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Collectibles and Curiosities For Sale
Period: 1980s
Period: 1930s
Brushed Aluminum Stacked Level Pool Table, 1980s USA
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Custom made regulation size, three tiered pool table from the 1980s. Made in the USA.
Hidden ball return system allows each pocketed ball to roll internally back to the front of the...
Category
1980s American Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Slate, Aluminum, Brass
1933 - A Century of Progress - Chicago Worlds Fair Solid Etched Copper Tray
By Raymond Hood 1
Located in St. Louis, MO
1933 - A Century of Progress - Chicago Worlds Fair solid etched copper souvenir tray, unusual version with handles.
The Century of Progress International Exposition, also known as...
Category
1930s American Art Deco Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Copper
Brass sextant signed H. Hughes & Son Ltd No. 32890 of the 1930s
Located in Milan, IT
Brass sextant signed H. Hughes & Son Ltd No. 32890 of the 1930s; instrument complete with optics and housed in its original mahogany wood box of with locking hooks and brass handle,...
Category
1930s Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Brass
1980s Original Gorgeous Playing Cards Box by Piero Fornasetti
Located in Milano, IT
1980s Original gorgeous playing cards box by Piero Fornasetti in walnut wood . It's in excellent condition and includes two packs of Dal Negro cards. The box is signed on the botto...
Category
1980s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Wood, Walnut
Florence City Tower Souvenir Building Architectural Model vintage Italy 1930
Located in Nuernberg, DE
A decorative building sculpture as a souvenir. Some wear with a nice patina, but this is due to age. Made of metal. This item was purchased as a souvenir at a Grand Tour in Europe an...
Category
1930s Italian Art Nouveau Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Metal
The Paris Review No. 87 Spring 1983
Located in Brooklyn, NY
The Paris Review No. 87 Spring 1983
Stories by James Baker Hall, Joyce Carol Oates, and Paul West. Poems by Stanislaw Baranczak, Czeslaw Milosz, and C. K. Williams.
Feature include Timothy Tung "Literary Happenings: China: An Interview with Dong Leshan, Part Two."
Artwork reproductions after Jean Michel Basquiat...
Category
1980s Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Paper
Sixty Years of Interior Design The World of McMillen Book, 1st Ed
Located in Stamford, CT
Sixty Years of Interior Design: The World of McMillen by Erica Brown.
Hardcover, 1st edition. Binding is tight and and there is no visible wear.
Category
1980s American Hollywood Regency Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Paper
Industrial Vintage Metal Aircraft Plane Model Desk Item Statue, circa 1980s
Located in Nuernberg, DE
An Industrial plane model made in the 1980s. This unique object is made of metal and has a chrome finish. A nice Industrial sculpture for displaying them on a cupboard, credenza, or ...
Category
1980s Italian Modern Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Metal
Large Art Deco Airplane Model by ART BOIS 1930s
Located in Saint-Amans-des-Cots, FR
Large French Art Deco airplane by Anthoine ART BOIS, France, 1930s. Wood, thuja, metal and marble. Wooden airplane. Thuja ball (earth). Black marble base...
Category
1930s Art Deco Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Marble, Metal
TIFFANY & CO. 1982 Elsa Peretti Bean Petrol Pocket Lighter In Polished Solid
Located in Miami, FL
Pocket petrol lighter designed by Elsa Peretti (1940-2019) for Tiffany & Co.
The bean is one of the most iconic Elsa Peretti's designs, that she created for the Tiffany Studios, back in the 1970's. This petrol pocket lighter is one of her creations, crafted with a sportive casual look in solid brass.
Weight: 46.95 Grams, (30.09 Dwt).
Measurements: 62 mm by 29 mm by 15 mm (2.44 x 1.14 x 0.59 Inch).
Hallmarks: Stamped with the maker's mark and signed in full as follows, "©ELSA PERETTI 1982 TIFFANY & CO. BRASS".
