$180Sale Price|60% Off
Small 17" Cast Iron Vintage Salesman Sample Chippendale Chair
Located in Waxahachie, TX
This small cast iron armchair is a unique addition to any collection. It stands at 17 inches tall and was used as a salesman's sample. The armchair is made from durable cast iron and...
Iron
Early 20th Century JW Wilson Salesman Sample Buggy Seat
Located in Dekalb, IL
1890s-1910s; J. W. Wilson's Swing Seat, Manchester, NH. In the late 1800s, drivers of wagons and heavy carriages known as "drays" had a problem, and this wooden salesman sample seat...
Steel
Vintage "Esther Williams" Octagonal Residential Pool Salesman Sample by Delair
Located in Dekalb, IL
. - White Plains, NY Highly detailed illuminated salesman sample display promoting Esther Williams residential swimming pools, housed within a custom folding presentation case finis...
Plastic
Vintage "Esther Williams" Rectangular Residential Pool Salesman Sample by Delair
Located in Dekalb, IL
. - White Plains, NY Illuminated salesman sample display promoting Esther Williams residential swimming pools, housed in a custom blue textured folding presentation case embossed wi...
Plastic
Vintage Twin-Dor Sliding Shower Door Salesman Sample Display Case
Located in Dekalb, IL
c. 1950s; Twin-Dor Corp. - New York City, NY This traveling salesman sample was produced to demonstrate the Twin-Dor sliding shower door system to dealers, contractors, and prospect...
Acrylic, Paper
Early 20th-century German Salesman’s Sample of an Iron Radiator
Located in San Francisco, CA
On offer is a vintage salesman's sample radiator. Produced between 1900 and 1920, it was created as a high-quality, miniature prototype to showcase casting capabilities and heating p...
Cast Iron
c. 1900 Salesman Sample Stainless Cooling Machine by WF Dougherty
Located in Dekalb, IL
Early 1900s; W.F. Dougherty & Sons - Philadelphia, PA This stainless steel salesman sample cooling machine is something rarely seen. William F. Dougherty was born December 11, 1...
Stainless Steel
Francis Mecum 1891 Walking Plow Salesman Sample with Museum Display
Located in Dekalb, IL
Exceptionally detailed scale salesman's model of Francis L. Mecum's innovative 1891 walking plow, accompanied by a professionally framed museum display featuring The Chico Enterprise...
Metal
Early 20th Century John Broadwood & Sons Upright Piano Salesmans Sample
By John Broadwood & Sons
Located in Dekalb, IL
Early 1900s; John Broadwood & Sons - North Yorkshire, England This piano salesman sample comes from one of the oldest continuous piano manufacturers in the world. Originally establi...
Brass
Late 19th Century German Bathub Boiler Salesman Sample by Prof. Junkers
Located in Dekalb, IL
This rare early 20th-century salesman's sample demonstrates the Junkers Bathtub Boiler-a domestic gas-fired water heater designed to heat and deliver water directly to a bath or show...
Enamel, Cast Iron
Late 19th Century German Bathub Boiler Salesman Sample by Prof. Junkers
Located in Dekalb, IL
This rare early 20th-century salesman's sample demonstrates the Junkers Bathtub Boiler-a domestic gas-fired water heater designed to heat and deliver water directly to a bath or show...
Copper, Enamel, Cast Iron
Late 19th Century French Cast Iron Salesman Sample Plow by Morcrette
Located in Dekalb, IL
1860s-70s; François Morcrette - Cugny, Aisne, France Morcrette (sometimes spelled Morcrétté) was a blacksmith and plow manufacturer based in the small town of Cugny in the mid-to-la...
Steel, Iron
Vintage "Tap-A-Larm" Home Protector System Salesman Sample Panel by Honeywell
By Honeywell
Located in Dekalb, IL
c. 1960s; Honeywell International - Minneapolis, MN Mid-century Home Protector System salesman sample alarm panel manufactured by Honeywell, produced specifically as a portable demo...
Metal
Rare 4-piece set of bentwood Salesman Sample furniture made by Thonet
By Thonet
Located in Buffalo, NY
This is a rare set of salesman sample furniture made by Thonet, the master of bentwood furniture creator of the iconic bentwood chairs that altered the direction of furniture design....
Cane, Bentwood
$1,000Sale Price|20% Off
19th Century Mahogany Tilt-Top Tripod Table, Mini, Salesman or Example Sample
Located in Huntington, NY
An early 19th century mahogany tilt-top tripod table Mini, salesman or example sample. With tilt-top, tripod base.
Mahogany
1920s French Miniature Jewelry Chest / Salesman Sample / inlay. brass mounts
Located in Buffalo, NY
Possibly a Salesman Sample / inlay., satin , wood ,, brass mounts , brass detailing drawer fronts, Velvet lined,, compartments,, Dovetail front and back drawers.
Breccia Marble, Brass
Federal Style Mahogany Miniature Chest of Drawers Possible Salesman Sample
Located in San Francisco, CA
Federal Style Mahogany Miniature Chest of Drawers Possible Salesman Sample Circa 1900
Mahogany
$1,320Sale Price / set|20% Off
Paul Frankl Style Salesman Sample Miniature Rattan Livingroom Set, 1950
Located in Van Nuys, CA
Living set of Paul Frankl-style miniature rattan Salesman sample dollhouse furniture from 1950.
Rattan
Miniature Antique English Apprentice Model Salesman Sample Drop-Front Bureau
Located in Forney, TX
This beautiful piece was almost certainly handmade as a traveling salesman sample due it being quite rare to find a miniature bureau, especially of this stature which incorporates th...
Brass
Vintage Italian Salesman Sample Louis XV Commode Jewelry Box Miniature Chest
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Vintage Italian Salesman Sample Louis XV Style Commode Jewelry Box Miniature Chest.
Wood
$1,047Sale Price|29% Off
19th C. French Mahogany Salesman Sample Miniature Serpentine Chest of Drawers
Located in Pearland, TX
A gorgeous antique French miniature mahogany salesman sample tabletop chest of drawers, circa 1880.
Mahogany
Antique Victorian Iron & Brass Salesman Sample Doll Dog Bed Miniature 32"
Located in Dayton, OH
An antique Victorian Salesman Sample bed frame. Made from iron with brass toppers. Antique salesman samples (a.k.a. salesman's samples, or salesmen samples) are small scale versi...
Brass, Iron
French Sales Sample Miniature Wicker Salon Set
Located in Queens, NY
French (1930\'s) miniature salesman\'s sample model of natural wicker 4 piece salon set with orange and black trim.
Rustic Old Hickory Child Salon Set, Late 19th Century, USA, 3-Piece
Located in Queens, NY
Rustic Old Hickory 3 piece miniature salesman\'s sample salon set comprising a hoop back rocking arm chair, settee & arm chair with rattan seats & backs.
Hickory
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.
It's hard to resist the allure of a beautiful pool. So, go ahead and daydream about whiling away your summer in paradise.
It’s never too early for good design. These interiors combine elevated furnishings and a youthful spirit, resulting in spaces that are at once elegant and whimsical.
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.
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.