Anatomical Wax
Antique 19th Century European Victorian Mounted Objects
Metal
Antique Late 19th Century German Gothic Scientific Instruments
Wood
Antique 18th Century French Baroque Busts
Other
Antique Late 19th Century Austrian Victorian Tobacco Accessories
Leather, Clay, Fabric
Antique 1890s German Scientific Instruments
Brass
Antique Late 18th Century German Scientific Instruments
Wood
Recent Sales
Antique 19th Century Unknown Industrial Scientific Instruments
Wood, Wax
Early 20th Century German Industrial Scientific Instruments
Glass, Wood, Wax
Early 20th Century German Victorian Scientific Instruments
Glass
Early 20th Century Mid-Century Modern Models and Miniatures
Wood, Glass
Early 20th Century European Scientific Instruments
Glass, Pine
Mid-20th Century Dutch Models and Miniatures
Glass, Plaster, Beech
Antique 19th Century French Collectibles and Curiosities
Antique 19th Century French Collectibles and Curiosities
Antique Mid-19th Century French Industrial Scientific Instruments
Paper
Vintage 1950s German Scientific Instruments
Wood
Vintage 1930s German Scientific Instruments
Glass, Wood, Wax
Antique 1890s Scientific Instruments
Brass
Antique Early 1900s Scientific Instruments
Plaster
Antique Mid-19th Century French Industrial Scientific Instruments
Antique Late 19th Century Collectibles and Curiosities
Early 20th Century Nigerian Tribal Art
People Also Browsed
Early 20th Century European Art Nouveau Vases
Bronze
2010s American Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
Brass
Antique Late 18th Century French Louis XVI Settees
Brass
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Barware
Glass
21st Century and Contemporary French Shelves
Steel
2010s British Scandinavian Modern Ottomans and Poufs
Oak, Mohair, Velvet
Late 20th Century French Post-Modern Trunks and Luggage
Magnets
Vintage 1920s Austrian Sculptures and Carvings
Fruitwood
Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Lanterns
Murano Glass
20th Century Korean Campaign Furniture
Brass
Early 20th Century Italian Modern Busts
Plaster
Antique 19th Century Chinese Beds and Bed Frames
Gold Leaf
Antique Mid-18th Century Baroque Mantel Mirrors and Fireplace Mirrors
Mirror, Giltwood
2010s American Mid-Century Modern Screens and Room Dividers
Fabric, Plywood
Early 20th Century Chinese Qing Furniture
Wood
2010s Italian Modern Chaise Longues
Wood
Anatomical Wax 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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