Survey Instruments
Antique 1860s Italian Scientific Instruments
Brass
Antique 19th Century German Scientific Instruments
Bronze
Antique 1890s American Scientific Instruments
Brass
Antique Early 18th Century French Scientific Instruments
Brass
Antique Late 19th Century French Scientific Instruments
Brass
Antique Mid-19th Century Danish Folk Art Scientific Instruments
Brass
Mid-20th Century British Scientific Instruments
Brass
Early 20th Century Czech Industrial Scientific Instruments
Brass, Bronze, Steel
Antique Early 18th Century French Scientific Instruments
Brass
Antique 1810s English Scientific Instruments
Brass
Antique 1880s English Victorian Scientific Instruments
Brass
Early 20th Century French Scientific Instruments
Brass
Antique Early 19th Century English Georgian Scientific Instruments
Brass
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Scientific Instruments
Brass, Steel, Iron
Antique Late 19th Century French Scientific Instruments
Brass, Steel
Early 20th Century Industrial Historical Memorabilia
Metal
Early 20th Century British More Desk Accessories
Nickel
Antique Late 18th Century European Books
Paper
Antique Late 18th Century German Books
Paper
Antique 19th Century Russian Other Serving Pieces
Silver
Mid-20th Century American Folk Art Animal Sculptures
Wood
Mid-20th Century Unknown Mid-Century Modern Aviation Objects
Wood
Antique Early 1800s French Directoire Figurative Sculptures
Copper
People Also Browsed
Antique Mid-19th Century English High Victorian Taxidermy
Other
Antique 17th Century Italian Baroque Bookcases
Spruce
Vintage 1920s Austrian Art Deco Coat Racks and Stands
Brass
20th Century Swiss Other Historical Memorabilia
Metal
Mid-20th Century Industrial Nautical Objects
Bronze
21st Century and Contemporary European Victorian Taxidermy
Animal Skin
Vintage 1910s Taxidermy
Organic Material
Early 20th Century American Art Deco Nautical Objects
Brass
Antique Mid-19th Century French Art Deco Cabinets
Glass, Mirror, Wood, Ebony
Antique Late 19th Century English Campaign Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Antique Late 19th Century British Scientific Instruments
Walnut
Early 20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
Oak
Mid-20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Prints
Glass, Wood, Paper
21st Century and Contemporary Dutch Victorian Taxidermy
Animal Skin
Antique 19th Century English Other Apothecary Cabinets
Brass
Antique 18th Century English Other Historical Memorabilia
Mahogany
Recent Sales
Antique Early 1900s American Scientific Instruments
Brass
Antique Late 19th Century English Scientific Instruments
Brass
Mid-20th Century Japanese Industrial Scientific Instruments
Brass, Enamel, Steel
Antique 1890s British Scientific Instruments
Brass
Antique 1840s British Scientific Instruments
Brass
Antique 1880s American Scientific Instruments
Antique 19th Century American Industrial Scientific Instruments
Brass
Antique 19th Century American Industrial Scientific Instruments
Antique Late 18th Century American American Colonial Scientific Instruments
Blown Glass, Wood
Vintage 1930s Scientific Instruments
Brass
Vintage 1920s American Machine Age Industrial and Work Tables
Iron
Antique Early 1900s English Edwardian Wall Clocks
Wood
Vintage 1910s Swiss Scientific Instruments
Brass
Vintage 1910s Swiss Scientific Instruments
Brass
Vintage 1910s Swiss Scientific Instruments
Brass
Antique 1890s American American Empire Scientific Instruments
Brass
Antique 1870s Scientific Instruments
Brass
Antique 1870s Scientific Instruments
Brass
Antique 1870s Scientific Instruments
Brass
Antique 1830s American Scientific Instruments
Brass
Vintage 1950s British Scientific Instruments
Brass
Vintage 1910s Swiss Scientific Instruments
Brass
Antique Late 19th Century English Victorian Scientific Instruments
Metal
Antique 1780s Scientific Instruments
Brass
Antique 1870s Scientific Instruments
Brass
Mid-20th Century Scientific Instruments
Brass, Iron
Vintage 1920s British Scientific Instruments
Brass
Mid-20th Century English Scientific Instruments
Bronze
Antique 19th Century English Nautical Objects
Brass
Early 20th Century American Industrial Desks and Writing Tables
Pine, Oak
Antique 1820s Scientific Instruments
Brass
Antique 1870s British Scientific Instruments
Brass
Antique Early 1900s Scientific Instruments
Brass
Antique 1870s Scientific Instruments
Brass
Mid-20th Century Scientific Instruments
Brass, Iron
Early 20th Century English Edwardian Scientific Instruments
Brass
Antique Early 1900s Scientific Instruments
Brass
Antique Early 19th Century English Regency Scientific Instruments
Brass
Early 20th Century British Scientific Instruments
Brass
Vintage 1940s British Scientific Instruments
Brass
Antique 19th Century Persian Islamic Scientific Instruments
Brass
Early 20th Century American Industrial Industrial and Work Tables
Steel, Iron, Brass
Early 20th Century American Modern Floor Lamps
Brass
Vintage 1920s Nautical Objects
Brass
Vintage 1920s American Nautical Objects
Brass
Early 2000s French Modern Coffee and Cocktail Tables
Bronze
Early 20th Century British Scientific Instruments
Brass
Antique 19th Century American Scientific Instruments
Antique Late 19th Century British Scientific Instruments
Brass
Early 20th Century British Scientific Instruments
Vintage 1910s Swiss Scientific Instruments
Antique Late 19th Century English Scientific Instruments
Brass
Vintage 1940s American Industrial Scientific Instruments
Aluminum, Brass
Antique 1780s Scientific Instruments
Brass
Antique Early 18th Century English Georgian Scientific Instruments
Mahogany
Antique 1860s Italian Scientific Instruments
Brass
Vintage 1910s British Nautical Objects
Vintage 1910s British Nautical Objects
Brass
Vintage 1910s British Nautical Objects
Brass
Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Porcelain
Porcelain
Survey Instruments 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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