Elsa Peretti
She was a very important and iconic American designer that joined Tiffany & Co in the 1974 and change the role of diamonds and color gemstones in fashion for the everyday wear and elevating the status of the sterling silver jewelry. Mostly using unusual gemstones and materials, all her creations are as modern today as ever.
Collateral: This Elsa Peretti lighter...
Category
1980s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Brass
Machine Age Art Deco Doctors or Bathroom Floor Model Scale Weigh Master by Hanso
Located in New York, NY
Great Machine Age, American Art Deco floor scale, Weigh Master by Hanson. The scale is fully functional, it shows cosmetic wear to the paint finish, and th...
Category
1930s American Art Deco Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Metal
Antique 1930's Gretsch Arch Top Acoustic Guitar
Located in New Milford, CT
**Antique 1930s Gretsch 150 Archtop Acoustic Guitar – Vintage Elegance with Timeless Tone**
Step into the golden age of American craftsmanship with this stunning antique 1930s Grets...
Category
1930s American American Classical Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Maple, Rosewood
Rolex Chronometer "Northern Goldsmiths" – 1939 Vintage 9K Gold Manual-Wind Watch
Located in Encino, CA
A Rare Pre-WWII Rolex Chronometer with Co-Branded Dial and High-Precision 18-Jewel Movement
This is a highly collectible and historically significant 1939 R...
Category
1930s Swiss Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Gold
1980s Citizen Japanese Blue Steel Retro Vintage Industrial Antique Quartz Clock
Located in Leicester, Leicestershire
Citizen super tanker slave clock original blue finish.
A reclaimed and restored maritime slave clock also called secondary clock of superior build quality.
These clocks were us...
Category
1980s Japanese Industrial Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Steel, Cut Steel, Chrome
Patinated Wrought Iron Art Deco Amsterdam School Gong or Bell, 1930s
Located in Amsterdam, NL
Wonderful Art Deco Amsterdam School gong or bell.
Striking Dutch design from the 1930s.
Patinated wrought iron.
In very good condition with a beautiful patina.
Category
1930s Dutch Art Deco Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Wrought Iron
Sotheby's Great Sales 1987-1988, with Duchess of Windsor Jewels, 1st Ed
Located in valatie, NY
Sotheby's great sales 1987-1988 by Sotheby's Institute of Art. Barrie & Jenkins 1988, London. 1st Ed with dust jacket. This annual reference work provides a view of the year's develo...
Category
1980s English Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Paper
Moby Dick by Herman Melville, Illustrated by R. Kent, First Trade Edition Thus
Located in Colorado Springs, CO
Melville, Herman. Moby-Dick. New York: Random House, 1930. Illustrated by Rockwell Kent. First trade edition (thus). Octavo. Original publisher’s pictorial black front cloth board, s...
Category
1930s American Art Deco Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Fabric, Paper
Karl Gerstner: The Forms of Color
Located in Richmond, VA
Vintage hardback coffee table book on color theory and geometric perception. By Karl Gerstner, published by The MIT Press in 1986. English translation from the original German editio...
Category
1980s Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Paper
Cigarette Case Art Deco style for Cartier USA in 1980s spring button Salimbeni
Located in Firenze, FI
Handbag cigarette case in 925/1000 sterling silver with black fire enamel. Opening with spring button. Size cm. 6.3 x 9.7 x 1.5. Weight gr. 215. Created in Art Deco style for Cartie...
Category
1980s Italian Art Deco Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Sterling Silver, Enamel
1980s Postmodern Lego Telephone by Tyco
Located in San Diego, CA
Incredible vintage Lego telephone by Tycho. Original piece from the 1980s with striking yet endearing presence. The nostalgic elements come thru in this piece catapulting it to a s...
Category
1980s American Post-Modern Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Plastic
Vintage Philips Pionnier 751M Radio "Legionary", italy, 1935-1936
Located in Roma, IT
Vintage Philips Pionnier 751M Radio "Legionary", realized in 1935/36.
