J Schwab
Antique Early 19th Century Swiss Romantic Paintings
Tin
People Also Browsed
21st Century and Contemporary Swedish Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
Textile
2010s Weathervanes
Metal
19th Century Academic Nude Drawings and Watercolors
Paper, Carbon Pencil
Early 20th Century Russian Historical Memorabilia
Silver
Antique 18th Century and Earlier Italian Wall Lights and Sconces
Wood
20th Century Egyptian Sculptures
Wood
Antique Late 19th Century French Louis XVI Bergere Chairs
Velvet, Wood
Antique 18th Century Belgian Baroque Paintings
Canvas, Wood, Paint
Antique 19th Century Italian Paintings
Paper
Antique 19th Century Swedish Gustavian Console Tables
Pine
21st Century and Contemporary British Baroque Pier Mirrors and Console M...
Shell
21st Century and Contemporary Vietnamese Renaissance Beds and Bed Frames
Metal
20th Century French Natural Specimens
Shell, Wood
Antique 17th Century Spanish Baroque Architectural Elements
Other
Antique Late 19th Century French Belle Époque Screens and Room Dividers
Canvas, Silk, Wood, Paint
1840s Victorian Animal Paintings
Canvas, Oil
J Schwab 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.