Collectibles and Curiosities
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Collectibles and Curiosities For Sale
Antique Fine Handcarved Oak Gothic Revival Wall Shrine / Chapel for Statuette
Located in Lisse, NL
Rare and good condition, Gothic-art shrine for standing or wall-hanging.
This handsome and decorative, Gothic wall shrine is completely hand-crafted out of solid oak and it will look awesome, no matter where you decide to mount or place her. It must have taken its creator quite a few days to first draw this intricate design on paper and then hand carve the entire piece out of solid oak. The Gothic Style elements are deeply handcarved in both doors and they make this shrine highly decorative and an absolute joy to own and look at. This cabinet chapel (or chapel cabinet) comes with its brass lock in perfect working order and also with its original gothic style key. The handgrip is in fact a Gothic trefoil symbol (for the trinity). What also makes this piece extra attractive is the Gothic church window-like frame behind the doors. It is among the finest we have seen to date and on top of that this antique also has a beautiful and rich patina. By the way, the bronze Mary statuette is not included in our price. Finally, thanks to the hook in the back, mounting this antique chapel...
Category
Early 20th Century French Gothic Revival Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Brass
Fine 19th C. German Wood Brass Carpenters Plough Plane Signed Steinlin
Located in Rochester, NY
Antique 19th century German screw arm plough plane carpenters tool in beautifully aged original old color patina to wood and brass w/ very fine hand crafted construction. Stamped Ste...
Category
19th Century German Antique Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Brass, Steel
Jean Royere Book by Catherine and Stephane de Beyrie and Jacques Ouaiss
By Jean Royère
Located in New York, NY
Book with stiff pictorial wrappers showcasing the work of renowned French designer Jean Royere, with many of the designs in this collection originating from Lebanese commissions. Pub...
Category
Early 2000s American Mid-Century Modern Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Paper
Large Antique French Gilt Bronze Gothic Altar Jesus Statue Griffin Candlestick
Located in Portland, OR
A fine & large 33" tall antique French Gothic ecclesiastical gilt bronze "Vive Jesus" candlestick, circa 1890.
The candlestick is very finely cast of heavy gilt bronze, the top havin...
Category
1890s French Gothic Revival Antique Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Bronze
Mid Century Gold Bracelet 18K 2 tone Italian Mesh Bracelet 1960s Gold Honeycomb
Located in Wommelgem, VAN
18k Yellow and White gold flexible mesh bracelet.
expertly crafted with an intricate honeycomb / beehive pattern of yellow and white gold creating two-color unique geometric design....
Category
19th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Antique Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Gold
Steiff Collectible Teddy Bear Toy Store Kober Vienna exclusive, Vintage Austria
By Steiff
Located in Nuernberg, DE
The Classic 1920 Teddybear is the perfect gift for every Steiff lover. The teddy bear is made of the finest mohair and is stuffed with wood shavings.
This product is not a toy and is...
Category
1980s German Folk Art Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Mohair
Rare Set of Three Santa Claus Mercury Glass Christmas Ornament Vintage, 1930s
Located in Nuernberg, DE
A rare Christmas ornament set of three. Each is made from mouth blown glass, this would be a great addition for your Christmas or feather tree. Size always given for the tallest item...
Category
1930s German Folk Art Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Wire
1968-1970 Hardbound Vogue Magazines, Set of 9
By Vogue
Located in Stamford, CT
Set of nine hardcover cloth bound ex-libris Vogue magazines from 1968-1970. Dark green cloth binding with gold embossed lettering.
Featuring many iconic covers and editorials from D...
Category
1960s American Modern Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Canvas, Paper
Fine Brass Cased Pocket Compass by Short & Mason Ltd., London c.1910
Located in Bath, GB
A very fine English brass cased compass, professionally cleaned and polished restoring it to it's former glory. The face signed Short & Mason / London together with the brand name "...
Category
1910s British Edwardian Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Brass
Art Deco Hand Carved Wooden Figural Humidor Bird Head, ca. 1930s
Located in Barntrup, DE
An Art Deco hand-carved wooden figural humidor in the shape of a bird head, circa the 1930s.
This adorable, dark brown, linden wood humidor or a small box is masterfully carved and f...