A very popular model at the time, in good condition.
Category
1930s Italian Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Resin
Vintage Rolling Stones 1989 Steel Wheels Canadian Tour T-Shirt
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Original blue vintage t-shirt from the steel wheels Tour, Canada, 1989.
In original condition, with minor wear consistent with age and use.
Category
1980s Canadian Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Fabric
Speaking My Mind: Selected Speeches, Signed by Ronald Reagan, First Edition
Located in Colorado Springs, CO
Reagan, Ronald. Speaking My Mind: Selected Speeches. New York, London, Toronto, Sydney, Tokyo: Simon and Schuster, 1989. First Edition. Signed and Inscribed by Ronald Reagan. In orig...
Category
1980s American Post-Modern Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Paper
Charming Miniature Seating Group in Bauhaus Style from the 1930s-1940s
By Bauhaus
Located in Knivsta, SE
Charming miniature seating group in aluminium and with a table top in teak. Manufactured during the 1930s-1940s in period-typical Bauhaus style.
Measure: The whole group, arranged l...
Category
1930s European Bauhaus Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Aluminum
Vintage Marx Fire Chief Friction Action Toy Sedan American, Circa 1930
By Marx Toy Co.
Located in Incline Village, NV
This original vintage friction activated toy sedan" Fire Chief" Car by The Marx Toy Company, circa 1930, is a difficult toy to find, especially in this variation, which I have not se...
Category
1930s American Folk Art Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Tin, Steel
Microphone Lighter, 1980s Japan
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Great vintage table lighter in the shape of a microphone. Just over 7 inches long. Made completely of metal with a hollow body. Light patina giving this piece a classic silver color....
Category
1980s Japanese Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Metal
'Scarface' Original Vintage Australian One Sheet Movie Poster, 1984
Located in Devon, GB
Considered to be one of the best gangster films ever made, 'Scarface' follows the rise and fall of Cuban refugee Tony Montana (Al Pacino) as he becomes the biggest drug lord in 1980s Miami. Directed by Brian De Palma and written by Oliver Stone, the cast also featured Michelle Pfeiffer in her breakthrough role as coke-addict mob wife Elvira Hancock. The film's excessive violence, profanity and scenes of graphic drug usage were met with a negative critical response on initial release, but subsequent reappraisal has established 'Scarface' as a cult classic. A loose remake of the 1932 film of the same name, De Palma dedicated his version to Howards Hawks and Ben Hecht...
Category
1980s Australian Post-Modern Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Paper, Linen
Art Deco Machine Age Ronson Deluxe Touch Tip Table Lighter c. 1930's
Located in New York, NY
Classic Art Deco Machine Age table top cigarette lighter, by Ronson. This rare model was designed by Louis Vincent Aronson, made by Ronson Art Metal Works Inc.. Known as a Touch Tip...
Category
1930s American Art Deco Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Metal, Chrome
Porsche Lighter, 1980s Japan
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This cast metal lighter is the perfect tabletop accessory for any race car lover, Porsche enthusiast or smoker. Relieved lettering on the spoiler reads 'Porsche 935-77 Turbo'. The Po...
Category
1980s Japanese Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Metal
Pair of Bronze Faux Elephant Tusks
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Pair of bronze elephant tusks.
Category
1980s Unknown Hollywood Regency Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Bronze
1935 Art Deco Tortoise Smokers Set Tray, Cigarette Case w/ Lighter by Ronson
By Ronson
Located in Van Nuys, CA
The 1935 Art Deco smoker's set includes a chrome tray with chrome and black lacquered handles and a faux tortoise finish inlay cover, a desk box, and an Octette touch tip lighter by ...
Category
1930s American Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Steel, Chrome
RONSON 1938 Art Deco Machine Age Lacquered Deluxe Classic Touch Tip Lighter
Located in Miami, FL
Deluxe desk lighter designed by Ronson.
