$17,205
H 59.06 in W 35.44 in D 35.44 in
Mid Century Japanese Fuji Meibo Naval Binocular Nardo Grey & Brass -Original box
By Fuji Meibo
Located in Leicester, Leicestershire
Japanese Fuji Meibo Observation Binoculars 15 x 80 - 4 degree field of view. A large pair of
Aluminum, Brass
$7,500
H 39.75 in W 14.25 in D 2 in
1978 Gibson Estate Fresh ES 335 TD Semi Hollow Body Electric Guitar
By Gibson Guitars
Located in Ferndale, MI
Out of long term storage. Very original Gibson ES 335-TD guitar. Td model is equipped with Gibson " dirty fingers " Humbucker . This allows for higher output than the standard . Gui...
Chrome
Rosso Wall Mirror
By Specchi Veneziani
Located in Milan, IT
Crafted in the finest Murano tradition, this exquisite Venetian mirror is a true work of art. Assembled with crystal and gold elements, and adorned with red glass flowers, each piece...
Glass
$194,500
H 32 in Dm 51 in
Italian 19th-20th Century Whimsical White Marble Wishing Wellhead with Children
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A very fine and exceptionally carved Italian 19th-20th century Baroque Revival style whimsical white Carrara marble wishing wellhead, raised on an octagonal two-step marble base. The...
Carrara Marble
$164,738
H 110.24 in W 127.56 in D 127.56 in
1 BANGA space age micro architecture prefab house bungalow by Carlo Zappa, 1971
By Carlo Zappa
Located in Frankfurt am Main, DE
here we offer one of 2 bangas, with light grey interior. the second one with black interior is offered in another listing. a banga shows ways in which we could live more sustainably...
Fiberglass
Edo Period Samurai Suit Of Armor
Located in New Orleans, LA
This exquisite Tetsusabiji Uchidashi Gomai Dou Gusoku (Five-Plate Russet Iron Embossed Cuirass Armor), crafted in the 18th century, exemplifies the pinnacle of Edo-period samurai arm...
Copper, Iron
$4,810Sale Price / item|20% Off
H 23.63 in Dm 27.56 in
Rezzonico chandelier 5 arms clear Murano glass, multicolor details by Multiforme
By Multiforme
Located in Trebaseleghe, IT
Kia Ora chandelier 5 lights clear Murano glass with blue and ruby trims, multicolour vitreous paste details. Kia Ora is the combination of the traditional Venetian structure with g...
Blown Glass, Art Glass, Murano Glass
$4,034
H 48.04 in W 21.66 in D 25.6 in
World War II Military Campaign Steamer Trunk Owner Major McGregor Medical Corps
Located in Reading, Berkshire
A Well Preserved British World War II Military Campaign Steamer Trunk. Owner Major RM McGregor. Medical Corps 27 Bridge Street Hawick At No 27 is the long-established Deans Chartere...
Brass
19th Century Watch Winding Display Cabinet
Located in New Orleans, LA
This incredible, one-of-a-kind watch display cabinet brings together the beauty of an antique with the functionality of modern technology. Crafted of mahogany, this 19th century jewe...
Mahogany
$34,124
H 90.95 in W 179.14 in D 224.41 in
Louis XVI Style Panelling with Fireplace and a Marine Scene, Oil on Canvas
Located in SAINT-OUEN-SUR-SEINE, FR
This paneled room is composed of a stone fireplace, a large glass door with four leaves, a single door (both with their frame) and a large oil on canvas depicting a marine scene sign...
Stone
$200,105
H 57.68 in W 85.44 in
Flemish 17th, Orpheus and Animals, Large Decorative Wall Old Master Painting
Located in Greven, DE
Flemish school, 17th century Orpheus and the animals Oil on canvas, 146,5 x 217 cm Provenance: South German private collection. On an impressive, room-filling format, this painting ...
Canvas, Oil
Suit of 16th Century Style Armour
Located in Cheshire, GB
A suit of 16th century style armour, the helmet with pierced visor, raised comb applied and twist border collar, two-piece breastplate with medial ridge, twist border shoulder plates...
Metal
Pair of Antique English Naval Cannon
Located in Lymington, Hampshire
Pair of antique English naval cannon each with a tapering three stage barrel flanked by plain trunnions, with a knob shaped cascabel button before a shaped rectangular raised vent an...
Bronze
Russian Imperial Silver Punch Set From Czar Alexander III
Located in New Orleans, LA
A monumental piece of history, this exquisite silver punch set was made for Czar Alexander III as a gift to British Captain Joseph Wiggins. Heavily decorated with rich engravings and...
Silver
United's "Carnival Gun" Arcade Game, circa 1954 USA
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Vintage circa 1954 “Carnival Gun” arcade rifle game manufactured by United Mfg. Large Dale-style gun game. As the targets are on the move, use the gun to shoot targets until the 20 s...
Metal
19th Century English Travelling Dressing Case
By Edward & John Barnard
Located in London, GB
A mid-19th century lady’s travelling dressing case. The case is constructed in a finely marked coromandel, with inset brass handles and brass guard bands to the angles. The hinged l...
Silver
Chicago Coin ‘Shoot Out’ Arcade Game, 1976 USA
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Vintage 1976 ‘Shoot Out’ arcade rifle game manufactured by Chicago Coin Machine Manufacturing Company. Large Dale-style gun game. This machine is housed in wood, painted bright yello...
Metal
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.