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Collectibles and Curiosities For Sale
Period: 1980s
Period: 1930s
Christies: Property the Collection of Henry McIlhenny Rittenhouse Square, Phl
Located in valatie, NY
Catalogue of Property from the Collection of Henry P. McIlhenny, Rittenhouse Square, Philadelphia, May 20 & 21, 1987. Published by Christie's, NY. S...
Category

1980s American Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Paper

'Tron' Original Vintage Movie Poster, French, 1982
Located in Devon, GB
A vibrant French Petite poster for Walt Disney's pioneering 1982 sci-fi adventure 'Tron.' Written and directed by Steven Lisberger, the futuristic film starred Jeff Bridges as a comp...
Category

1980s French Post-Modern Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Paper, Linen

Alfred Dunhill Sterling Silver Cigarette Case, circa 1930
Located in Van Nuys, CA
Sterling silver cigarette case with decorative enamel face. Art Deco design. The case is beautifully enameled in a blue and black geometric pattern with a silver finish. The interior of the cigarette case is marked "Alfred Dunhill Paris...
Category

1930s American Art Deco Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Silver

Thick Walking Stick with a Large Silver Handle, Stamped 800
Located in Berlin, DE
large walking stick with thick silver handle. From Germany around 1930 ebonized wood.
Category

1930s Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Silver

Joy Division Original Vintage UK Concert Poster, Edinburgh, 1980
Located in Devon, GB
A scarce original concert poster for a planned performance by influential British post-punk rock band Joy Division at the Astoria, Edinburgh, on Thursday 8th May 1980. The concert was cancelled due to the ill health of lead singer and lyricist Ian Curtis...
Category

1980s British Post-Modern Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Paper

1980s Isamu Kenmochi Ashtray Sleek Chrome & Brown Modern Classic
Located in Chula Vista, CA
Mid-Century Modern Isamu Kenmochi ashtray in chrome and plastic. Stamped underneath with makers information. Made in the USA. Dimensions: 6 in...
Category

1980s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Chrome

Ronson USA 1934 Art Deco Faux Tortoise Lacquer Rondette Desk Lighter In Chromed
Located in Miami, FL
A stainless steel lighter designed by Ronson. Very beautiful Rondette desk lighter, created in New Jersey United States by The Ronson Co. during the art deco period, back in the 193...
Category

1930s North American Art Deco Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Steel, Chrome

Massachusetts Beautiful by Wallace Nutting, Signed First Edition Thus
Located in valatie, NY
Massachusetts Beautiful by Wallace Nutting. Old America, Garden City Publishing Company, Inc. 1935. First Edition Thus Signed hardcover no dust jacket. Part of His "States Beautiful" series. With many black and white photographs and illustrations of localities throughout the state of Massachusetts...
Category

1930s American Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Paper

ALFRED DUNHILL Paris 1936 Art Deco The Handy / Savory Petrol Pocket Lighter
Located in Miami, FL
A Savory lighter designed by Alfred Dunhill. This is a very scarce petrol pocket lighter, created in Switzerland by La Nationale for the Alfred Dunhill Company in Paris, back in the 1935. This semi-automatic full-size lighter is the iconic and popular Savory model, crafted with art deco patterns in solid silver-plate with high polished finish. This very early Dunhill lighter is highly collectible, is decorated with linear patterns and is accompanied by the Dunhill's fitted box. This model was marketed with two names, The Savory in France and The Handy in the rest of the world Brand: Dunhill-Paris. Model: Savory Semi-automatic, full size. First Produced: 1936. Material: Plated .925 Sterling silver over brass. Weight: 48.95 Grams, (31.40 Dwt). Measurements: 50 mm by 34 mm by 12 mm (1.97 x 1.34 x 0.47 Inches). Hallmarks: Stamped with the maker's mark and signed in full as follow, "ALFRED DUNHILL PARIS FAB. SUISSE MECAN AD SAVORY PATENT". Alfred Dunhill He inherited his father’s London saddlery in 1893. Following the increase in motor car ownership, Alfred developed the business to include motoring accessories, which he called ‘Dunhill’s Motorities’. This included goggles, timepieces, picnic sets, and leather coats, and it wasn’t long before the brand became associated with men’s general motoring attire. They opened two shops in Mayfair and had a catalogue of over 1300 items. Between the 1904 and 1905, Dunhill introduced their ‘Windshield Pipe’, to help drivers combat the effect of wind and travel on their ability to smoke. This marked both the end of the ‘motorities’ focus and their entry into the world of smoking ephemera, and they shortly opened their first tobacconist in 1907 on Duke Street. The proximity to several esteemed Private Members Clubs around the Mayfair, St James’ area ensured that the venture was a success. (From Nicholas Wells With Thanks). Literature: Blei-Bottoni, The Dunhill Petrol Lighter "A Unique Story", Unique SRL 2004 first edition. Figure-52 Pp-256-259 for this model illustrated in several materials and finishes. Note: This pocket lighter is empty of any flammable, gas or butane substances and is ready to be ship by any carrier. This lighter just need a new flint and proper lighter fluid. Was tested and is in working condition. Collateral: This lighter is accompanied by the designer's presentation fitted box Condition: The overall condition of this Alfred Dunhill lighter...
Category

