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Collectibles and Curiosities For Sale
Period: 1960s
Period: 1950s
Large Bracelet With Mediterranean Coral Branches
Located in Madrid, ES
Large Bracelet With Mediterranean Coral Branches
LARGE BRACELET WITH BRANCHES OF MEDITERRANEAN CORAL ELEGANT ITALIAN BRACELET FROM THE 1950s WITH BRANCH...
Category
1950s Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Coral
Set of Japanese Hand Painted Perfume or Snuff Bottle in Original Box
Located in Chillerton, Isle of Wight
Set of Japanese Hand Painted Perfume or Snuff Bottle in Original Box
This is a Complete set of 4 Japanese Reverse Hand Painted and Glass Snuff or...
Category
1950s Japonisme Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Art Glass
14K Gold Three Diamond Ring
By G. None
Located in Bronx, NY
This stunning sparkling ladies diamond ring features three brilliant cut round diamonds prong set in a 14K white gold setting mounted on a 14K yellow gold band. The center diamond is...
Category
1960s American Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Gold
Mid-Century Modern Industrial Explosion Proof Phone by Crouse-Hinds C1955
By Crouse-Hinds
Located in Port Jervis, NY
Rare and unusual industrial explosion proof telephone by Crouse-Hinds from the 50s. Cast aluminum with a bakelite style phone. No dial. Supposed to be from a blasting site. Untested....
Category
1950s American Industrial Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Aluminum
Rare 911 Porsche Friction Tin Toy by Bandai Toy Co. Made in Japan Circa 1960's
Located in Incline Village, NV
Offered here is a whitish/cream colored friction tin toy 911 Porsche circa 1960's, marked at the bottom; "Porsche" in addition to the Bandai Toy Company logo embossed, along with "Made in Japan" designation being noted.
The Bandai Toy Company is a post war toy company established in Taito, Japan circa 1950 and is still conducting business today, albeit, it has shifted from toy manufacturing to video toy accessories.
This is a very rare toy and is coveted by collectors of both toys and fast cars. Except for the odd and minor scratch here and there, the toy is in very nice, all original condition with absolutely no restoration or touch up to the paint or mechanism (see images).
The action and friction functionality works well (see video).
Motor and engine mechanics and nomenclature are colorfully displayed through the plastic rear trunk window (see image); while the colorful interior can be seen through the side window.
Car is all tin, with rubber tires and plastic windows.
Dimensions: 10 1/4" long x 4" wide x 3 1/4" high.
Priced competitively; note that this toy doesn't become available very often and the few that have turned up in recent years , don't work and are several hundred dollars more than mine.
Note: After 40 plus years of dealing and collecting toys, I am justly qualified to guarantee and present the authenticity of antique and vintage toys; important considering fakes and reproductions in the marketplace
it would behoove an enterprising collector, dealer, or decorator to take advantage of the opportunity to buy as many of the vintage tin...
Category
1960s Japanese Folk Art Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Tin
Brooch in the form of a Rose by G. Raspini, Italy 1960s
Located in Roma, IT
Brooch in the form of a Rose, with its original case.
Realized in Italy, Arezzo, by G. Raspini in 1960s.
Silver. L. 17.8 cm, 44 g.
Hallmarked with guarantee and maker's marks as we...
Category
1960s Italian Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Sterling Silver
Central Park Pinball Machine, 1966 USA
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Vintage 'Central Park' pinball machine from 1966. Designed by Ed Krynski and manufactured by Gottlieb. 3,100 units produced in total. In excellent working condition. Great visuals and sounds.
Central Park is a very difficult game due to the large gap between the flippers. The goal of the game is to raise a special called the Tree Bonus by collecting numbers. The player can collect numbers by hitting targets at the top of the playfield.
Flippers (2), Pop bumpers (4), Slingshots (2), Standup targets (12), Left and right dual outlanes. Mechanical backbox animation (monkey rings...
Category
1960s American Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Metal
1960s Carl Aubock Werkstatte #5606 Nickel Chess Set in Box Vintage Midcentury
Located in Hyattsville, MD
Carl Aubock III
chess set
Austria, 1968
Beech, stained beech, nickel-plated steel, enameled steel
Box W 18 x D 6 x H 1 5/8 in.
King H 2 15/16 in.
Sold with vintage original...
Category
1960s Austrian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Nickel
Vintage Child's Toy Tin Large Spinning Top by Chein Company, American, Ca. 1950
Located in Incline Village, NV
Highly colorful and completely operational hard to find LARGE tin child's toy spinning top made by the J. Chein Company, Harrison, New Jersey, Circa 1950. It works great and is in co...
