Curiosity Inc
20th Century American Industrial Aviation Objects
Birch
21st Century and Contemporary American Books
Paper
Antique 1720s Maps
Paper
Vintage 1920s English Maps
Paper
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Tobacco Accessories
Pewter
Early 20th Century American Other Historical Memorabilia
Rattan
Vintage 1980s American Mid-Century Modern Toys and Dolls
Porcelain
Vintage 1970s Japanese Space Age Tobacco Accessories
Metal
Vintage 1940s Toys and Dolls
Aluminum
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Toys and Dolls
Metal
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Sports Equipment and Memorabilia
Metal, Brass
Early 20th Century American Industrial Models and Miniatures
Iron, Steel
21st Century and Contemporary Books
Paper
Vintage 1980s Japanese Art Deco Books
Paper
21st Century and Contemporary Books
Paper
Late 20th Century French Louis XIV Books
Paper
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Books
Paper
1990s Native American Books
Paper
Early 20th Century Maps
Mahogany, Gesso, Wood, Paper
Vintage 1950s Swiss Books
Paper
Vintage 1980s Moorish Books
Paper
Vintage 1980s Books
Paper
1990s American Modern Books
Paper
21st Century and Contemporary American Books
Paper
Vintage 1970s American Mid-Century Modern Books
Paper
1990s Books
Paper
Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Books
Paper
Early 2000s Books
Paper
1990s American Art Deco Books
Paper
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Books
Paper
20th Century American Modern Books
Paper
Vintage 1980s American Art Deco Books
Paper
Early 2000s Books
Paper
Vintage 1980s Books
Paper
Late 20th Century Japanese French Provincial Games
Porcelain
Late 20th Century North American Folk Art Books
Paper
Vintage 1970s Books
Paper
2010s Chinese Books
Paper
Vintage 1970s Italian Books
Paper
Late 20th Century Shaker Books
Paper
Vintage 1970s Italian Books
Paper
Late 20th Century Japanese Books
Paper
Vintage 1980s Japanese Books
Paper
Vintage 1970s Scandinavian Modern Books
Paper
1990s Books
Paper
Late 20th Century French Expressionist Books
Paper
1990s French Books
Paper
Vintage 1980s Books
Paper
Early 2000s Books
Paper
Late 20th Century Italian Books
Paper
Vintage 1980s Books
Paper
Vintage 1960s Books
Paper
21st Century and Contemporary American Folk Art Books
Paper
Vintage 1920s American Books
Leather, Paper
Vintage 1970s American Books
Paper
Late 20th Century French Egyptian Books
Paper
Vintage 1980s Books
Paper
Vintage 1980s Modern Books
Paper
Vintage 1970s American Mid-Century Modern Books
Paper
Late 20th Century American Books
Paper
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Curiosity Inc 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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