1904 Mills Owl Strength Tester, Floor Standing Arcade Machine
Located in Peekskill, NY
in the top panels. You can just imagine the rough use an arcade machine like this took. Thats why
Bronze
Zabihi Collection Green Khaki Beige Turkish Kilim Pillow
Located in New York, NY
Double-sided pillow we made from a vintage Turkish Kilim. 16'' x 18''
Wool, Cotton, Foam
$1,885 / item
H 31.5 in W 39.38 in D 18.51 in
"Jorge" Bar Cart Modernist Style in Color Painted Steel and wood natural
By Alessandra Delgado
Located in Alto da Lapa, SP
True to her enthusiasm for the Modernist Movement Alessandra Delgado was inspired by Jorge Zalszupin timeless architectonic view to create the bar cart "Jorge". Elegant and versatil...
Steel
Antler Candleholder
Located in Eindhoven, NL
Candleholder made of red deer antlers and shiny chromed brass.
Antler
19th Century Black Forest Carving
Located in Martlesham, GB
19th century walnut Black Forest carving of a eagle perched on a rock with a deer below, lovely crisp carving and fabulous quality, circa 1880.
Walnut
$3,800 / set
H 0.75 in Dm 10.5 in
12 Coalport Grey and Polychrome Enamel Floral Shaped Rim Dinner Service Plates
By Coalport Porcelain
Located in Great Barrington, MA
This set of 12 Coalport dinner plates feature an unusual color combination of a soft gray border decorated with a vibrant palette of brightly painted flowers. There are various combi...
Porcelain
$1,775
H 4.5 in W 3.3 in D 2.2 in
Antique Victorian Sterling Silver Tea Caddy by Edward Barnard & Sons Ltd
By Edward Barnard & Sons
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
An exceptional, fine and impressive antique Victorian English sterling silver tea caddy made by Edward Barnard & Sons Ltd; an addition to our silver teaware collection. This excep...
Silver, Sterling Silver
Apothecary Balls in Cobalt Blue Cut Crystal
Located in Brussels, BE
Apothecary balls in cobalt blue cut crystal - ten available.
Glass, Wood
$11,651
H 14.18 in W 10.63 in D 8.27 in
19th Century Coromandel Vanity Box with Silver Gilt Fitted Interior by Asprey
By Asprey International Limited
Located in London, GB
A Victorian Coromandel and Brass bound Dressing Case By Asprey The hinged cover with an inset brass monogram, the base with a jewellery drawer and two fitted internal trays, contai...
Brass, Silver, Vermeil
Pair of Edgar Brandt & Daum Art Deco Table Lamps
By Edgar Brandt
Located in Bridgewater, CT
Edgar Brandt & Daum Nancy French Art Deco pair of table lamps, with pierced spherical wrought iron bases and decorated with garland of mistletoe. Marbelized glass shades with or...
Wrought Iron
Old Sheffield Silver Plate Venison Dish with Cover
Located in New Orleans, LA
This grand venison meat dish is masterfully crafted of fine Old Sheffield silver plate. A product of Regency ingenuity, this dish is crafted with the utmost intricacy in a manner one...
Sheffield Plate
$50,000 / set
H 22 in Dm 10.5 in
Pair of Late 19th Century French Gilt Bronze Mounted Chinese Porcelain Lamps
Located in Long Island City, NY
A Nice Quality Pair of Late 19th Century French Gilt Bronze Mounted Chinese Porcelain Lamps Fine bronze mounts separate the six painted panels decorated with chinoiserie figures in ...
Bronze, Ormolu
English Sheffield and Bronze Three Tiered Eagle Taza, Circa 1820
Located in Charleston, SC
English Sheffield three tiered taza with a bronze ornamental spread wing eagle grasping arrows in claws, turned bulbous column, three hand chased pewter plates, and resting on a deco...
Sheffield Plate, Bronze, Copper, Pewter
Vacheron Constantin Chronometer
By Vacheron Constantin
Located in New Orleans, LA
This exceptionally rare and important precision chronometer, or deck watch, was crafted by the famed Vacheron Constantin. One of the most accurate instruments ever created for measur...
Mahogany
$5,394 / item
H 67.72 in W 17.33 in D 12.6 in
"Il Pezzo 3 Floor Lamp" - gold finish brass - crystal - LEDs
By Il Pezzo Mancante
Located in Firenze, IT
Inspired by Arabic calligraphic art and the icon of the classical candelabrum is Il Pezzo 3, a collection of lamps with a hand-forged brass structure and elegant “candles” crafted fr...
Crystal, Gold, Brass
Gothic Revival Carved Oak and KPM Porcelain Triptych
By KPM Porcelain
Located in London, GB
The triptych comprises a trio of porcelain plaques, depicting the patron saints of the German city of Cologne (Köln) by the renowned Berlin manufacturer KPM (Konigliche Porzellan-Man...
Porcelain, Oak
Unusual 15-Light Cut Glass Antique Chandelier by F&C Osler
By F. & C. Osler
Located in Steyning, West sussex
A fine quality cut glass fifteen-light chandelier by F&C Osler the main baluster shaped shaft surmounted by a drop hung canopy and a draping pan with cascading drapery terminating at...
Silver Plate
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.