Category
1930s Swiss Art Deco Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Metal
Old Original Print Depicting the Ruins of the City of Palmyra, Syria, 1782
Located in Langweer, NL
The print is a detailed 18th-century engraving depicting the ruins of the ancient city of Palmyra in Syria. It is titled "Ruins of Palmyra" and was published by Harrison & Co in the ...
Category
1780s Antique Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Paper
Blue & Other Colors with Henri Matisse
Located in New York, NY
Henri Matisse’s abstract cut-outs are used to teach colors in this innovative read-aloud board book
Blue & Other Colors takes children through Henri Matisse’s color palette, one art...
Category
2010s Chinese Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Paper
Early Japanese Takeda Ningyo
Located in Point Richmond, CA
Early Japanese Takeda Ningyo, depicting an actor on stage in the role of an emperor, standing, costumed in silk and kinran brocades holding a paper scepter (shaku), the head carved o...
Category
Late 18th Century Japanese Edo Antique Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Wood
'Rackham' English Fairy Tales. Retold by Flora Annie Steel, 1918 LEATHER BOUND!
Located in Hillsborough, NJ
AUTHOR: STEEL, Flora Annie (Arthur Rackham).
TITLE: English Fairy Tales. Retold by Flora Annie Steel.
PUBLISHER: NY: Macmillan Co., 1918.
DESCRIPTION: LARGE PAPER LIMITED E...
Category
1910s Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Leather
Sotheby's, Objets De Vitrine from the Collection of Mrs. George Keppel, Geneva
Located in valatie, NY
Sotheby's, objects de Vitrine from the collection of Mrs. George Keppel, Geneva 5/11/89. There are 73 lots on 34 pages in this softcover catalogue, all lots are described and color illustrated. The catalog is extremely rare and includes, snuff boxes, scent bottles, objects of Vertu, jewels and other objects from, Cartier, Fabergé, Thomas Hughes...
Category
1980s Swiss Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Paper
Designing Hollywood Homes Movie Houses
Located in New York, NY
Stephen Shadley, interior designer to the stars from Diane Keaton and Robert Altman to Jennifer Aniston, Matthew Modine, and Ryan Murphy presents here ...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary American Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Paper
Moroccan Stone Encrusted Silver and Bone Dagger
Located in Douglas Manor, NY
3-451 hand crafted Moroccan silver dagger with stone inlay and animal bone handle.
Category
1920s Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Agate, Silver
Michelangelo's Dream by Stephanie Buck, 1st Ed Exhibition Catalog
Located in valatie, NY
Michelangelo's Dream by Stephanie Buck. Published by Courtauld Gallery, 2020. 1st Ed softcover exhibition catalo. Published to accompany the exhibition "Michelangelo's Dream" held at the Courtauld Gallery, Somerset House, London: 18 Feb.-16 May 2010. Illustrated in color. An intensive examination of the history of one of the Courtauld Gallery's most prized possessions, 'Il Sogno' (The Dream), considered one of the finest drawings by Michelangelo, and one which had much personal meaning for the artist. Michelangelo's masterpiece The Dream ( Il Sogno) has been described as one of the finest of all Italian Renaissance drawings...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary English Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Paper
Antique Book, Days of King Arthur, Mythology, English, Fiction, Late Victorian
Located in Hele, Devon, GB
This is an antique mythology book, Days of King Arthur by Charles Henry Hanson. An English language, hard bound fictional work with illustrations by Gus...
Category
Late 19th Century British Late Victorian Antique Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Paper
Glass Art Nouveau to Art Deco by Victor Arwas
Located in valatie, NY
Glass Art Nouveau to Art Deco by Victor Arwas. Academy Editions, London, 1980. Second Edition hardcover with dust jacket. 256pp 104 color plates and 212 b&w. The most important and c...
Category
1980s English Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Paper
Andy Warhol a Retrospective Hard-Cover Coffee Table Book, 1989
Located in New York, NY
An '80s Late-20th century 'Andy Warhol A Retrospective' hard-cover library or coffee table book by The Museum of Modern Art, New York, 1989...
Category
1980s American Expressionist Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Paper
Norwegian Folk Costumes 'Norske Folkedragter' 1st Edition
Located in valatie, NY
Norwegian Folk Costumes (Norske Folkedragter) by Einar Lexow and Joh. F.L. Dreiers. Norsk Folkemuseum, 1913. 1st Ed hardcover. Norwegian traditional dress ...
