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Curiosities of London by John Timbs, 1867
Located in Middletown, NY
Timbs, John, F.S.A. Curiosities of London; Exhibiting the most rare and remarkable objects of
Category

Mid-19th Century English Antique Curiosities

Materials

Gold Leaf

Antique Curiosities of London by John Timbs, 1867
Curiosities of London by John Timbs, 1867
H 9.89 in W 6.46 in D 1.58 in
Curiosity Cabinet Collection of Shells, Circa 1900
Located in Beuzevillette, FR
Very interesting set of shells collected by an amateur between the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century. The shells are classified by size and age either in ...
Category

Early 20th Century French Antique Curiosities

Materials

Shell

Curiosity Cabinet Collection of Shell circa 1900
Located in Beuzevillette, FR
Very interesting set of shells collected by an amateur between the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century. The shells are classified by size and age either in ...
Category

Early 20th Century French Antique Curiosities

Materials

Shell

Curiosity Cabinet Collection of Shells, Circa 1900
Located in Beuzevillette, FR
Very interesting set of shells collected by an amateur between the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century. The shells are classified by size and age either in ...
Category

Early 20th Century Antique Curiosities

Materials

Shell

Curiosity Cabinet Collection of Shells circa 1900
Located in Beuzevillette, FR
Very interesting set of shells collected by an amateur between the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century. The shells are classified by size and age either in ...
Category

Early 20th Century French Antique Curiosities

Materials

Shell

Curiosity Cabinet Collection of Shell, Circa 1900
Located in Beuzevillette, FR
Very interesting set of shells collected by an amateur between the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century. The shells are classified by size and age either in ...
Category

Early 20th Century Antique Curiosities

Materials

Shell

Curiosity Cabinet Collection of Shells, Circa 1900
Located in Beuzevillette, FR
Very interesting set of shells collected by an amateur between the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century. The shells are classified by size and age either in ...
Category

Early 20th Century Antique Curiosities

Materials

Shell

Curiosity Cabinet Collection of Shells, Circa 1900
Located in Beuzevillette, FR
Very interesting set of shells collected by an amateur between the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century. The shells are classified by size and age either in ...
Category

Early 20th Century French Antique Curiosities

Materials

Shell

Curiosity cabinet Collection of Shells Circa 1900
Located in Beuzevillette, FR
Very interesting set of shells collected by an amateur between the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century. The shells are classified by size and age either in ...
Category

Early 20th Century French Antique Curiosities

Materials

Shell

(KYD) - DICKENS - Barbara (from The Old Curiosity Shop) - ORIGINAL SKETCH
Located in Hillsborough, NJ
AUTHOR: CLARKE, Joseph Clayton (KYD) (Charles Dickens). TITLE: Barbara (from The Old Curiosity
Category

1920s British Antique Curiosities

Materials

Paper

Curiosity Cabinet Naturalism Collection of Shell circa 1900
Located in Beuzevillette, FR
name of the shell. This set, stored In a beige box and ideal for a cabinet of curiosity, is part of an
Category

Early 20th Century French Antique Curiosities

Materials

Shell

Curiosity Cabinet Naturalism Collection of Shell, Circa 1900
Located in Beuzevillette, FR
Very interesting set of shells collected by an amateur between the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century. The shells are classified by size and age either in ...
Category

Early 20th Century Antique Curiosities

Materials

Shell

Curiosity Cabinet Naturalism Collection of Shell, Circa 1900
Located in Beuzevillette, FR
Very interesting set of shells collected by an amateur between the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century. The shells are classified by size and age either in ...
Category

Early 20th Century Antique Curiosities

Materials

Shell

Curiosity Cabinet Naturalism Collection of Shells Circa 1900
Located in Beuzevillette, FR
Very interesting set of shells collected by an amateur between the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century. The shells are classified by size and age either in ...
Category

Early 20th Century French Antique Curiosities

Materials

Shell

Curiosity Cabinet Naturalism Collection of Shells, Circa 1900
Located in Beuzevillette, FR
Very interesting set of shells collected by an amateur between the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century. The shells are classified by size and age either in ...
Category

Early 20th Century Antique Curiosities

Materials

Shell

Curiosity Cabinet Naturalism Collection of Shell Circa 1900
Located in Beuzevillette, FR
Very interesting set of shells collected by an amateur between the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century. The shells are classified by size and age either in ...
Category

Early 20th Century French Antique Curiosities

Materials

Shell

Curiosity Cabinet Naturalism Collection of Shell circa 1900
Located in Beuzevillette, FR
Very interesting set of shells collected by an amateur between the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century. The shells are classified by size and age either in ...
Category

