Collectibles and Curiosities
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Collectibles and Curiosities For Sale
Item type: Antique and Vintage
Style: Mid-Century Modern
Style: Regency
Style: American Classical
Heavy Butterscotch Bakelite Bangle Bracelet
Located in Van Nuys, CA
1/4" thick Bakelite bangle bracelet in a butterscotch color.
2 3/8" inside circumference.
Category
1930s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Bakelite
Ben-Amun Free Form Modernist AB Orange/Pink Glass Clip Earrings
By Ben Amun
Located in Clifton Forge, VA
These are such stylish modernist clip on earrings made by Ben-Amun and clearly marked on the back. The vibrant, iridescent pinkish orange glass with an aurora borealis AB (rainbow) finish, has a free form shape and the molded glass surface is nonuniform (it sort of looks like an iceberg). These earrings would add some fun to a classic outfit or would accentuate a funky vibe! They measure about 3/4 inch high and 1/2 inch wide and there is some slight finish loss on the back.
Thanks for visiting The Moody Carpenter...
Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Metal
The Life Record of HW Graber Texas Ranger Dedicated First Edition
Located in Dallas, TX
Presenting a very rare first edition hardback copy of The Life Record of H.W. Grabber, A Terry Texas Ranger 1861-1865 Sixty-Two Years in Texas. Copyright ...
Category
Early 20th Century American American Classical Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Paper
Brooch by Line Vautrin, Black Talosel Encrusted with Red Mirrors
By Line Vautrin
Located in Uccle, BE
This Brooch in black Talosel encrusted with red mirrors in the shape of flower petals represents a very characteristic aesthetic of the work of Line Vautrin.
This organic shape is d...
Category
Mid-20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Mirror, Talosel
Bombs Away by John Steinbeck, Photographs by John Swope, First Edition, 1942
Located in Colorado Springs, CO
Steinbeck, John. Bombs Away: The Story of a Bomber Team. New York: The Viking Press: 1942. Illustrated with photographs by John Swope. First Edition. Octavo...
Category
1940s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Fabric, Paper
1960s Geometric Jewelry Trinket Geometric Box Mexican Craft Eclectic Woodworker
Located in Hyattsville, MD
Vintage hinged lidded hexagonal box by Don Shoemaker, Senal.
Category
1960s Mexican Mid-Century Modern Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Cocobolo
Leather and Wood Vaulting Horse from the 1930s
Located in Wien, AT
Leather and wood vaulting horse from the 1930s.
This adjustable vaulting horse was made in the 1930s in former Czechoslovakia.
The thick cowhide leather has a nice patina. Very goo...
Category
Mid-20th Century Czech Mid-Century Modern Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Iron
Verve Moods And Movement In Art, Reynal, 1959
Located in Bridgeport, CT
Moods and Movements in Art, by Verve, published by Reynal & Co. New York, 1959. This volume was originally published in France as Numbers 27 and 28 in the Verve series. This volume i...
Category
20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Paper
Vintage Bjorn Wiinblad Indian Puzzle for Irma Denmark, 1970s
Located in Esbjerg, DK
A rare 500 pcs puzzle in 3 mm thick cardboard paper. Motif: American Indian. Designed during the 1970s and made for Irma in Denmark in 1979. Measurements in box: 33x23x3 cm.
Category
1970s Danish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Paper
Midcentury Era Chesterfield Cigarette Metal Tobacciana Advertising Sign
Located in Hamilton, Ontario
This midcentury period embossed and painted tin advertising sign was made for the Liggett and Myers Tobacco Company in circa 1965 to promote their Chesterfield cigarette...
Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Metal
Italian mid-century Filofort sewing chest of drawers by Tre Cerchi ISC, 1940s
Located in MIlano, IT
Italian mid-century Filofort sewing chest of drawers by Tre Cerchi ISC, 1940s
Filofort sewing chest of drawers with light wood structure, with walnut colored handles.
Produced by Fil...
Category
1940s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Wood
Pair of Elegant Early 1960s Christian Dior Blue & Clear Crystal Earrings
Located in London, GB
An absolutely stunning early example of a pair of 1960s Christian Dior earrings with blue and clear crystals. The earrings are a classic example of Dior's elegant and sophisticated ...