Category
1950s American Folk Art Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Tin
Les Porcelainiers du XVIII Siecle Francais, 1964, french, Connaissance des Arts
By Hachette et Cie
Located in San Francisco, CA
Serge Gauthier, director de la manufacture nationale de Sevres,
conservateur du musee municipal de Limoges wrote the preface
to this book.
The story of French Porcellain is fascinati...
Category
1960s French Mid-Century Modern Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Paper
Vintage Orange Amber Beaded Necklace, 1960
Located in Oostrum-Venray, NL
Do you also want to wear something nice and especially something that others don't have, this might be something for you.
This is an amber necklace which is strung with irregular ...
Category
1960s Baltic Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Multi-gemstone
Ship model of Brig Pilgrim by Hitchcock
Located in Norwell, MA
Plank on frame model of the American brig "Pilgrim" by William Hitchcock. This is an early model by this highly regarded builder, Circa 1965. The hull is built admiralty style with e...
Category
1960s North American Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Wood
Original Iconic Op-Art Poster Created by Lanz Wyman for Mexico 68 Olympic Games
Located in Mexico, DF
Original Op-Art Posters printed for the Mexico 68 Olympic Games. The iconic design derives from the logo that integrated very successfully "Mexico 68" with t...
Category
1960s Mexican Modern Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Paper
Large Bracelet With Mediterranean Coral Branches
Located in Madrid, ES
Large Bracelet With Mediterranean Coral Branches
LARGE BRACELET WITH BRANCHES OF MEDITERRANEAN CORAL ELEGANT ITALIAN BRACELET FROM THE 1950s WITH BRANCH...
Category
1950s Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Coral
Vintage Georg Jensen Silver Ring No. 91 by Nanna Ditzel
By Nanna Ditzel
Located in Esbjerg, DK
A Nanna Ditzel for Georg Jensen sterling silver ring. Designed as a curved undulating sculptural form. It sits beautifully on the finger, catching light from different angles. The ri...
Category
1950s Danish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Sterling Silver
Midcentury European Brown and Green Ceramic Cross Otherworldly Christ Figure
Located in Chicago, IL
With a wink to brutalism, this wall cross is a unique midcentury work by Flemish artisans. The dark brown hue, reminiscent of weathered patina, adds a sense of history to the cross, while the textured slate-like ceramic further enhances its character.
The focal point of this cross is the subtle and mysterious Christ figure at its center. As if worn down by the passage of time, the relief of the outline hints at a transcendent presence. The blend of dark brown and green tones creates an ethereal quality, evoking a sense of otherworldliness and inviting contemplation.
Our cross collection encompasses a wide range of styles, from futurist modernism to raw brutalism, offering many possibilities for creating a custom wall of modernist crucifixes...
Category
1950s European Folk Art Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Ceramic
1950s Dutch Industrial Scientific Convex Lens Brass Stand Cast Iron Tripod Base
Located in Haarlem, NL
Scientific school or laboratory convex shaped lens on a brass stand with cast iron tripod base.
The heavy convex glass lens is 7 1/2 cm (2.95") th...
Category
1950s Dutch Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Metal, Brass, Iron
Catch-22 by Joseph Heller, First Edition, First Printing, in Original DJ, 1961
By Joseph Heller
Located in Colorado Springs, CO
Heller, Joseph. Catch-22. New York: Simon and Schuster, 1961. First edition, first printing. Octavo. In original blue cloth boards, stamped in white. In the original unclipped dust jacket. Presented with a new archival ¼ leather and cloth clamshell.
Presented is the first edition, first printing of Joseph Heller’s Catch-22. Catch-22 was published by Simon and Schuster, in October of 1961. This book is presented in the original publisher’s blue cloth boards, titled and embossed in white, and the original, unclipped dust-jacket. The Simon and Schuster “A Note to the Reader” postcard is laid in. The book comes with a new, archival ¼ leather and cloth clamshell.
Catch-22 was Joseph Heller’s first novel and his most acclaimed work. Set during World War II, the novel uses a unique, non-chronological third-person narration, mainly focusing on the life of a B-25 bombardier in the U.S. Army, Captain John Yossarian, and his attempts to avoid bombing runs. Both the title and plot device, “Catch-22” refers to an Air Forces regulation which asserts that a man is considered insane if he willingly agrees to fly dangerous combat missions, but that if he makes the formal request to be relieved of such missions, the very act of making the request proves that he is sane and therefore ineligible to be relieved." By the end of the novel, the phrase is invoked as the explanation for many unreasonable restrictions. “Catch-22” has since entered the English lexicon.