Category
1910s Norwegian Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Paper
New York Beat: Jean-Michel Basquiat Downtown 81 (Inscribed by Glenn O’Brien)
Located in Brooklyn, NY
New York Beat: Jean-Michel Basquiat in Downtown 81: INSCRIBED by GLENN O’BRIEN:
Inscribed by early Basquiat champion & historic downtown art scene critic & curator, Glenn O’Brien, ‘New York Beat’, brilliantly documents the production of Downtown 81, director Edo Bertoglio's seminal take of New York's Downtown scene, featuring a turn, 19 year old Jean-Michel Basquiat as semi-biographical protagonist.
Includes text by the film’s co-producer, Glenn O'Brien - who has hand inscribed this example; with photographs by Bertoglio & Maripol. Reverse of interior jacket forms a striking vertical poster...
Category
Early 2000s American Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Paper
Spanish Colonial Polychrome Nino
Located in Los Angeles, CA
El Niño Jesús (Baby Jesus)
Guatemala, Spanish Colonial Period (17th–18th century)
Wood, gesso, polychrome, and glass eyes
This expressive sculpture of the Christ Child was crafted i...
Category
19th Century Guatemalan Spanish Colonial Antique Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Wood, Glass, Gesso
Joan Miro by Carolyn Lanchner, 1st Ed
Located in valatie, NY
Joan Miro by Carolyn Lanchner. 1st Ed softcover catalog. Published by Museum of Modern Art, New York, NY, 1993. Henri Matisse, 1st Ed softcover catalog. Published in conjunction with...
Category
1990s American Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Paper
Aquascapes II: Water in Japanese Landscape Architecture
Located in Richmond, VA
ESCRIPTION
Vintage hardcover monograph on the role of water in contemporary Japanese landscape architecture. Published in 1994, 224 pages. Text in English and Japanese, printed in Ja...
Category
1990s Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
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
Antique Chinese Carved Amethyst Peach Pendant 14K Gold Natural Pearl Necklace
Located in New York, NY
Exquisitely carved antique Chinese amethyst peach amulet pendant on 14K yellow gold, natural pearl and faceted amethyst long chain necklace
19th Centu...
Category
19th Century Chinese Qing Antique Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Amethyst, Gold
Hudson River Journey Images from Lake Tear of the Clouds Signed 1st Ed
Located in valatie, NY
Hudson River Journey Images from Lake Tear of the Clouds to New York Harbor by Hardie Truesdale and Joanne Michaels. Signed Stated 1st Ed hardcover with dust jacket by Countryman Pre...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary American Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Paper
Vintage 1960s Souvenir Building Architectural Model Berlin Bear, Metal Statue
Located in Nuernberg, DE
A classic decorative Berlin bear statue. Some wear with a nice patina, but this is old-age. Made of metal. This item was bought as a souvenir in Ber...
Category
1960s German Mid-Century Modern Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Metal
One & Other Numbers with Alexander Calder
Located in New York, NY
Practice counting using some of the most famous sculptures in the world!
One & Other Numbers features sculptures by master sculptor Alexander Calder. Calder’s playful and often vibr...
Category
2010s Chinese Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Paper
16th Century Map of Saudi Arabia, the Persian Gulf and Red Sea, ca. 1574
Located in Langweer, NL
Ptolemaic map of the Arabian Peninsula based on the 1548 map of Giacomo Gastaldi. It covers nearly all of the peninsula, but does not include the head of the Red Sea. The coastlines ...
Category
16th Century Antique Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Paper
Tibet Vintage Pair Amulet Pendants Nine And Four Eye Dzi Beads
Located in South Burlington, VT
A unique pair (2), valuable and powerful Protection Amulet Dzi from Tibet
An old Tibetan or Central Asian nine and four eye agates Dzi Beads dating to the ...
Category
20th Century Chinese Qing Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Agate
19th Century Mahogany Barometer F Somalvico Antique Weather Measuring Instrument
Located in Milan, IT
Barometer complete with clock signed F. Somalvico N ° 11 Brook Str. Holborn London datable between 1810 and 1820. Finely crafted mahogany wood case with cedar wood edges. Large silve...
Category
1810s British Antique Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Mahogany
Scale Model of Blériot XI BL 242 AG-22 from the collection of Thierry Despont
Located in New York, NY
This charming model airplane came from the personal collection of Thierry Despont (1948 - 2023), perhaps best known for his architectural practice—which played integral roles in the ...