Early 20th Century French Antique Curiosities

Materials

Shell

Curiosity Cabinet Naturalism Collection of Shells circa 1900
Located in Beuzevillette, FR
Very interesting set of shells collected by an amateur between the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century. The shells are classified by size and age either in ...
Category

Early 20th Century Antique Curiosities

Materials

Shell

Curiosity Cabinet Naturalism Collection of Shells, Circa 1900
Located in Beuzevillette, FR
Very interesting set of shells collected by an amateur between the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century. The shells are classified by size and age either in ...
Category

Early 20th Century French Antique Curiosities

Materials

Shell

Curiosity Cabinet Naturalism Collection of Shell, Circa 1900
Located in Beuzevillette, FR
Very interesting set of shells collected by an amateur between the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century. The shells are classified by size and age either in ...
Category

Early 20th Century French Antique Curiosities

Materials

Shell

Curiosity Cabinet Naturalism Collection of Shell, Circa 1900
Located in Beuzevillette, FR
Very interesting set of shells collected by an amateur between the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century. The shells are classified by size and age either in ...
Category

Early 20th Century French Antique Curiosities

Materials

Shell

Curiosity Cabinet Naturalism Collection of Shell circa 1900
Located in Beuzevillette, FR
Very interesting set of shells collected by an amateur between the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century. The shells are classified by size and age either in ...
Category

Early 20th Century Antique Curiosities

Materials

Shell

Curiosity Cabinet Naturalism Collection of Shell circa 1900
Located in Beuzevillette, FR
Very interesting set of shells collected by an amateur between the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century. The shells are classified by size and age either in ...
Category

Early 20th Century French Antique Curiosities

Materials

Shell

Curiosity Cabinet Naturalism Collection of Shells, Circa 1900
Located in Beuzevillette, FR
Very interesting set of shells collected by an amateur between the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century. The shells are classified by size and age either in ...
Category

Early 20th Century French Antique Curiosities

Materials

Shell

Curiosity Cabinet Naturalism Collection of Shell, Circa 1900
Located in Beuzevillette, FR
Very interesting set of shells collected by an amateur between the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century. The shells are classified by size and age either in ...
Category

Early 20th Century French Antique Curiosities

Materials

Shell

Curiosity Cabinet Naturalism Collection of Shell Circa 1900
Located in Beuzevillette, FR
Very interesting set of shells collected by an amateur between the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century. The shells are classified by size and age either in ...
Category

Early 20th Century French Antique Curiosities

Materials

Shell

Curiosity Cabinet Naturalism Collection of Shells, Circa 1900
Located in Beuzevillette, FR
Very interesting set of shells collected by an amateur between the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century. The shells are classified by size and age either in ...
Category

Early 20th Century Antique Curiosities

Materials

Shell

Curiosity Cabinet Naturalism Collection of Shell circa 1900
Located in Beuzevillette, FR
Very interesting set of shells collected by an amateur between the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century. The shells are classified by size and age either in ...
Category

Early 20th Century French Antique Curiosities

Materials

Shell

Curiosity Cabinet Naturalism Collection of Shell Circa 1900
Located in Beuzevillette, FR
Very interesting set of shells collected by an amateur between the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century. The shells are classified by size and age either in ...
Category

Early 20th Century French Antique Curiosities

Materials

Shell

Curiosity Cabinet Naturalism Collection of Shells, Circa 1900
Located in Beuzevillette, FR
Very interesting set of shells collected by an amateur between the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century. The shells are classified by size and age either in ...
Category

Early 20th Century French Antique Curiosities

Materials

Shell

Curiosity Cabinet Naturalism Collection of Shells, Circa 1900
Located in Beuzevillette, FR
Very interesting set of shells collected by an amateur between the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century. The shells are classified by size and age either in ...
Category

Early 20th Century French Antique Curiosities

Materials

Shell

Curiosity Cabinet Naturalism Collection of Shell Circa 1900
Located in Beuzevillette, FR
Very interesting set of shells collected by an amateur between the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century. The shells are classified by size and age either in ...
Category

Early 20th Century Antique Curiosities

Materials

Shell

Curiosity Cabinet Naturalism Collection of Shells, Circa 1900
Located in Beuzevillette, FR
Very interesting set of shells collected by an amateur between the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century. The shells are classified by size and age either in ...
Category

Early 20th Century French Antique Curiosities

Materials

Shell

Curiosity Cabinet Naturalism Collection of Shell, Circa 1900
Located in Beuzevillette, FR
Very interesting set of shells collected by an amateur between the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century. The shells are classified by size and age either in ...
Category