Category
Mid-20th Century German Mid-Century Modern Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Crystal, Metal
Vintage Large Metal Wall Mounted Sailboat Sculpture
Located in Bridgeport, CT
Large Sailboat sculpture for wall Mount in mixed metal. A sailboat with a gray metal hull and iron sails and rigging. With projecting loops on the back for hanging.
L. 33", H. 44"
...
Category
20th Century Mid-Century Modern Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Metal
Mid-Century Modern Hand Carved Pink Rock Crystal Catchall Bowl Vide Poche, 1970
Located in Miami, FL
Mid-Century Modern pink and white Mineral Rock ashtray, catchall, vide poche or bowl made in Italy.
Raw Rock Crystal hand carved in a geometric shape.
Great as Ring Dish or Key Bowl...
Category
1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Rock Crystal
James Dean 'Rebel Without a Cause' Original Vintage Movie Poster, Finnish, 1956
Located in Devon, GB
A rare poster for the first Finnish release of the Classic 1955 teenage drama "Rebel Without A Cause," with artwork by Engel. Starring James Dean in his most celebrated role as a tro...
Category
1950s Finnish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Paper, Linen
Large 1950s Driftwood Table Lamp
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
Large 1950s driftwood table lamp.
Harp and finial can be sourced if needed.
Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Driftwood
Mid century modern Wicker and Bamboo Rocking Horse
Located in Weesp, NL
Bamboo and wicker mid century modern rocking horse
Adorable rocking horse in great condition produced by Rohe Noordwolde, the Netherlands in the 1960s.
Measurements: H 74 x W 40 x L...
Category
1960s Dutch Mid-Century Modern Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Bamboo, Wicker
Vintage Murano Glass Table Lighter And Ashtray Set
By Mandruzzato
Located in Torquay, GB
Vintage 1960s table lighter and ashtray set by Mandruzzato.
Both lighter and ashtray are in perfect condition.
The lighter works and produces...
Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Glass, Cut Glass, Murano Glass
Vintage California Green and Brown Ceramic Pottery Round Ashtray
By Edith Heath
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Gorgeous vintage ashtray with a glowing splash in yellow, green and brown colors.
Classic Mid-Century Modern round ashtray in yellow green and brown glazed ceramic, the outside is painted brown but not glazed.
The ceramic tray is in good condition.
This could make an interesting retro trinket tray or small relish dish...
Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Ceramic
Moments with Jackie by Jean Mills Hardcover Book
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Moments with Jackie by Jean Mills hardcover book
Barnes & Noble Books, 1999 - Celebrities - 120 pages.
Stunning black-and-white photography accompanies a close-up portrait of Jacqu...
Category
Late 20th Century American American Classical Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Paper
Rare French Small Gilt Bronze Box by Line Vautrin
By Line Vautrin
Located in Atlanta, GA
A small gilt bronze pill box by French Parisian art jeweler Line Vautrin (1913-1997) circa 1940-50s. The rather rare round box features a relief-cast spider on the lid. The interior ...
Category
Mid-20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Bronze
Remembering Jackie: a Life in Pictures Hardcover, January 1, 1994
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Remembering Jackie: A Life in Pictures Hardcover – January 1, 1994 by Life Magazine.
Uses photographs to trace the life of the former first lady, including her childhood, marriage, ...
Category
20th Century American American Classical Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Paper
Historical Civil War Era Brass Frame Ladies Magnifying Glasses
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A delicate pair of handmade brass ladies magnifying wire rim eye glasses from the American Civil War era, circa 1860.
A unique pair of antique spectacles, cleverly designed with ext...
Category
Mid-19th Century American American Classical Antique Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Brass
'Mon Oncle' Original Vintage Movie Poster by Olle Olsson Hagalund, Swedish, 1959
Located in Devon, GB
A rare poster for the first Swedish release of the 1958 Classic French slapstick comedy "Mon Oncle", written, directed, produced by and starring Jacques Tati as the eccentric hero Monsieur Hulot, struggling to fit into an increasingly modern and mechanised France. Tati's satire of Postwar consumer society was popular even in the US, winning the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film. Olle Olsson...
Category
1950s Swedish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Paper
French Silvered Bronze Box Line Vautrin
By Line Vautrin
Located in Atlanta, GA
A silvered bronze Poudrier "Le loup et le renard" (The wolf and the fox). by Parisian art jeweler Line Vautrin (1913-1997) circa 1940s. The square box features a relief cast of two s...
