London." The slide is in near mint condition in its original carrying case. This work was a conversation piece, quite literally, as it was designed to be passed around the "salon circle" of the Victorian drawing room.

Photo: Courtesy of Tesseract. Microscopy images.

9. FRENCH CASE-MOUNTED SIDE-PILLAR MICROSCOPE

 

This is clever microscope mounts on its flame mahogany box. Made around 1860 in Marseille by an optician named F. Barbier. The scope is made of golden lacquered brass It is equipped with a two-element eyepiece, three interchangeable objectives, a stage with fixed spring clips. It operates with racked motion from the cylindrical rear pillar. Find it at etesseract.

Photo: Courtesy of Flea Glass. Altazimuth theodolite

10. ALTAZIMUTH THEODOLITE BY BENJAMIN COLE C 1750 (unsigned)

 

Up, down, and sideways, this altazimuth theodolite has you covered by measuring angles in vertical and horizontal planes. In the mid-eighteenth century, when it was made, it was mainly used for surveying. Modern theodolites are used for rocket launches. This piece, made by Benjamin Cole, is similar to ones held in collections at the a number of science museums in the UK. Find it at Flea Glass.

 

Read more about Beautiful Giving, as it relates Arts/Design, Nature/Science, Food/Drink, Place/Time, Mind/Body, and Soul/Impact in our posts throughout this week, including The Most Beautiful Books to Give.

 

Get busy and enter the BN Competitions, Our theme this week is Beautiful Giving. Send in your images and ideas. Deadline is 12.15.13.

 

Photo: Courtesy of InterActiveMediaSW.

 

Also, check out our special competition: The Most Beautiful Sound in the World! We are thrilled about this effort, together with SoundCloud and The Sound Agency. And we can’t wait to hear what you’ve got!