1930s French Art Deco Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Silver, Sterling Silver, Brass

Scale Model Sterling Silver Boeing 757-200 Jet Aircraft by Garrard and Co c1984
Located in London, GB
Exceptionally rare hallmarked silver Boeing 757–200 jet aircraft model; London 1984. With makers mark for Garrard and Co., who at the time, were the Crown...
Category

1980s English Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Silver

Tulips, Arabesques and Turbans, Decorative Arts from the Ottoman Empire
Located in valatie, NY
Tulips, Arabesques and Turbans: Decorative Arts from the Ottoman Empire by Yanni Petsopoulos. Abbeville Press, 1982. First Edition hardcover no dust jacket. The author analyzes the p...
Category

1980s American Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Paper

Danish Georg Jensen Orb Egg Sculpture Ashtray Chrome Brass Paperweight Bowl Ball
Located in Hyattsville, MD
Polished two metal petite orb ashtray, marked Georg Jensen Design.
Category

1980s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Metal

Netherlands Black and red bakelite speaker by Louis Kalff for Philips, 1930s
Located in MIlano, IT
Netherlands Black and red bakelite speaker by Louis Kalff for Philips, 1930s Round iconic bakelite tabletop audio speaker painted black with red spots. The triangular base of the spe...
Category

1930s Dutch Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Bakelite

How to Create Your Own Painted Lady
Located in Bradenton, FL
How to Create Your Own Painted Lady, a comprehensive guide to beautifying your Victorian home, by Elizabeth Pomada and Michael Larson. Stated first editio...
Category

1980s Victorian Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Paper

Hand Etched Cylinder Table Lighter, Circa 1930
Located in Van Nuys, CA
Art Deco era Etched zigzag steel cylinder Lighter named "The Executive" By AR. Circa 1930, Measures: 3.5" tall X 2" diameter.
Category

1930s Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Steel

Northwest Passage 1st Limited 2 Vol Ed by Kenneth Roberts, Signed & Numbered
Located in valatie, NY
Northwest Passage, Limited 2 Volume Edition By Kenneth Roberts. Published by Doubleday, Doran & Company Inc., Garden City, N.Y., 1937. 1st Ed hardcov...
Category

1930s American Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Paper

Matisse Paper Cutouts
Located in Richmond, VA
Vintage hardback coffee table book featuring the work of renowned artist, Henri Matisse. By Jean Guichard-Meili, published in 1984. Second edition. "It is impossible to appreciate ...
Category

1980s Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Paper

Sotheby's: Important American Furniture, Contents of "Langdon, " 2/1985
Located in valatie, NY
Sotheby's: Important American Furniture, Contents of "Langdon," 2/1985. First edition softcover with 142 lots photographed in color and B&W, fully d...
Category

1980s American Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Paper

Silk New York Yacht Club Burgee from Yacht Corsair
Located in Norwell, MA
JP Morgan's New York Yacht Club Burgee that flew from his elegant steam yachts "Corsair". This is from a set of special occasion silk dress flags that were flown on Corsair II, Corsa...
Category

1930s North American Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Linen

PH Grand Piano Vintage Model '1935-1938' by Poul Henningsen, Modern, Sculptural
Located in Copenhagen, DK
This PH Grand Piano, serial number 4600, was manufactured between 1935 and 1938. It is an excellent-conditioned vintage instrument that has been careful...
Category

1930s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Chrome

James Shore's Daughter by Stephen Vincent Benét, Signed & Numbered #3/307 1st Ed
Located in valatie, NY
James Shore's Daughter by Stephen Vincent Benét. Publisher: Doubleday, Doran & Company, Inc, Garden City, New York 1934. Stated 1st numbered Ed (#3/307) Signed by the author with sli...
Category