Category
1940s French Mid-Century Modern Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Bronze
Elvis 'Girls! Girls! Girls!' Original Vintage Japanese B2 Movie Poster, 1963
Located in Devon, GB
Following the tried and tested golden formula of light-hearted musical entertainment, exotic location and girls galore which saw Elvis' soundtrack albums far outstrip his regular album sales, 'Girls! Girls! Girls!' stands out as one of Elvis Presley's more popular films, even receiving a Golden Globe nomination for Best Motion Picture - Musical. Elvis' eleventh feature film and his second shot in Hawaii, 'Girls! Girls! Girls!' was a safe money-spinner for both his record label RCA and the film's distributor Paramount, who saw Elvis voted as 1962's 'Top Box Office Draw' for having three of the top grossing films of that year. The highlight of the film is Presley's performance of his enduring pop classic 'Return to Sender,' which subsequently peaked at no.2 on the US Billboard chart when released as the lead single from the soundtrack album. Seen in sublime profile, Elvis is every inch the handsome heartthrob as the penniless fishing boat pilot on this ultra rare B2 poster for the original Japanese release. Completing one of the best poster designs we have seen for this picture, a bevy of bikini-clad beauties feature at the foot of the photomontage, with Elvis as the carefree sailor sandwiched between his two love interests, played by Stella Stevens...
Category
1960s Japanese Mid-Century Modern Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Paper
Women of Design, Contemporary American Interiors, Forward by Andree Putnam
By Beverly Russell
Located in CA, CA
Published by Rizzoli first edition, 1992
Women of Design profiles thirty two women who have dominated the world of interior design, included are photographs of some of their finest ...
Category
1990s American Mid-Century Modern Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Paper
Silvered Bronze Box with Relief Cast Poem by Line Vautrin
By Line Vautrin
Located in Atlanta, GA
A wonderful jewelry box in silvered cast bronze by Parisian art jeweler Line Vautrin (1913-1997). From a small special series, the designer created circa 1945-55. on which poems were cast in relief on the cover. Most existing examples features poems that are well-known. This poem, however, was not identified by us, and possibly is a creation of the artist herself. It is a very soulful prose (see the full poem in French below). Signed on the base as shown.
We have a gilt bronze box with the same relief cast poem that comes with a three-page Certification in French by Comite Line Vautrin, shown in some photos as well.
Reference: For other boxes with poems see "Line Vautrin Sculptor, Jeweller, Magician by Line Vautrin and Patrick Mauries, page 42.
"Les glaciers vagabonds qui ébranlent les murs
et les anges frileux qui cherchent un asile quand la nuit de décembre
anesthésie la ville t’effraient plus que les morts tutélaires et durs
Ils désertent pour toi...
Category
Mid-20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Bronze
Mid Century Modern Novelty Pro Golf Ball Table Desk Lighter
Located in Van Nuys, CA
This mid-century vintage lighter is a unique collectible or gift, shaped like a golf ball and clubs, and holds a lighter at the top slot. Its intriguing history adds to its allure, h...
Category
1950s Mid-Century Modern Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Plastic
The Complete Illustrated Encyclopedia of American Motorcycles by Tod Rafferty
Located in North Hollywood, CA
The Complete Illustrated Encyclopedia of American Motorcycles by Tod Rafferty.
This lavishly illustrated history winds its way through the 20th century by exploring such popular Amer...
Category
Late 20th Century American American Classical Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Paper
Stereophonic RR-126 Radio by F.lli Castiglioni for Brionvega, 1960s
Located in bruxelles, BE
White Brionvega stereo radio. The radio and record player work perfectly. There is also a bluethoot to connect the mobile phone. It has been completely overhauled by an engineer. Dim...
Category
1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Metal
Harley Davidson Rolling Sculpture Hardcover Book
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Harley Davidson Rolling Sculpture Hardcover Book by Doug Mitchel Celebration of Harley-Davidson Motorcycles.The book features full-color photography of over 100 classic and contempor...
Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Paper
MLB Poster Nolan Ryan, 1978, United States of America
Located in Praha, CZ
Major League Baseball, Nolan Ryan displayed, made in 1978, printed in USA.