This extremely rare Ronson Deluxe Classic Touch-Tip lighter was made in 1938 by the Ronson Art Metal Works Inc. located in Newark, New Jersey in the United States. This lighter began a very successful era for Ronson Touch Tip series of lighters which pushed out the strike lighters from the market. This fabulous Art Deco / Machine Age design, was crafted with streamline patterns. Solid construction in polished chrome and the metal body is treated with brown faux tortoise lacquer and the lighter base is padded with green felt. This surely is a very decorative piece and a great conversation item in gorgeous and exceptional preserved and almost near mint condition with the original cardboard box included.
Model: Ronson Deluxe T-T Classic lighter...
Category
1930s American Art Deco Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Steel
Exhibition Catalog – 25 Originales: Litografías y Aguafuertes by Pablo Picasso
Located in Barcelona, ES
Original Exhibition Catalog – 25 Originales: Litografías y Aguafuertes by Pablo Picasso, Sala Gaspar, 1987
Artist: Pablo Picasso
Exhibition: 25 Originales: Litografías y Aguafuerte...
Category
1980s Spanish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Paper
US Army Tank Lighter, 1980s Japan
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Cool vintage table lighter in the shape of a Military Tank. Made in Japan, 1980s. This piece has great balance and details. Cool tobacco accessory and conversation piece. Working lighter...
Category
1980s Japanese Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Metal
Plaster Religious Baby Jesus Traditional Figure, circa 1930
Located in Barcelona, ES
Traditional religious plaster figure of a baby Jesus. Made in traditional Catalan atelier in Olot, Spain, circa 1930. In original condition, with minor wear consistent with age...
Category
1930s Spanish Modern Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Plaster
Masterpieces of Impressionism & Post-Impressionism - The Annenberg Collection
Located in Bradenton, FL
Masterpieces of Impressionism & Post-Impressionism - The Annenberg Collection. Softcover book, published in 1989 in conjunction with the exhibition at The Philadelphia Museum of Art....
Category
1980s Italian Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Paper
1930's Jacques Adnet Style Barometer by Dirk Muller
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Leather and brass barometer by Dirk Muller, 1930's. In good, working, original condition with visible wear consistent with its age and use.
Category
1930s Dutch Mid-Century Modern Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Brass
Vintage Yves Saint Laurent Opium Parfum Made in France Collectible Bottle 1980's
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Vintage Yves Saint Laurent Opium Parfum made in France Collectible Bottle 1980's
This is vintage, hard to find, discontinued, collectible per...
Category
1980s French Chinoiserie Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Bakelite
TRENCH ART 1930 Art-Deco European Train Desk Petrol Lighter In Copper & Bronze
Located in Miami, FL
Steam engine train locomotive desk lighter
This is a very nice trench art petrol table lighter of a steam engine locomotive created between the WWI and WWII. The elusive locomotive has been crafted by a talented artisan and assembled with parts made up in copper, brass Steel. Trench art lighters...
Category
1930s English Industrial Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Brass, Bronze, Copper, Tin
Art Deco Cast Iron Stagecoach Door Stop with Original Paint, 1930
Located in Port Jervis, NY
Great example of a western stagecoach in original paint. Colors are still vibrant. C1930 with precise castings. In excellent vintage condition with minimal wear.
Category
1930s American Industrial Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Iron
Sinar P Expert Kit Large Format 4X5
Located in valatie, NY
Sinar p 4x5 expert kit containing:
Sinar copal f5.6 auto aperture shutter & release cable
Sinar p 4x5 camera
Regular bellows
Wide angle bellows
4x5 g...
Category
1980s Swiss Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Aluminum
Vintage Tin Wind Up Toy by Lindstrom, "Dancing Katinka" American, Circa 1930
Located in Incline Village, NV
Antique toys like this (wind ups) are difficult to find in outstanding operating condition as this one (see the video attached) because of the rough play they would have received from the children who owned them. In very good and all original condition and paint in green, white, yellow, and flesh tone; the paint and lithography has no touch up or repaint of any kind; there is zero restoration.