1930s Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Paper

Winston Churchill, Marlborough His Life and Times, All First Editions, 1933/8
Located in Hillsborough, NJ
AUTHOR: CHURCHILL, Winston S. TITLE: Marlborough His Life and Times. PUBLISHER: London: George G. Harrap, 1933, 34, 36, 38. DESCRIPTION: ALL FIRST EDITIONS. 4 vols., 9-1/16...
Category

1930s British Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Leather

Large Collectible Art Book “Michelangelo: The Complete Sculpture”, 1982
Located in View Park, CA
An absolutely sublime collectible coffee table book: « Michelangelo: The Complete Sculpture. » Printed and bound in Japan by Abrams, 1982. With text by Frederick Hartt (though the bo...
Category

1980s Japanese Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Paper

WILLIE KOOL 1938 The Penguin Figural Bar And Table-Desk Petrol Lighter
Located in Miami, FL
Willie Kool desk-table petrol lighter. This is a beautiful bar or desk petrol lighter, created as a promotional item by the Kool Cigarette Company, back in the 1938. The sculptural and elusive lighter has been crafted with the iconic figure of the company Willie Kool, in solid steel and decorated with green, black and white paint. The figural penguin is in pretty very good shape, in working condition and should be a gorgeous addition to any collection. This will be a great conversation item. Willie The Penguin Willie the penguin was introduced in 1934 by The Ted Bates Advertising Agency. During the time there were several other cartoonish spokespersons like Kellogg’s Snap, Crackle & Pop, Reddy Kilowatt, and the Campbell’s Kids. Willie’s product line included salt and pepper shakers, ash trays...
Category

1930s American Art Deco Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Steel, Enamel

A. A. Milne, a Fine Letter Signed Mentioning Christopher Robin and Pooh, 1931
Located in Hillsborough, NJ
AUTHOR: MILNE, A. A.. TITLE: A fine ALS mentioning Christopher Robin and Pooh. PUBLISHER: Chelsea, 1931. DESCRIPTION: AUTOGRAPH LETTER SIGN...
Category

1930s British Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Paper

Art Deco Boeing 314 Airplane Pan American 'Clipper', circa 1938
Located in Buenos Aires, Olivos
Art Deco Aviation Model Boeing 314 Airplane Pan-American 'Clipper', circa 1938 A superbly crafted rendering of the legendary transoceanic Boeing 314 Pan-Ame...
Category

1930s American Art Deco Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Wood

Mobilier Bourguignon by Lucile Oliver, 1st Edition
Located in valatie, NY
Mobilier Bourguignon by Lucile Oliver. Editions Ch. Massin, Paris, 1980. 1st Ed hardcover with dust jacket. A great collection of full color photos of antique furniture...
Category

1980s French Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Paper

"Penthouse, " Perfume Group by Lelong in Art Deco Box, Unusually Fine Condition
By Lucien Lelong
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Although the perfume industry in France and America embraced the new streamlined and geometric styles of the 1920s and 30s -- which we would call Art Deco tod...
Category

1930s French Art Deco Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Glass

Winston CHURCHILL. Marlborough His Life and Times - ALL 1ST EDITIONS - 4 VOLS
Located in Hillsborough, NJ
AUTHOR: CHURCHILL, Winston S. TITLE: Marlborough His Life and Times. PUBLISHER: London: George G. Harrap, 1933, 34, 36, 38. DESCRIPTION: ALL FIRST EDITIONS. 4 vols., 9" x 6-1/4",...
Category

1930s British Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Leather

American Churches by Roger G Kennedy, First Edition
Located in valatie, NY
American Churches by Roger G Kennedy. Stewart Tabori & Chang, 1982. First Edition hardcover with dust jacket. 296 pp. 235 illustrations from 188 color photographs. Beautifully produc...
Category

1980s American Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Paper

Sotheby's, Property from the Fowler Museum, NY
Located in valatie, NY
Sotheby's New York Auction Catalog: Fowler Museum February 1985. 1st Ed softcover. The Fowler Museum at UCLA, or more commonly, The Fowler, is a museum on the campus of the Universit...
Category

1980s American Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Paper

1980, Sculpture Prototype Solar Car
Located in Perpignan, FR
Prototype solar acr maded by Design departement of the Delft university - Holland Measures: 260 x 100 x 110 cm Fiberglass & gelcoat Very good conditions Perfrect for wall install...
Category

1980s European Space Age Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Resin, Epoxy Resin, Plastic, Fiberglass

