Marine Instruments
Antique 1860s European Scientific Instruments
Brass
Vintage 1940s North American Scientific Instruments
Brass
Vintage 1940s North American Scientific Instruments
Brass
Vintage 1950s North American Scientific Instruments
Brass
Vintage 1940s Scientific Instruments
Brass
Vintage 1940s North American Scientific Instruments
Brass
Vintage 1930s North American Scientific Instruments
Brass
Vintage 1940s North American Scientific Instruments
Brass
Vintage 1950s North American Scientific Instruments
Brass
Vintage 1940s North American Scientific Instruments
Brass
Vintage 1940s North American Scientific Instruments
Brass
Vintage 1940s North American Scientific Instruments
Brass
Early 20th Century French Scientific Instruments
Brass
Vintage 1930s North American Nautical Objects
Brass
Antique 1820s English Scientific Instruments
Brass
Vintage 1920s English Scientific Instruments
Brass
Antique 19th Century British George IV Scientific Instruments
Mahogany
Antique Mid-19th Century English Scientific Instruments
Brass
Vintage 1950s North American Scientific Instruments
Brass
Early 20th Century English Scientific Instruments
Brass
Antique Early 19th Century English Scientific Instruments
Brass
Early 20th Century Nautical Objects
Metal
Antique 1880s American American Empire Nautical Objects
Brass
Antique 1890s American Scientific Instruments
Brass
Vintage 1970s American Books
Paper
Antique 19th Century French Baroque Nautical Objects
Metal
Vintage 1940s Japanese Other Aviation Objects
Aluminum
Antique 1890s French Late Victorian Nautical Objects
Brass
Vintage 1960s British Nautical Objects
Metal
Antique 1890s Nautical Objects
Rosewood
Antique 1780s English Nautical Objects
Brass
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Nautical Objects
Metal
Antique Mid-19th Century German Mantel Clocks
Oak
Vintage 1910s Nautical Objects
Copper
Antique 1770s European Porcelain
Porcelain
Antique Early 1900s Nautical Objects
Copper
Antique Early 19th Century British Georgian Jewelry Boxes
Abalone, Mother-of-Pearl, Velvet
Antique 18th Century Italian Rococo Centerpieces
Porcelain
Antique 1860s Italian Baroque Revival Wall Mirrors
Glass
Antique Late 18th Century French Louis XVI Mantel Clocks
Bronze
Late 20th Century American Sculptures
Limestone, Metal
Antique 19th Century English Scientific Instruments
Brass, Metal
Vintage 1910s English Edwardian Scientific Instruments
Copper
20th Century English Scientific Instruments
Brass
Vintage 1920s English Scientific Instruments
Brass
Vintage 1940s Scientific Instruments
Antique 18th Century and Earlier French Scientific Instruments
Wood
Mid-20th Century German Scientific Instruments
Antique 1850s Great Britain (UK) Other Nautical Objects
Brass
Vintage 1920s English Other Nautical Objects
Wood
Antique 1840s English Victorian Nautical Objects
Wood
21st Century and Contemporary French Console Tables
Resin, Seagrass
Vintage 1910s British Nautical Objects
Brass
Vintage 1940s North American Scientific Instruments
Brass
Vintage 1940s North American Scientific Instruments
Brass
Vintage 1930s North American Scientific Instruments
Brass
Vintage 1930s North American Scientific Instruments
Brass
Vintage 1940s North American Scientific Instruments
Brass
Vintage 1950s North American Scientific Instruments
Brass
Antique 1870s Scientific Instruments
Brass
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Marine Instruments For Sale on 1stDibs
Finding the Right collectibles-curiosities for You
Antique and vintage collectibles and curiosities can bring whimsy and wonder to any interior.
Decorating with old scientific instruments, historical memorabilia and vintage musical 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.
And bringing collectibles and curiosities into your space is actually on trend — Wunderkammern, or curiosity cabinets, were all the rage in Europe during the 1500s and continued to have adherents there and in the U.S. in the following centuries. Today, however, they’re experiencing a real surge in popularity and influencing how many interior designers are furnishing and decorating homes — combining contemporary with antique, scientific with tribal, earthly with extraterrestrial, Les Lalanne tables with Flemish tapestries.
The original Wunderkammern were entire rooms filled with objects demonstrating their owners’ worldly knowledge: A proper one included artificiala or preciosa (objets d’art); naturalia (such as skeletons, shells, minerals); exotica (taxidermy or dried plants); and scientifica (scientific instruments), frequently alongside religious relics and ancient artifacts.
Pay tribute to a history of rich and diverse musical traditions that have taken shape all over the world by decorating your home with a collection of antique and vintage musical instruments — with a little help from strong hanging wire or some wall hooks, vintage brass instruments such as a gong, French horn or trumpet can help elevate a home office or complement the efforts you’ve made to ensure a welcoming vibe in your home’s entryway. Bells or antique wind instruments can add provocative metallic contrasts to dark woods as tabletop decorative objects.
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.
Wanderlust, nostalgia and a shared love of good design are contributing factors to certain trends in decorating — just as vintage trunks and luggage have reappeared as furniture or home accents in a bedroom or foyer, decorating with globes, maps or nautical objects is similarly rooted in the allure of travel and a penchant for the stylish finishing touch that collectibles bring to our homes.
Find a wide range of antique and vintage collectibles and curiosities on 1stDibs.
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