Early 20th Century French Antique Curiosities

Materials

Shell

Curiosity Cabinet Naturalism Collection of Shell, Circa 1900
Located in Beuzevillette, FR
Very interesting set of shells collected by an amateur between the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century. The shells are classified by size and age either in ...
Category

Early 20th Century French Antique Curiosities

Materials

Shell

Curiosity Cabinet Naturalism Collection of Shells, Circa 1900
Located in Beuzevillette, FR
Very interesting set of shells collected by an amateur between the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century. The shells are classified by size and age either in ...
Category

Early 20th Century French Antique Curiosities

Materials

Shell

Curiosity Cabinet Naturalism Collection of Shell, Circa 1900
Located in Beuzevillette, FR
Very interesting set of shells collected by an amateur between the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century. The shells are classified by size and age either in ...
Category

Early 20th Century French Antique Curiosities

Materials

Shell

Exquisite 19th Century Cabinet of Curiosities Object – Jeweled Elephant
Located in Madrid, ES
Exquisite 19th Century Object from a Cabinet of Curiosities – Jeweled Elephant Important, finely
Category

Late 19th Century German Arts and Crafts Antique Curiosities

Materials

Organic Material

Frog Game Antique Brass Collectibles and Curiosities Spain Early 20th Century
Located in Mombuey, Zamora
Beautiful brass frog game set very nice They are the pieces of the popular frog game These originally would be mounted on a piece of furniture, but it is these pieces that make t...
Category

Early 20th Century Spanish Other Antique Curiosities

Materials

Brass

Antique Asian Bamboo Opium Pipe China Tobacco Accessory Curiosity
Located in Leuven , BE
Old Bamboo Opium Pipe, with visible Knot of the Bamboo. The Mouthpiece and Furnace are in Bronze. The Piece comes from South China. French Private Collection.
Category

19th Century Chinese Antique Curiosities

Materials

Metal

Early Century Hollywood Mansion Home Movie Screen Director Cinema Prop Curiosity
Located in Hyattsville, MD
Very large roll-up movie screen in a box. Overall W 75 x D 12.5 x H 57.5 in. Screen W 68 x H 53 in.
Category

1920s American Industrial Antique Curiosities

Materials

Metal

Rare Pair of Late 19th Century Tattoo Specimens From A French Sailor Curiosity
Located in Lowestoft, GB
A very odd and rare pair of preserved human tattoos, believed to be from a French sailor. Depicting a Prussian solider and a young lady. Later housed and mounted in period maple fram...
Category

Late 19th Century European Antique Curiosities

Materials

Natural Fiber, Glass, Maple

Victorian Tiffany Sterling Chatelaine
By Tiffany & Co.
Located in New York, NY
Victorian Tiffany Sterling Chatelaine from the late 19th Century. Ornate pierced sterling silver motifs with a central hook on bottom and 4 side loops for hanging implements off chai...
Category

1870s American Antique Curiosities

Asian Chinese Antique Leather Shoes and Silk Embroidered Framed Art
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Framed in a Lucite box, pair of Asian Chinese leather and silk shoes embroidered and adorned with gold thread. Exquisite pair of collectible antique shoes mounted and presented on a ...
Category

Early 20th Century Chinese Antique Curiosities

Art Deco Faux Watch Compact
Located in New York, NY
Art Deco Faux Watch Compact from the 1920's. Made to look like a watch in chrome with enamel accents. It opens to reveal both powder and rouge compartments. Marked "Sene", Paris NY. ...
Category

1920s French Antique Curiosities

Victorian Sterling Beard Comb
Located in New York, NY
Unusual Victorian Sterling Beard comb from the late 19th Century. Sterling frame hand etched with an iris and butterfly motif. Comb has a break but there is a metal rod inserted with...
Category

1880s American Antique Curiosities

Victorian Novelty Office Pencil-Pendant
Located in New York, NY
Charming Victorian Novelty Pencil designed for office use in the late 19th and early 20th Century. Glass cabochons (4) are each color coded to a different pencil color. To release, ...
Category

1890s American Antique Curiosities

19th Century Faux Tortoise Shell Long Handled Lorgnette Glasses
Located in Atlanta, GA
Late 19th Century imitation tortoise shell lorgnette magnifier glasses with a dramatic foldable long handle. A ring at the end of the handle can be used to attach the lorgnette to a...
Category

Late 19th Century Unknown Antique Curiosities

19th Century Faux Tortoise Shell Spring Loaded Lorgnette Glasses
Located in Atlanta, GA
Late 19th Century imitation tortoise lorgnette magnifier glasses with a spring loaded mechanism for easy folding and storage. The gold tone metal frames fold open by depressing a bu...
Category