Japanese Aircraft Carrier Lighter
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Unique vintage table lighter in the shape of an aircraft carrier. Made in Japan with "Comoy's of London" tag on the green felted base. Cool tobacco ac...
Category

1980s Japanese Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Metal

The Hudson by Carl Carmer, First Edition
Located in valatie, NY
The Hudson by Carl Carmer. Farrar & Rinehart, New York:, 1939. First edition hardcover with dust jacket with Brodart cover. Best of the Rivers of America series. The Hudson is less a...
Category

1930s American Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Paper

‎Sotheby's: ‎Fine English Furniture, Decorations and Carpets, Perry Ellis, 1987
Located in valatie, NY
Sotheby’s fine English furniture decorations and carpets including property of the Late Perry Ellis, New York, June 1987. 234 lots in color and b & w. NPT Books a division of N.P. Tr...
Category

1980s American Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Paper

Large Tooth, Bauhaus Era Porcelain Tray for Dental Instruments, Germany, 1930s
Located in Esbjerg, DK
Striking heavy white tooth shaped porcelain tray used by a Dentist in the Southern part of Denmark during the 1930s. Manufactured in Germany probably on order. Beautiful intact antiq...
Category

1930s German Bauhaus Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Porcelain

Sotheby's: The Garbisch Collection, Volume Two, 1st Ed
Located in valatie, NY
Sotheby's: The Garbisch Collection, Vol. 2, May 17, 1980, important French furniture, European porcelain Vertu, and rugs. First edition hardcover with dust jacket. 588 lots of import...
Category

1980s American Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Paper

Early Gilt Bronze Necklace by Line Vautrin
Located in Atlanta, GA
A gilt bronze necklace with chain and a square plaque on the subject of "Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden" with apple tree in the center, designed and made by Line Vautrin in her e...
Category

1930s French Mid-Century Modern Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Bronze

Christie's, Contents of Benjamin Ginsburg Antiquary, October 1983
Located in valatie, NY
Christie's: Contents of Benjamin Ginsburg Antiquary, October 1983. NPT Books, a division of N.P. Trent Antiques, has a large collection of used and out of...
Category

1980s American Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Paper

1930s Skookum Native American Dolls Mix Match Set of 4
Located in Van Nuys, CA
The history of Skookum dolls starts with Mary McAboy filing two applications for patents for a doll or toy figure on November 29, 1913. After the popularity rose in 1920, They were factory-made dolls from the 1920s-1960s that resembled Native American people and were usually sold in tourist spots The word Skookum originated from the Chinook or Siwash traders of the American Northwest and has a few meanings. The main one attributed to the Skookum doll is Bully Good! In this rare set, there are 4 Native American depicted dolls, 3 skookum, and one male figurine with an unknown background. These skookum dolls are suspected of being created in the early 1930s. 1- Figure of a woman and her baby on her back, with a wrapped blanket, flowered pants, and beaded mocassins 14in X 7in 1- A male figure wrapped/ clothed in fringed hide clothing. He has wooden moccasins worn over time (Hide is deteriorating due to age) 8in X 4w 1- Skookum doll wrapped with blanket, she is wrapped with cloth blanket and has a pink beaded necklace...
Category

1930s American Native American Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Plastic

Novelty Ceramic Golf Figure, Match Holder
Located in Oxfordshire, GB
Golfing Caddy Match Holder & Striker. A ceramic golf figure in the form of a young caddie holding a pencil golf bag with two clubs. The golf bag is for holding your matches and the t...
Category

1930s British Sporting Art Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Ceramic

Large 14k Gold Stepped Natural Aventurine Oval Pendent
Located in Van Nuys, CA
This Art Deco-style pendant embodies elegance with its luxurious aventurine centerpiece and radiant gold accents. Designed with a classic stepped pattern, the pendant captures the ge...
Category

1980s American Art Deco Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Stone, Gold

In the American West, Richard Avendon, 1985, Signed
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Author: Text by Laura Wilson Book: Commissioned in 1978 by the Amon Carter Museum of American Art in Fort Worth, this series of photographs is...
Category

1980s Modern Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Paper

Collection Gilt Leather Bound Library Book Set / Eighteen
Located in Tarry Town, NY
Collection of gilt leather bound library book set of eighteen. Army Life In A Black Regiment By Thomas Went Wentworth Higginson "Collector's Library ...
Category

1980s Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Paper, Leather

1930s Amusement / Carnival Motorcycle Ride, Carousal, Merry-go-round
Located in Buffalo, NY
1930s Antique midway amusement park wooden motorcycle ride is one of the earliest produced for carousels and merry-go-rounds. Wonderful aged patina, ...
Category