Heller spent eight years writing "Catch-22," and used his own war experiences as inspiration for the novel. From 1942 to 1945, Heller served as a combat bombardier in the Twelfth Air Force and was stationed on the Island of Corsica. Upon publication, the book was not an immediate bestseller, but did elicit glowing reviews from some. “Wildly original, brilliantly comic, brutally gruesome, it is a dazzling performance that will probably outrage nearly as many readers as it delights. In any case, it is one of the most startling first novels of the year and it may make its author famous” (Orville Prescott, New York Times).
It became a publishing sensation thanks to the 1962 paperback edition, which set record sales and benefitted from the national debate surrounding the Vietnam War. In the decades since, it has inspired a feature film, a miniseries, a 50-character stage play, and sold more than 10 million...
Category
1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Leather, Paper
Three-Dimensional Midcentury Italian Wall Plaster Didactic Anatomical, 1950s
Located in Reggio Emilia, IT
Italian midcentury three-dimensional didactic anatomical panel in plaster with Antonio Vallardi Milano label, Italy 1950s
Please note that the item is original of the period and t...
Category
1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Plaster, Wood
Huge Turquoise And Red Coral Necklace 643 g
Located in Madrid, ES
Huge Turquoise And Red Coral Necklace
Huge Turquoise and Red Coral Necklace.These huge polished chunks of turquoise are accented with huge high...
Category
1950s Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Coral
1959 Goldfinger
By Ian Fleming
Located in Bath, GB
A very smart first edition copy of the seventh James Bond novel. With the original Richard Chopping dustwrapper in a fantastic condition.
First Edition, Publishers' Original Binding...
Category
1950s British Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Paper
Big Mid-Century Modern Atomic Molecular Wood Sculpture, 1950s
Located in Benalmadena, ES
Large wooden sculpture that represents an atom, a super decorative object full of history since this type of piece was used in the old science classes, suffering great wear and tear ...
Category
1950s European Mid-Century Modern Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Wood
1960s St Dupont Lighter Silver Design Horizontal
By S.T. Dupont
Located in Biella, IT
S.T. Dupont France lighter sophisticated horizontal line1 first edit two tone silverplate and gold-rose color design in years '60 and is in good used vi...
Category
1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Silver Plate
Burgundy Glossy Ceramic Cross Religious Wall Art
Located in Chicago, IL
Crafted by Flemish artisans, this midcentury religious cross has a burgundy glossy glaze and sinewy Christ figure at its center. Rendered in fluid lines, the interplay of these with ...
Category
1950s European Bohemian Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Ceramic
Georg Jensen Sterling Bracelet designed by Astrid Fog
Located in Toledo, OH
Georg Jensen Sterling Bracelet designed by Astrid Fog. Circa 1969. Georg Jensen iconic original sterling silver bracelet designed by Astrid Fog, Demark. Design #184 early sought afte...
Category
1960s Danish Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Sterling Silver
Clairtone Project G2 Series T11 Console Stereo System & Garrard Turntable
By Clairtone
Located in Vancouver, British Columbia
On offer is a rare completely original Clairtone G2 Series Home Stereo System from 1966 featuring two distinct exotic wooden boxes one that houses the tun...
Category
1960s Canadian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Aluminum
Anna Greta Eker Handmade Brutalist Ring in Sterling Silver
Located in Esbjerg, DK
Intertwined sterling silver ring with pronounced beads. Designed by Anna-Greta Eker for Plus in Norway. circa 1960-1970. Marked ”AGE [+ mark] sterling 925 S Norway”. Measurements: 16...
Category
1960s Norwegian Brutalist Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Sterling Silver
Cromwell Motorcycle Helmet, ACU Approved Pudding Basin Racing Helmet
Located in Oxfordshire, GB
A.C.U approved Cromwell racing motorcycle crash helmet.
A silver painted motorcycle, pudding basin shape helmet made in England by Cromwell. This helmet has a cork interior, fitted with a fabric headband and straps keeping a space between the head and outer case of the helmet. Strong leather neck and ear flaps are also fitted as is a chin strap and goggle strap to the rear. Inside the helmet is a cloth Cromwell trade label stating it conforms to A.C.U requirements, it has the British kite mark and is sized 7. This is an ACU (Auto-Cycle Union) approved racing helmet...
