Black Forest Crucifix
Antique 1890s Swiss Black Forest Wall-mounted Sculptures
Wood
Antique Late 19th Century European Gothic Revival Religious Items
Other
Recent Sales
Antique Late 19th Century French Black Forest Religious Items
Walnut
Early 20th Century Swiss Black Forest Religious Items
Wood
Early 20th Century German Black Forest Religious Items
Metal
Antique 1880s German Black Forest Figurative Sculptures
Wood
Antique Late 19th Century French Black Forest Religious Items
Walnut
Early 20th Century Swiss Black Forest Religious Items
Brass
Antique 18th Century German Folk Art Religious Items
Pewter
Antique 19th Century Austrian Black Forest Taxidermy
Antler, Bone, Wood
Antique 19th Century Austrian Black Forest Taxidermy
Antler, Bone, Wood
Antique Late 19th Century Austrian Black Forest Taxidermy
Bone, Antler, Wood
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Vintage 1970s French Mid-Century Modern Chaise Longues
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2010s American Modern Music Stands
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Early 20th Century French Charles X Pillows and Throws
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Antique 1880s Irish Country Doors and Gates
Pine
21st Century and Contemporary Solomon Islands Organic Modern Natural Spe...
Coral
Antique 1870s English Georgian Fireplaces and Mantels
Pine
Early 20th Century Swiss Black Forest More Furniture and Collectibles
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Vintage 1910s English Edwardian Historical Memorabilia
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Antique 1880s Swiss Animal Sculptures
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Antique Late 19th Century Italian Renaissance Religious Items
2010s German Black Forest Glass
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Early 20th Century American Edwardian Table Lamps
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Antique 19th Century German Black Forest Wall-mounted Sculptures
Antler, Wood
2010s Italian Other Decorative Boxes
Silver
Antique Early 1900s British Dinner Plates
Gold, Enamel
Antique 19th Century European Industrial Carts and Bar Carts
Wood
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.
- 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022Franz Anton Ketterer is believed to be the German clockmaker who invented the cuckoo clock, and he is also one of the founding fathers of the Black Forest clockmaking. Today there are many cuckoo clocks, but to be deemed an authentic Black Forest cuckoo is an honor that is bestowed to only those clocks where every essential part is handmade exclusively in the Black Forest region of Germany. Shop a collection of cuckoo clocks from some of the world’s top sellers on 1stDibs.