Category
20th Century English Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Brass
BR Western Highlands Original Vintage Travel Poster by Edward Halliday, 1950
Located in Devon, GB
Produced for British Railways to promote rail travel to the Scottish Highlands, this scarce British quad royal travel poster for the Western Highlands features a picturesque and peac...
Category
1950s British Mid-Century Modern Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Paper, Linen
Vintage Karl Griesbaum Automatronic Singing Bird Cage, Made in Germany
Located in Norwood, NJ
Vintage automatronic wind-up singing bird cage crafted by Karl Griesbaum in Germany. Automation makes the caged bird sing, flutter its tail and move its beak and head about. The cage...
Category
Early 20th Century German Victorian Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Brass
1980's Postmodern Babysitters Club Clear Transistor Collectible Phone
Located in San Diego, CA
Really cool and hard to find in working condition lucite clear phone, a classic from the 1980's era great condition very light use. by Conairphone.
Category
20th Century American Post-Modern Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Lucite
19th Century Wooden English Barometer Antique Forecast Weather Instrument
Located in Milan, IT
Wooden barometer measuring instrument English manufacture made in the mid 19th century, silver-plated brass dial engraved with meteorological indicati...
Category
1850s British Antique Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Wood
Eileen Gray: Objects and Furniture Design (Book)
Located in North Yorkshire, GB
by Sandra Dachs, Patricia De Muga & Laura Garcia Hintzo
Focuses on Eileen Gray, a breakaway designer in a world dominated by male-centric style schools
Besides an introductory essay, each title in the By Architects series is compiled by key modern architects through sketches, drawings, photos of the original productions, and ambient shootings
A design-orientated book for a design-orientated series, Eileen Gray boasts an innovative layout and a special binding
Neglected for most of her career, Eileen Gray (1878-1976) is now regarded as one of the most important furniture designers and architects of the early twentieth century and the most influential woman in those fields. Her work inspired both modernism and Art Deco.
Eileen Gray was to stand alone throughout her career, first as a lacquer artist, then a furniture designer, and finally as an architect. At a time when other leading designers were almost all male and mostly members of one movement or another - whether a loose grouping like De Stijl in the Netherlands, or a formal one such as the Congrès Internationaux d'Architecture Moderne - Gray remained staunchly independent.
Her design style was as distinctive as her way of working. Gray developed an opulent, luxuriant take on the geometric forms and industrially produced materials used by the International Style designers, such as Le Corbusier, Charlotte Perriand and Mies van der Rohe, who shared much of her ideology. Her voluptuous leather and tubular steel Bibendum Chair and clinically chic E-1027 glass and tubular steel table...
Category
20th Century Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Paper
Christie's: 2011, Duarte Pinto Coelho Collection, Madrid & Trujillo, Spain
Located in valatie, NY
Christie's: 2011, Duarte Pinto Coelho Collection, Madrid & Trujillo, Spain. 1st Ed auction catalog with 753 lots all photographed in color and fully descr...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary English Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Paper
Carl Auböck Handcrafted Midcentury Peanut Brass Figurine Key Ring Chain Holder
Located in Vienna, AT
A charming modernist peanut keyring / keyholder / keychain, designed by Carl Auböck in the 1950s. Handmade of solid polished brass by Werkstätte Auböck in Austria. Fully stamped and ...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Austrian Mid-Century Modern Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Brass
Squares & Other Shapes
Located in New York, NY
Learn the wonder of different shapes through the art of Josef Albers
Squares & Other Shapes uses the vivid artworks of Josef Albers to guide children through a wide range of geometr...
Category
2010s Chinese Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Paper
Cabinet of Curiosities Display Sculptural Artwork, circa 1950
Located in Barcelona, ES
Exquisite cabinet of Curiosities showcasing a stunning collection of plaster figures and pieces, elegantly presented within a wood and glass display case reminiscent of a Classic scu...
Category
1950s Spanish Modern Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Plaster, Wood
Awesome Antique Bronze Gothic Revival 9 Light Chandelier with Phoenix Sculpture
Located in Lisse, NL
Handcrafted and truly impressive Neo-Gothic Church fixture that can also be used for candles.
