Medical Curiosities
Antique 1780s Unknown Scientific Instruments
Natural Fiber
Antique 1860s Unknown Scientific Instruments
Natural Fiber
Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Scientific Instruments
Metal
Vintage 1940s Modern Scientific Instruments
Fiberglass, Wood
Antique 1850s Unknown Victorian Scientific Instruments
Natural Fiber
Antique 1850s Unknown Scientific Instruments
Natural Fiber
Antique 1850s Unknown Edwardian Scientific Instruments
Natural Fiber
Vintage 1970s Books
Paper
Mid-20th Century Mid-Century Modern Models and Miniatures
Plastic, Wood
Vintage 1950s German Mid-Century Modern Scientific Instruments
Plaster
Vintage 1930s German Bauhaus Historical Memorabilia
Steel
Early 20th Century English Scientific Instruments
Gold
Antique Late 19th Century British Victorian Books
Paper
Antique Late 19th Century English Scientific Instruments
Brass, Copper
Late 20th Century Art Deco Scientific Instruments
Metal
Mid-20th Century American Scientific Instruments
Metal
Vintage 1940s German Art Deco Scientific Instruments
Wood, Porcelain, Bakelite
Early 20th Century British Colonial Scientific Instruments
Leather
Early 20th Century French Industrial Scientific Instruments
Metal
Vintage 1910s American Industrial Scientific Instruments
Metal
Mid-20th Century Art Deco Architectural Models
Metal
Mid-20th Century German Mid-Century Modern Scientific Instruments
Stainless Steel
Antique 1870s Italian Scientific Instruments
Metal
Vintage 1960s Mid-Century Modern Scientific Instruments
Metal
Vintage 1940s Italian Mid-Century Modern Scientific Instruments
Metal
Vintage 1950s German Scientific Instruments
Bakelite
Antique 1890s German Scientific Instruments
Brass
Antique Early 19th Century Mid-Century Modern Models and Miniatures
Wood, Velvet
Early 20th Century German Scientific Instruments
Rubber
Vintage 1930s Jacobean Scientific Instruments
Tin
Early 20th Century American Industrial Collectibles and Curiosities
Paper
Vintage 1960s Books
Paper
Antique 1840s Victorian Books
Leather, Paper
2010s Russian Organic Modern Games
Metal
2010s Russian Organic Modern Games
Metal
Antique Early 19th Century French Books
Copper
21st Century and Contemporary Books
Paper
21st Century and Contemporary Books
Paper
2010s Chinese Books
Paper
2010s Italian Renaissance Books
Leather
Antique 1820s Maps
Paper
21st Century and Contemporary Books
Paper
Vintage 1930s European Books
Leather, Paper
1990s American Mid-Century Modern Books
Paper
Vintage 1940s American Books
Paper
Antique Late 19th Century British Scientific Instruments
Glass
Antique 19th Century French Scientific Instruments
Brass
Early 20th Century Mid-Century Modern Models and Miniatures
Wood, Glass
20th Century French Historical Memorabilia
Wood
Mid-20th Century German Scientific Instruments
Iron
Antique Late 19th Century American Victorian Scientific Instruments
Glass, Walnut
Antique Mid-19th Century French Steampunk Scientific Instruments
Leather
Antique 19th Century Balkan Biedermeier Scientific Instruments
Brass
Antique Mid-19th Century Russian Religious Items
Wood
Mid-20th Century American Steampunk Scientific Instruments
Rubber
Antique Early 1900s British Historical Memorabilia
Bakelite
Vintage 1960s American Scientific Instruments
Rubber
Antique 19th Century French Industrial Scientific Instruments
Iron
Vintage 1950s German Mid-Century Modern Scientific Instruments
Plastic, Wood
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Historical Memorabilia
Pine
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Medical Curiosities 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.
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