1930s American Art Deco Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Metal

Botanical Model in Enlarged Section of a Moraceae Syconium, Italy, 1930s
Located in Milan, IT
Model in enlarged section of the Moraceae syconium (fig for example is a sicon). The model is made of painted plaster and almost certainly made by Paravia in the 1930s. Measures cm 3...
Category

1930s Italian Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Plaster

Brass Yacht Binnacle Compass
Located in Norwell, MA
Solid brass boat compass binnacle that has been meticulously polished and lacquered. Gimballed compass inside. Mounted to a varnished wood base with carved rope border. Interior has ...
Category

1930s North American Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Brass

1989 Blood Meridian; or, The Evening Redness in the West
By Cormac McCarthy
Located in Bath, GB
The first UK edition of Cormac McCarthy's great American novel, an epic historical western set in the American Frontier. The first UK edition, first impression. The work was first p...
Category

1980s British Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Paper

Crouse Hinds Vintage Spotlight
Located in New York, NY
Vintage industrial / nautical spotlight by Crouse Hinds. USA, circa 1930-1940. Retains some original gray paint. For display only; not recommende...
Category

1930s American Industrial Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Metal

1930s Italian Medical Sketch of a Campaing to Fight Tuberculosis
Located in Milan, IT
Sketch of a futurist poster, 1930s, ten cents to fight tuberculosis, for the national campaign to inform people about the prevention of this illness. Measures: cm 32 x 42, inches 12....
Category

1930s Italian Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Paper

'E.T. The Extra Terrestrial' Original Vintage Japanese Movie Poster, 1982
Located in Devon, GB
Steven Spielberg's timeless tear jerking tale of a young boy's friendship with a stranded extraterrestrial was both widely critically acclaimed and enormously commercially successful...
Category

1980s Japanese Modern Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Paper

Solid Brass Ships Telegraph By Bendix
Located in Norwell, MA
Highly polished engine order telegraph by Bendix of New York. With painted faceplates with ships commands full, half, slow, stand by, stop, ahead and astern. Twin face design, two ha...
Category

1930s North American Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Brass

1930s House of Schiaparelli Studio Green Gripoix Parure Haute Couture Early Set
Located in Hyattsville, MD
The Decadence of Early Haute Couture released by the hands of Elsa Schiaparelli. Early 1930’s -1940’s House of Schiaparelli Studio in France. A Parure Set with Matching Necklace, Br...
Category

1930s French Art Deco Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Art Glass

'One Hundred and One Dalmatians' Original Vintage Movie Poster, Hungarian, 1984
Located in Devon, GB
Twenty one colourful pups perch playfully in four rows on this jolly poster by Hajnal Gabriella for a 1984 Hungarian re-release of Walt Disney's animated adventure 'One Hundred and One Dalmatians.' Based on the 1956 novel 'The Hundred and One Dalmatians' by Dodie Smith, Disney's seventeenth animated feature film followed the dognap of a litter of Dalmatian puppies by the fur-crazed Cruella de Vil...
Category

1980s Hungarian Post-Modern Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Paper

Bronze Vienes Miniature enamel
Located in Buenos Aires, Argentina
Bronze Vienes miniature living room set Miniature with enamel Origin France Circa 1930 Materials Bronze and enamel in perfect condition Rococo style 7 pi...
Category

1930s Austrian Rococo Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Bronze, Enamel

Vintage Soviet Book: the Planet of People & the Little Prince, 1J57
Located in Bordeaux, FR
Transport yourself to the enchanting world of Antoine de Saint-Exupéry with this vintage book from the USSR. Published in 1983 in Leningrad, this captivating book features two belove...
Category

1980s Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Paper

1930 The Savoy Cocktail Book
By Harry Craddock
Located in Bath, GB
A signed, first edition of this iconic and definitive cocktail recipe book. Signed by the author to Arthur Strange with a presentation inscription wishing them 'all the best'. His signature to page 6 with the phrase "Here's How". With the errata slip to page 25 as called for. A first edition, first impression, with the pagination to the preliminary leaves. The Savoy Cocktail...
Category

1930s British Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Paper

Festus Pragnell, the Green Man of Kilsona, First Edition Presentation Copy, 1936
Located in Hillsborough, NJ
AUTHOR: PRAGNELL, Festus (Frank William Pragnell) TITLE: The Green Man of Kilsona. (The Ape-man of the Electron World) PUBLISHER: London: Philip Al...
Category

1930s British Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Fabric

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.

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