To operate, just turn clockwise the attached clockwork wind up key on the back of the girl and the she dances around in a circular motion for quite some time. "Dancing Katinka" is an all tin wind up toy...
Category
1930s American Folk Art Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Tin
Rare Pierre Cardin Pop Art Futuristic Ambiance Phone
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Rare and highly collectable Pop Art futuristic Ambiance phone.
Category
1980s Taiwanese Futurist Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Plastic
"Boy Riding An Alligator" Vintage Wind-Up Toy by J. Chein Co., N.J., Circa 1935
Located in Incline Village, NV
Manufactured circa 1935 by The J. Chein Company in Harrison, New Jersey, this vintage tin toy, when wound up, depicts a young boy in islander garb, trying to ride an alligator who da...
Category
1930s American Folk Art Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Tin
Aachen Cathedral Souvenir Building Architectural Model vintage German 1930s
Located in Nuernberg, DE
A decorative building sculpture as a souvenir. Some wear with a nice patina, but this is due to age. Made of metal. This item was purchased as a souvenir at a Grand Tour in Europe an...
Category
1930s Italian Art Nouveau Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Metal
Original Coronation Souvenir Book of King George VI – London 1937
Located in Philadelphia, PA
An original edition of the Coronation Souvenir Book of King Gorge VI 1937 by Gordon Beckles, Published by Daily Express Publication, London, 1937
This edition was published to mark ...
Category
1930s English Georgian Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Paper
Vintage Anti Shank Golf Club
Located in Oxfordshire, GB
Mashie-Niblick golf club by Gibson of Kinghorn.
A good Mashie-Niblick iron (Smith's model) made by Gibson of Kinghorn with a hickory shaft and suede leather grip. The head with hand...
Category
1930s British Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Steel
Samuraï Maeda Armor
Located in Paris, FR
Armor Samuraï Maeda, ceremonial armor
with handcrafted helmet and protects.
Made with original japanese fabrics only use for
samuraï armor confection, ...
Category
1930s Japanese Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Fabric, Glass
RONSON 1935 Machine Age Brown Lacquer Desk Double Box Touch Tip Lighter
Located in Miami, FL
Double desk box with lighter designed by Ronson.
An exceptional and very beautiful desk box, created in New Jersey United States by The Ronson Co. during the art deco period, back i...
Category
1930s American Art Deco Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Steel
Franklin MInt Miniature Clocks Collection, 1980s
Located in Den Haag, NL
Beautiful collection of 12 miniature clocks in Mahogany cabinet, produced by Franklin Mint in 1980.
In very good condition considering its age of 37 years old, some minor traces of ...
Category
1980s North American Victorian Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Brass
Mid-Century Italian Miniature Dresser with Three Drawers, 1930s
Located in Palermo, IT
Mid-Century Italian Miniature Dresser with Three Drawers, 1930s
Splendid collector's item, made of fine wood, excellent condition.
Category
1930s Italian Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Wood
Cigarette Case black lines Art Deco style Salimbeni
Located in Firenze, FI
Handbag cigarette case in 925/1000 sterling silver with black fire enamel. Opening with spring button. Size cm. 6.3 x 9.7 x 1.5. Weight gr. 215. Created in Art Deco style for Cartier...
Category
1980s Italian Art Deco Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Sterling Silver, Enamel
Carolina Rice Plantation of the 50's Signed by the Illustrator, Publisher's Copy
Located in valatie, NY
A CAROLINA RICE PLANTATION OF THE FIFTIES: Narrative By Herbert Ravenel Sass, With Chapters From The Unpublished Memoirs Of D.E. Huger Smith.