Made of paper and plastic
Original condition with a hole (shown in the pictures posted), cleaned.
Category
1970s Central American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Plastic, Paper
'An American in Paris' Original Vintage Australian Daybill Movie Poster, 1951
Located in Devon, GB
Printed in stunning stone lithography, this scarce Australian Daybill poster joyfully declared the original Australian release of MGM's 'An American in Paris' as "the gayest, the most gorgeous, the greatest musical ever." Inspired by a 1928 orchestral composition by George Gershwin, the classic 1951 musical starred Gene Kelly as an American ex-GI who remains in Paris after the war to become an artist and falls for a gamine Parisienne played by a nineteen year old Leslie Caron, who Kelly had spotted performing with the Ballets des Champs-Élysées two years previously. Following the devastation and trauma of the Second World War, producer Arthur Freed...
Category
1950s Australian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Linen, Paper
1950s Rare Marijuana Ashtray Bowl San Francisco Architect California SF
Located in Hyattsville, MD
Amazing 1950s sculptural ashtray created in the MCM period in San Francisco. Small studio craft, low numbers produced. Signed.
Category
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Brass
The New Clay Techniques and Approaches to Jewelry Making, book
Located in North Hollywood, CA
The New Clay: Techniques and Approaches to Jewelry Making.
A wonderful book, with over 100 color photos, on making intricate beads and jewelry using modeling clays such as "Fimo" and "Sculpey."
Everything you need to know to work with the new polymer clays is covered clearly in this book. Excellent working diagrams show how easy it is to make the most complex looking designs.
One of the first books...
Category
20th Century American American Classical Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Paper
Mid-Century Modern British Ilford Selo Photography Film Store Display
Located in Hamilton, Ontario
This store display was made for the English film manufacturer, Ilford to advertise their Selo film line during the 1960s in the period Mid-Century Modern style. The frame of the disp...
Category
Mid-20th Century English Mid-Century Modern Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Metal
Signed Multi Faceted Murano Glass Ashtray Attributed to Flavio Poli, Italy
Located in Miami, FL
Multifaceted brown and yellow Sommerso Murano glass ashtray, glass bowl attributed to Flavio Poli.
Brown and amber glass cased into clear glass and a highly decorative twelve faced g...
Category
Late 20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Murano Glass
1960s Rare Bruce Fox Design Cast Cigar Ashtray Tennis Motif with Pipe Rest
By Bruce Fox
Located in Hyattsville, MD
A wonderful tennis themed ashtray by a small outfit out of Columbia Pennsylvania, called Bruce Fox Designs. Appears to be unused.
Category
1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Aluminum
Winner Take Nothing by Ernest Hemingway, First Edition with Original DJ, 1933
Located in Colorado Springs, CO
Hemingway, Ernest. Winner Take Nothing. New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1933. First edition, first printing. Octavo. In original publisher's board and original unclipped dust jack...
Category
1930s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Paper
Original Exhibition Catalog – Sculptures 1979 by Moisès Villèlia, Martha Jackson
Located in Barcelona, ES
Original Exhibition Catalog – Sculptures 1979 by Moisès Villèlia, Martha Jackson Gallery, New York
Artist: Moisès Villèlia
Exhibition: Sculptures 197...
Category
1970s Spanish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Paper
Blaupunkt Colorado 60's Plant
By Blaupunkt
Located in Milano, IT
System with power of 5 5 W. consisting of tube radio, and turntable in addition Bluetooth system (BT 5.3) that allows you to connect any kind of smartphones and tablets, all complete...
Category
1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Wood
1960s Emil Milan Rosewood Brass Table Lighter Sculpture American Studio Craft
By Emil Milan
Located in Hyattsville, MD
Wonderful and rare large table lighter by Emil Milan in E.T. rosewood. Lighter is not functioning, will need flint and fuel.
Category
1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Wood
Vintage Carved Wood Decorative Golf Bag
Located in New York, NY
Heavily carved solid wood golf bag. Custom made and one of a kind. Nice item for a collector or golf enthusiast. Has a metal insert inside.
