Surveyors Compass
Antique Late 19th Century Scottish Victorian Scientific Instruments
Metal, Brass
Early 20th Century Victorian Sundials
Metal
Antique Late 19th Century French Scientific Instruments
Brass
Antique Early 19th Century English Scientific Instruments
Brass
Antique Early 1900s European Aviation Objects
Brass
Vintage 1910s Aviation Objects
Brass
Vintage 1930s Scientific Instruments
Bakelite
20th Century American Industrial Scientific Instruments
Metal
Antique 19th Century British Victorian Scientific Instruments
Brass
Vintage 1920s British Edwardian Scientific Instruments
Brass
Early 20th Century British More Desk Accessories
Nickel
Early 20th Century British More Desk Accessories
Nickel
Antique 1870s British Scientific Instruments
Brass
Antique Early 17th Century Maps
Paper
Antique Early 19th Century French Empire Paintings
Canvas
Antique Early 18th Century French Scientific Instruments
Brass
Antique Mid-19th Century American Scientific Instruments
Brass
Antique 17th Century Maps
Paper
1610s Landscape Prints
Engraving
1620s Landscape Prints
Engraving
Antique Late 17th Century British Charles II Maps
Paper
Antique Late 17th Century English Charles II Maps
Paper
Antique Late 17th Century British Charles II Maps
Paper
Antique 1670s English Baroque Maps
Paper
Antique 1670s English Baroque Maps
Paper
Antique 1670s English Baroque Maps
Paper
Antique 1670s European Baroque Maps
Paper
Antique Late 17th Century British Charles II Maps
Paper
Antique 17th Century English Baroque Maps
Paper
Antique Late 17th Century British Charles II Maps
Paper
People Also Browsed
Antique 1850s Figurative Sculptures
Bronze
Late 20th Century European Other Nautical Objects
Metal, Other
Vintage 1910s American Art Nouveau Table Lamps
Bronze
Early 20th Century American Craftsman Bookends
Iron
Antique 19th Century Animal Sculptures
Animal Skin, Wood
1850s Realist Animal Prints
Lithograph
Antique 1890s English Arts and Crafts Planters, Cachepots and Jardinières
Sandstone
Early 20th Century Scientific Instruments
Vintage 1940s European Art Deco Sundials
Copper, Wrought Iron
Mid-20th Century Nautical Objects
Brass
Mid-20th Century English Scientific Instruments
Brass
Early 20th Century British Nautical Objects
Brass
Antique Early 18th Century European Louis XIV Sundials
Slate
1790s Academic Portrait Paintings
Canvas, Oil
Antique Mid-19th Century Scientific Instruments
Late 17th Century Old Masters More Prints
Engraving
Frederick de WitPersia, Armenia & Adjacent Regions: A Hand-colored 17th Century Map by De Wit , 1680
Recent Sales
Antique 1760s French Louis XVI Drawings
Antique 1830s American Scientific Instruments
Brass
Antique Early 1900s American Machine Age Scientific Instruments
Brass
Early 20th Century British Scientific Instruments
Brass
Early 20th Century Industrial Scientific Instruments
Brass
Early 20th Century English Edwardian Scientific Instruments
Brass
Mid-20th Century Japanese Industrial Scientific Instruments
Brass, Enamel, Steel
Mid-20th Century German More Desk Accessories
Nickel
Antique 1820s Scientific Instruments
Brass
Antique 1850s American Maps
Antique 19th Century British Federal Clocks
Mahogany
Antique Late 18th Century American Maps
Antique 19th Century American Scientific Instruments
Vintage 1940s American Industrial Scientific Instruments
Metal
Antique 1780s Scientific Instruments
Brass
Mid-20th Century English Historical Memorabilia
Metal
Antique Late 17th Century British Charles II Maps
Paper
Antique 19th Century American Signs
Wood, Paint
Surveyors Compass 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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