Publisher, New York: William Morrow, 1936. Signed 1st Ed hardcover with book plate of Ellen Doubleday, publishers personal copy. Illustrated with reproductions of 30 paintings in watercolor by and signed by Alice R. Huger Smith. The magic of the Low Country, the rice coast of South Carolina and Georgia has been captured with rare beauty and fidelity in the paintings of Alice R. Huger Smith. Her water-colors of sea-island beaches, of sea marshes, of black waters in cypress swamps...
Category
1930s American Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Paper
Atari Centipede Arcade Game, 1980 USA
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Vintage 'CENTIPEDE' arcade game from 1980. Made by Atari and designed by Dona Bailey and Ed Logg. In excellent working condition. Great alien and intergala...
Category
1980s American Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Metal
Old Large 5 Gallon Gas Station Oil Can Vintage Industrial Style Decoration Item
Located in Nuernberg, DE
Antique Petroliana find 5 gallon zinc galvanized metal gas and oil can. Condition shows some dents and dings present. Vintage patina with rusty finish. A great piece for your garage,...
Category
1930s American Industrial Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Metal
Vintage Style Ski Photography, Framed Alpine Ski Photograph, Courageous Jump
Located in Oxfordshire, GB
'A COURAGEOUS JUMP', a modern framed and mounted black and white photograph after an original 1930's skiing photograph. The frame is black with a burgundy undercoat, the glazing is clarity+ premium synthetic glass. Black & white alpine photos are the perfect addition to any home or ski lodge, so please do check out our other ski photos...
Category
1930s British Sporting Art Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Paper, Wood
Ships Spyglass with Leather Covered Barrel
Located in Norwell, MA
Three draw spyglass with stitched leather cover. Old lacquer finish. End cap. Sliding eyepiece cover. 9 3/4" H (closed). 29" H (open). 1 3/4" Diameter. 2 lbs.
Category
1980s North American Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Brass
20th Century Sculptural Italian Chess Game
Located in VALENZA, IT
Brass chess board and chess game made with the ancient casting technique.
After casting, the finish was chiseled and subsequently silvered and finished with 24-carat gold plating.
The figures are in Florentine medieval style then painted with antioxidant treatment using a special transparent lacquer.
The two-tone mirrored glass chess top which highlights the high quality of execution.
Italian silverware, already with a centuries-old tradition, had a great development in the twentieth century and produced pieces of the highest quality that the whole world envies. Italian craftsmanship had a kind of new Renaissance after the war.
A great many high-quality silverware was born where exceptional pieces were produced that now decorate the most prestigious houses.
Made entirely by hand in the artisan workshop of piero Benzoni...
Category
1980s Medieval Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Silver Plate
Antique and Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities for Sale
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.
Read More
Medal-Worthy Memorabilia from Epic Past Olympic Games
Get into the games! These items celebrate the events, athletes, host countries and sporting spirit.
Ahoy! You’ve Never Seen a Collection of Sailor Art and Kitsch Quite Like This
French trendsetter and serial collector Daniel Rozensztroch tells us about his obsession with objects related to seafaring men.
Pamela Shamshiri Shares the Secrets behind Her First-Ever Book and Its Effortlessly Cool Interiors
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.
Moroccan Artworks and Objects Take Center Stage in an Extraordinary Villa in Tangier
Italian writer and collector Umberto Pasti opens the doors to his remarkable cave of wonders in North Africa.
Montecito Has Drawn Royalty and Celebrities, and These Homes Are Proof of Its Allure
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.
Whaam! Blam! Pow! — a New Book on Pop Art Packs a Punch
Publishing house Assouline and writer Julie Belcove have teamed up to trace the history of the genre, from Roy Lichtenstein, Andy Warhol and Yayoi Kusama to Mickalene Thomas and Jeff Koons.
The Sparkling Legacy of Tiffany & Co. Explained, One Jewel at a Time
A gorgeous new book celebrates — and memorializes — the iconic jeweler’s rich heritage.
What Makes a Gem-Encrusted Chess Set Worth $4 Million?
The world’s most opulent chess set, weighing in at 513 carats, is literally fit for a king and queen.