Late 19th Century Unknown Antique Curiosities

Victorian Perfume Chatelaine in the Japanesque Taste
Located in New York, NY
Victorian Perfume Chatelaine in the Japanesque taste, popular in the late 19th Century. Silver plated with partial gilding as highlighting for the Aesthetic style bird and butterfly ...
Category

Late 19th Century American Antique Curiosities

Paul Poiret Mobile of Painted and Lacquered Tole 1913
By Georges Lepape
Located in New York, NY
A perfect mixture of fashion and the decorative arts. An image by Georges Lepape originally for the Gazette du Bon Ton,September 1913 forms this amusing metal mobile in a collaborati...
Category

Early 20th Century French Art Deco Antique Curiosities

Rustic English Wooden Barrel with Metal Straps from the Late 19th Century
Located in Atlanta, GA
This charming English wooden barrel from the late 19th century showcases rustic elegance with its sturdy construction. Likely crafted from vertical wooden slats, possibly oak, this b...
Category

Late 19th Century English Rustic Antique Curiosities

Materials

Metal

19th c. English William IV Wig Stand With Wig
Located in San Francisco, CA
19th c. English William IV Wig Stand With Wig. Faded warm rosewood wig stand with an early horsehair wig (1790 - 1810) on a linen canvas head form. The height of the wig adjusts wi...
Category

19th Century English Antique Curiosities

Materials

Linen, Canvas

Set of Two Early 20th Century Large Dutch Marine Red White and Blue Metal Buoys
Located in Haarlem, NL
Set of two very decorative handmade and hand painted antique large early 1920s Dutch marine metal buoys. They are diamond or biconical shaped, and painted in the colours of the Dutch...
Category

Early 20th Century Dutch Antique Curiosities

Materials

Iron, Metal

19th Century Painted Dress Model or Doll
Located in Troy, NY
Beautiful example of a dress model with a sweet, expressive face. The slightly distressed paint adds to its charm. Our pieces are left in lived-in condition, pending our custom cons...
Category

19th Century Scandinavian Folk Art Antique Curiosities

Materials

Wood

Freestanding Vibrant Blue Lapis Lazuli
Located in London, GB
About Us Since 1986 we have been sourcing the most unique fossils and minerals from around the world and through this company we have been supplying leading interior designers and c...
Category

15th Century and Earlier Afghan Antique Curiosities

Materials

Lapis Lazuli

Freestanding Vibrant Blue Lapis Lazuli
Freestanding Vibrant Blue Lapis Lazuli
H 21.66 in W 11.03 in D 6.7 in
Pair of Tall Anglo-Indian Vases in Turned Rosewood with Bone Tops
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Pair of tall and impressive Anglo-Indian turned rosewood vases with bone tops and incised circular ornamentation. Wonderful height with beautiful turnings.  
Category

Early 20th Century Indian Anglo-Indian Antique Curiosities

Materials

Rosewood

Life-Size Antique Articulated Child Lay Figure
Located in Peekskill, NY
This mid-1800s child is a “mix” between an early articulated artist model and a lay figure mannequin. It must have been made by special request because there is no other example know...
Category

Mid-19th Century French Industrial Antique Curiosities

Materials

Fabric

Giant Mounted Gypsum Minerals Cluster from China
Located in London, GB
Giant Mounted Gypsum Minerals Cluster from China
Category

15th Century and Earlier Chinese Antique Curiosities

Materials

Other

Giant Mounted Gypsum Minerals Cluster from China
Giant Mounted Gypsum Minerals Cluster from China
H 39.38 in W 39.38 in D 24.41 in
Dr. Auzoux’s Historic Full Sized Horse Model
By Dr. Louis Auzoux
Located in Peekskill, NY
This is one of the largest and rarest of the Dr. Auzoux papier mâché anatomical models. It’s also one of our most ambitious offerings. This prized 1846 first generation handmade mode...
Category

Late 19th Century French Industrial Antique Curiosities

Materials

Paper

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Antique Curiosities For Sale on 1stDibs

Find a variety of antique curiosities available on 1stDibs. Each of these unique antique curiosities was constructed with extraordinary care, often using metal, wood and paper. Antique curiosities have long been popular, with older editions for sale from the 18th Century and newer versions made as recently as the 20th Century. Victorian, Industrial and Art Deco antique curiosities are consistently popular styles. Many antique curiosities are appealing in their simplicity, but Victor Levasseur, Johannes Janssonius and Rand McNally & Co. produced popular antique curiosities that are worth a look.

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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