Over the decades we have sold a number of very good antique bronze, Gothic light fixtures for both candles and electrical bulbs. However, we never offered one as high and with as many Gothic details as this hand-crafted chandelier. You will rarely come across a Gothic work of religious art that is more elaborate and with as many Gothic details as this fit-for-a-castle pendant...
Category
Late 19th Century French Gothic Revival Antique Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Gold, Bronze
Dunhill Aquarium Half-Giant Table Lighter
By Dunhill, Ben Shillingford
Located in Northampton, GB
Novelty Google Eyed Fish
From our Accessories collection, we are delighted to offer this Dunhill Aquarium Half-Giant Table Lighter. The Aquarium Lighter with a Silver Plated body features a lucite...
Category
1950s English Mid-Century Modern Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Metal, Silver Plate
1952 Invisible Man
By Ralph Ellison
Located in Bath, GB
The sought after first edition, first printing of Ralph Ellison's monumental award winning novel, his first and only work to be published during his lifetime.
The first edition, fir...
Category
1950s American Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Paper
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
Late 19th Century French Tricycle Horse
Located in Buisson, FR
Beautiful and complete tricycle horse with its cast iron details with a stunning patina. Amazing period piece.
This type of 19th century French velocipede tricycle horse was origina...
Category
19th Century European Belle Époque Antique Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Iron
Set of Italian Onyx and White Marble Bookends
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
Set of white and black marble bookends, Italy circa 1960's. Wonderful addition to any home office seeking a classic or modern vibe.
Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Neoclassical Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Marble, Onyx
'Breakfast at Tiffany's' Original Vintage US One Sheet Movie Poster, 1961
Located in Devon, GB
In the pantheon of American movie posters, it doesn't get more iconic than this - the spectacular US one-sheet poster for 'Breakfast at Tiffany's'. Designed by legendary poster artis...
Category
1960s American Modern Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Paper, Linen
La Plume, Special Issue Devoted to Alphonse Mucha
Located in New York, NY
Re-bound set of six consecutive issues of the renowned French magazine La Plume devoted to the work of Art Nouveau artist and graphic designer Alphonse Mucha. Founded in 1889 by Leon...
Category
1890s French Art Nouveau Antique Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Paper
Rare Antique Novelty Sterling Silver Cigar Cutter, 1899
Located in Bath, GB
A magnificent and rare figural sterling silver cigar cutter; the terminal beautifully cast as a Boar's head retaining two original red stone / glas...
Category
1890s British Late Victorian Antique Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Sterling Silver
Treasures of the Qing Court, a Personal Perspective London 7 Nov. 2012 Sotheby's
Located in valatie, NY
Treasures of The Qing Court, A Personal Perspective London 7 November 2012
by Sotheby's. 1st Ed softcover auction catalog. The Qing dynasty, officially the Great Qing, was the last ...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary English Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Paper
Chess Game Set with Handmade Mother-of-Pearl Inlaid Chessboard Black Lacquered
Located in Bochum, NRW
Chess Game Set with Handmade Board Made of Wood and Mother of Pearl Inlaid
An early 1920s Chinese or Vietnamese Export black lacquered Mother-of-Pearl Inlaid Chessboard. The Chessboard measures 38x38cm overall with 4 cm squares. Each square chessboard has an inlaid decor of birds and trees. Included are 32 bakelite chess...
Category
1920s Asian Japonisme Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Plastic, Bakelite, Wood
Tennis Umpire Chair
Located in Oxfordshire, GB
Vintage Tennis Umpire Chair.
A traditional wooden Tennis Umpire Chair finished in green paint, maker unknown. The chair is with arm rests and folds in ste...
Category
20th Century British Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Pine
Givenchy Vintage Necklace with Sun Pendant, 1980s
By Givenchy
Located in Bochum, NRW
Givenchy vintage necklace with sun pendant, France 1980s.
Impressive collier made of thick double chain with an amazing sun motif pendant. In excellent preowned condition. Maker's marks, Givenchy Paris...
Category
1980s French Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Metal
Small French PISTOL FLASK, CUPID, 19th Century
Located in TEYJAT, FR
SMALL FRENCH PISTOL FLASK, 19TH CENTURY
A finely crafted brass and copper flask, measuring 11.5 cm overall, featuring a heavily embossed design of a Cup...
Category
19th Century French Antique 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.
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.