19th Century Swiss Oil Painting of the Legend of William Tell
Located in Stamford, CT
model for the painting is a copper engraving by the artists A. Zucchi and J. C. Schwab, printed in
Tin
French Metal Canopy Bed, King
Located in Westwood, NJ
French Metal Canopy Bed, King Size, with a bronze finish metal canopy frame with a padded upholstered headboard in a neutral linen fabric. The frame with finials, square posts, and r...
Metal
$1,155Sale Price / item|30% Off
H 16.1 in Dm 11.5 in
'Plissé White Edition' Pleated Textile Table Lamp by Folkform for Örsjö
By Örsjö Industri AB
Located in Glendale, CA
'Plissé White Edition' pleated textile table lamp by Folkform for Örsjö. This unique table lamp was awarded “Lighting of the Year 2022” by Residence Magazine Sweden, who called it “...
Textile
$2,800Sale Price|20% Off
H 2.75 in W 2 in D 0.75 in
Russian Silver 1913 Commemorative Icon / Portrait Czar Nicholas II, Inscribed
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
An exceptional Objet'd'Art, a Russian Silver 1913 Commemorative Travel Icon, is a poignant tribute to the reign of Czar Nicholas II. Made in 1913 to commemorate the Great Pilgrimage ...
Silver
$1,544Sale Price / item|20% Off
H 13 in Dm 17 in
Smooth (17") Circular Undulating White Plaster Shell Pendant Light
Located in San Francisco, CA
A plaster pendant in a smooth, undulating shell shape, with scalloped edges. A newer take on Francis Elkins's 1940's plaster plafonnier. Hanging by three white chains; with 3 medium ...
Metal
$2,800Sale Price|22% Off
H 38 in W 29 in D 28 in
French Louis XVI Style Bergère Armchair Upholstered Green Velvet, 19th Century
Located in Montreal, Quebec
French Louis XVI style bergère armchair upholstered in sage green velvet, 19th century Deep and comfortable, Classic French chic Dimensions: 38" H x 29" W x 28" D Seat height 18...
Velvet, Wood
Two-Headed Egyptian Sphinx Sculpture
Located in Asheville, NC
This two-headed Egyptian sphinx is constructed of solid wood. The wood has been treated to take on a sandy, almost marble, finish. Unlike the Greek sphinx which was a woman, the Egyp...
Wood
$2,000Sale Price / set|28% Off
H 28 in W 14 in D 6 in
Pair of Italian Hand-Carved Gilt Sconces with Black Shades
Located in Asheville, NC
These elegant wall sconces were hand-carved in Italy. They have been wired to serve as lamps and feature sumptuously hand painted shades. The whole is composted of intricately carved...
Wood
$3,500 / set
H 71 in W 28.25 in D 1 in
Pair of Late 19th Century Painted Decorative Italian Wall Panels
Located in Round Top, TX
A very lovely pair of late 19th century painted decorative wall panels, Italian circa 1900. Charming romantic scenes painted on dense paper. These panels will be a delightful ornam...
Paper
$12,531
H 37 in W 32 in D 12 in
Portrait of Major General James Hanson Salmond - British 18thC art oil painting
By Sir Thomas Lawrence
Located in Hagley, England
This superb British Old Master oil painting is attributed to circle of Sir Thomas Lawrence. Painted circa 1795, the sitter is Major-General James Hanson Salmond (1766–1837) an office...
Oil
18th Century Italian Carved and Painted Neoclassical Mirror
Located in Dallas, TX
Lovely 18th century Italian carved and painted neoclassical style mirror. Interesting carved images including an urn and some dragons. Beautiful bluish green and white patina. Very p...
Mirror, Wood
$5,000Sale Price|30% Off
H 75.25 in W 107 in D 2 in
Finely Painted French Chinoiserie Three-Panel Screen
Located in New York, NY
Comprising three shaped oil on canvas panels, with shirred ivory silk to the reverse, within a conforming greige-painted surround exquisitely painted in lavender sepia tones with sce...
Canvas, Silk, Wood, Paint
Swedish Gustavian Style Pine Farm Table or Console
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Charming late 19th century Swedish pine farmhouse table or console table. Constructed from pine having a two-board plank top with a natural or stripped finish on the pine. The Gustav...
Pine
Nautilus on 18th Century Fragment Stand
Located in New Orleans, LA
Natural shell mounted on antique fragment. One side of shell has been damaged.
Shell, Wood
Pine Wood Niche, Spanish School, 17th Century
Located in Madrid, ES
Niche. Gilded and polychrome pine wood. Spain, 17th century. Niche made of carved and gilded pine wood, decorated with moldings, a venerated shape and plant elements in the upper p...
Other
A Large White Shell Pier Mirror
By Tarquin Bilgen Antiques
Located in London, GB
+VAT. England, modern. Made to order. A very fine white shell mirror of large scale with cresting and scrolled sides and apron. The mirror plate beveled and hand distressed. By Te...
Shell
$1,250
H 14 in W 12 in D 1 in
M. Moshall "The Young King" Original Oil Painting Early 20th C.
Located in San Francisco, CA
M. Moshall "The Young King" Original Oil Painting Early 20th C. Original oil on panel Dimensions 8" wide x 9" high The frame measures 12" wide x 14" high Signed lower right The ...
Oil, Panel
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.