$31,713
H 15.25 in W 48.75 in D 18.5 in
Sir Harold Dudley Clayton’s Hydraulic Steam Lifeboat: City of Glasgow, 1894
Located in Lymington, Hampshire
Station in September 1890. The hydraulic steam-driven lifeboat used waterjets instead of propellers. This
Brass
$89,500 / set
H 3.5 in W 5 in D 5 in
Stuart Devlin Set of Twelve Silver and Silver-Gilt "Twelve Days of Christmas"
By Stuart Devlin, Cartier
Located in North Miami, FL
Introducing an extraordinary and complete collection of Twelve English silver and silver-gilt "Twelve Days of Christmas" gift boxes, presented as edition No. 94 out of a limited prod...
Sterling Silver
$114,505 / set
H 7.09 in Dm 7.09 in
Fine Important Lady De Rothschild Hermes Paris Farming Wicker Chrome Picnic Set
By Hermès
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
We are delighted to offer for sale this once in a lifetime opportunity to own this custom made suite of Hermes Paris “Farming” picnic equipment, Barenia Edition to include a pair of ...
Chrome
Untitled
By Richard Pousette-Dart
Located in Miami, FL
Acrylic on masonite. This is a pivotal work in deep and radiant cobalt blue from 1950. It dipicts calligraphic and hieroglyph structures over a grid and pyramidal base by the firs...
Masonite, Acrylic
Tiffany Silver Gilt Dessert Service, circa 1910
By Tiffany & Co.
Located in New York, NY
One large compote, one medium sized compote, pair of low compotes, 12 plates.
Silver
Fabergé Silver Flatware Service
By Fabergé
Located in New Orleans, LA
This exceptional 77-piece complete service by Fabergé is a rare treasure from the world-renowned firm. Enclosed in its original oak chest, the exquisite service remains complete and ...
Silver
$185,000 / set
H 12 in W 12 in D 10 in
A 200 Plus Set of 19 Century Imperial Russian Silver Flatware by Andrei Bragin
By Andrei Bragin
Located in Vancouver, British Columbia
An exceptional and extremely rare set of a combination of silver and vermeil (gilded silver) flatware designed and crafted in St Petersburg Russia by Andrei Stepanovich Bragin d...
Silver, Vermeil
$325,000
H 108 in W 185 in D 1 in
Late 17th C. Franco-Flemish Biblical Tapestry Reconciliation of Jacob and Esau
Located in New York, NY
This is a gorgeous antique Late 17th Century Franco-Flemish Biblical Tapestry depicting the Reconciliation of Jacob and Esau. The tapestry illustrates the Old Testament story of Jaco...
Tapestry, Wool, Silk
Fabergé Style Bejewelled and Enamelled Gold Egg by Asprey
By Asprey International Limited, Garrard & Co. Ltd.
Located in London, GB
This exceptional, 18 carat gold Easter egg was crafted by the famous London-based royal jewellers, Asprey & Co. The piece was then retailed by Garrard & Co, who once worked i...
Gold
$404,136
H 86.03 in Dm 51.97 in
Extremely Rare Victorian Chandelier of Exceptional Quality and Size by F&C Osler
By F. & C. Osler
Located in Steyning, West sussex
An extremely rare early Victorian 20-light cut-glass silvered mounted chandelier of exceptional quality the baluster thumb and radial cut shaft with lower shaft canopy and draping pa...
Silver Plate
Pair of French Walnut Library Ladders
Located in Queens, NY
Pair of French (19th Century) walnut library ladders with side railings and steps leading to a top platform (on casters) (attributed to Napoleon III's personal library) (Related item...
Walnut
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
$95,950 / set
H 12 in W 18 in D 18 in
Chrysanthemum Tiffany Sterling Silver Flatware Set Service 255 pcs Fitted Chest
By Tiffany & Co.
Located in Big Bend, WI
Chrysanthemum (c1880) originally called Indian Chrysanthemum .Tiffany's luxurious Chrysanthemum silver was designed in 1880 by Charles Grosjean. With its flowing curves, swirling ve...
Sterling Silver
Rare Monumental Italian Carved Carrara Marble Model of a Cathedral
Located in Long Island City, NY, NY
A Rare and Monumental Italian Carved Carrara Marble Model of a Cathedral, Rome, 19th century, circa 1840. Possibly a representation of Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore in Floren...
Carrara Marble
$519,169 / set
H 114.5 in W 35.5 in D 5 in
19th Century, Monumental Carved Boiserie Panels from Lartington Hall
Located in London, GB
The Lartington hall carved Boiserie panels by Signor Anton Leone Bulletti. A highly important suite of eight carved and patinated wood panels commissioned by Monsignor Thomas Edw...
Wood, Pine
Cased Ship’s Boardroom Model of Three Sister Ships
Located in Lymington, Hampshire
A cased ship’s boardroom model of three sister ships, recorded on the label as ‘TSS Dublin’, ‘Edimburgo’ and ‘Mexico’ built and engined by the Caledon Shipbuilding & Engineering Comp...
Glass, Wood
Massive Merchant Schooner Model
Located in Greenwich, CT
Impressive and rare example of a model English merchant sailing vessel, circa 1860, that plied the China Trade from England to Hong Kong. The ship has the sail rig of the Sandy Hook...
Linen, Wood
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.
Produced in 1843, the well-preserved volume is evidence of the author's exacting specifications.
New or old, the coverlets add old-time charm to any space.
Get into the games! These items celebrate the events, athletes, host countries and sporting spirit.
French trendsetter and serial collector Daniel Rozensztroch tells us about his obsession with objects related to seafaring men.
It's hard to resist the allure of a beautiful pool. So, go ahead and daydream about whiling away your summer in paradise.
The sought-after designer worked with the team at Hoffman Creative to produce a monograph that beautifully showcases some of Studio Shamshiri's most inspiring projects.
Italian writer and collector Umberto Pasti opens the doors to his remarkable cave of wonders in North Africa.
Hollywood A-listers, ex-pat aristocrats and art collectors and style setters of all stripes appreciate the allure of the coastal California hamlet — much on our minds after recent winter floods.