Category
1960s Mid-Century Modern Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Metal
1950 Max Ingrand Fontana Arte Design Italy Crystal Ashtray
By Fontana Arte
Located in Brescia, IT
Bowl
Fontana Arte
Italy, 1950
Chiseled Crystal
Excellent Conditions
Vintage Original
Category
1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Crystal
1950s fine Tooled Leather Western Theme Ladies Handbag Purse
Located in Ferndale, MI
Nicely and highly tooled western theme leather purse . Decorated on both sides and the interior . Open the flap to find red interior and equestrian embellishment . Wonderful conditi...
Category
Mid-20th Century American American Classical Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Leather
Rare Cigar Case in Bench Form
Located in Mexico City, CDMX
circa 1970. We offer this Rare Cigar Case in Bench Form.
Category
1970s North American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Metal
Vintage WW2 Era Genco "Four Aces" Military Pilot Pinball Machine Back Glass
Located in Hamilton, Ontario
This vintage back glass was made by Genco of the United States for their 'Four Aces" military inspired pinball arcade game. The back glass is presumably silk screened in multiple col...
Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Glass
Rosewood Watch Holder, Small Pocket Watch Stand with Applied Decoration
Located in Oxfordshire, GB
Rosewood watch holder.
Small pocket watch stand with applied decoration. A must have item for those who have a pocket watch. Not only is the pocke...
Category
1840s English Regency Antique Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Wood
Helbros Tonneau Shape Gold Filled Art Deco Mens Manual Dress Watch w/ Rubies
By Helbros Watch Co.
Located in Van Nuys, CA
Original 1940 Swiss-made gold-filled Men's dress watch by Helbros features an elegant Art Deco design with a unique tonneau-shaped case. The watch is adorned with rubies at the corne...
Category
1940s Swiss Mid-Century Modern Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Gold
1970s Brutalist Biomorphic Brass Ring attribution Jack Boyd
By Jack Boyd
Located in Chula Vista, CA
MCM brutalist Ring biomorphic spore design
Attributed to Jack Boyd
unmarked
1.38 d x .75w x 1.5 h
Preowned original vintage
Refer to images listed
Category
1970s Mid-Century Modern Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Brass
Brass Pipe Holder by Hertha Baller
By Herta Baller
Located in Vienna, AT
Brass blackened pipe holder manufactured in the 1950s in Austria by Hertha Baller.
Category
1950s Austrian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Brass
Raymor Style Vintage Bronze Black Gold Glazed Ceramic Asymmetric Ashtray Italy
By Raymor
Located in Miami, FL
Vintage glazed black, bronze and gold Ceramic ashtray, vide poche, catchall attributed to Raymor Pottery, Italy.
Handcrafted Pottery Ashtray and a highly decorative asymmetric desig...
Category
Late 20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Ceramic
Vintage Taxidermy Elk Foot Ash Tray on Wooden Base
Located in Chicago, IL
Vintage Taxidermy Elk Foot Ash Tray on Wooden Base
Featuring vintage taxidermy elk hoof ashtray on wooden base. Perfect for your private lodge or hotel.
Category
Mid-20th Century Unknown Mid-Century Modern Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Animal Skin
Mid-Century Coro Creeper Earrings
By Coro Costume Jewelry
Located in Asheville, NC
Ice blue rhinestones delicately climb the ear on these fabulous mid century Coro creeper earrings. A luminescent silver tone strand ties this leafy bo...
Category
1940s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Pair of Miguel Garcia Martinez Modernist Taxco Mexico Sterling Cuff Links
Located in Ferndale, MI
Pair of Miguel Garcia designed modernist cuff links from Taxco Mexico . One Marked " Miguel Mexico " the second marked "925 Sterling " .
Miguel Garcia Martinez was a well known de...
Category
Mid-20th Century Mid-Century Modern Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Sterling Silver
Pal Kepenyes Brutalist Bronze Ring
By Pal Kepenyes
Located in Mexico City, MX
A 1970's Brutalist bronze ring by Hungarian-born Mexican artist Pal Kepenyes. The ring has a pine shaped top.
Ring size: 5.5 (16 mm. Ø)
A sculptor fr...
Category
1970s Mexican Mid-Century Modern Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Bronze
Olivetti lettera DL by Sottsass Ettore design in years '70
Located in Biella, IT
Olivetti lettera DL by Sottsass Ettore design in years '70 working
very good vintage with her original box
Category
1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Metal
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.