Category
1960s English Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Leather
Wrightsman Collection, 1st Ed. signed by Charles and Jane Wrightsman, 1966-1973
Located in San Francisco, CA
The Wrightsman collection, Vols.I-V, New York, The Metropolitan Museum
of Art, 1966-1973. First Edition, hardcovers with dust jackets. Inscribed by
the Wrightsmans, incl. a Christ...
Category
1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Paper
Mid-Century Modern Sterling Silver Thermometer by Tiffany & Co.
Located in New York, NY
Mid-Century Modern-Period, sterling silver thermometer in working condition, Tiffany and Company, New York, circa 1950s. Works are made by...
Category
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Metal, Sterling Silver
Vintage Bracelet In Carved Red Coral And pearl Beads
Located in Madrid, ES
Vintage Bracelet In Carved Red Coral And pearls Beads
VERY ELEGANT BRACELET FROM THE 70'S MADE WITH MEDITERRANEAN RED CORAL CARVED WITH SHAPES O...
Category
1960s Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Coral
Alphaville
Located in London, GB
Original French film poster for Jean-Luc Godard's 1965 French New Wave film starring Eddie Constantine, Anna Karina, Akim Tamiroff. This poster was The designed by Jean Mascii (1926-...
Category
1960s French Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Paper
Georg Jensen "Chime" Necklace by Astrid Fog
Located in Toledo, OH
Georg Jensen "Chime" Necklace by Astrid Fog. Circa 1960-1969. Necklace designed by Astrid Fog for Georg Jensen. It has long multiple chains...
Category
1960s Danish Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Sterling Silver
Rebuilt Steinway Model M Grand Piano Black Gloss Cabinet Spade Legs
Located in Leeds, GB
Rebuilt, 1956, Steinway Model M grand piano for sale with a black case and brass fittings. Piano has an eighty-eight note keyboard and a two-pedal lyr...
Category
1950s German Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Brass
Large Nautical Signal Flag in Frame
Located in Norwell, MA
Maritime signal flag in frame showing a large flag stitched in panels of deep orange and blue. With stitched cloth hoist. Large and decorative for the money. Great piece of nautical ...
Category
1950s North American Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Linen
Monumental Malachite Obelisks In Malachite Quartz (Rock Crystal) And Gilt Bronze
Located in Madrid, ES
Monumental Malachite Obelisks In Malachite Quartz (Rock Crystal) And Gilt Bronze
Italian Monumental Malachite Obelisks SPECTACULAR OBELIKS IN MALACHITE Quartz (rock crystal) AND GILT...
Category
1950s Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Malachite
Batman
Located in London, GB
Original US production still for the 1966 film Batman.
This film was based on the Batman television series, and was the first full-length feature film adaptation of the DC Comics' c...
Category
1960s American Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Paper
Modernist Atomic 1950s Television by Olympic, Tambour Doors "rocket tuner"
By Olympus
Located in Buffalo, NY
Super Rare! Modernist Atomic 1950s Television by Olympic, Tambour doors "new rocket tuner" Probably one of the best designed T.V'S I...
Category
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Glass, Plastic, Wood, Mahogany
Italian Canary Yellow Glass and Brass Ashtray, circa 1950s, Italy
Located in New York, NY
A beautiful Italian canary yellow glass and brass ashtray, Midcentury Modern period, circa 1950s, Italy. A great piece for a cocktail table, side table, etc. Piece has two supports a...
Category
1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Crystal, Brass
Vintage Mid-1960s Inter Island Big Wave Surfboard by Mike Diffenderfer
Located in Haleiwa, HI
Mid-1960s Vintage Inter Island Surf Shop Big Wave Surfboard. Hand made by the late Mike Diffenderfer (1937-2002). Features a big wave Pipeliner shape design with astounding 4” thick balsa wood center string and 4 complimentary redwood stringers and tailblock. An extraordinary example of a 1960s Big Wave Pipeliner surfboard made by esteemed surfboard design...
Category
1960s American Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Fiberglass, Foam, Hardwood, Softwood
1960s Office Plaque Naval Intelligence Processing System Support Activity Nipssa
Located in Hyattsville, MD
Rare and Obscure Naval Department Office Wall Plaque / Sign.
Plaque Only Dia 15 x Thk 5/8 in.
Category
1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Resin, Walnut
Midcentury Japanese Tin Litho Toy Plymouth Valiant, circa 1962
Located in Port Jervis, NY
Fabulous Japanese tin toy replica of a early 60s Plymouth Valiant sedan. Two tone paint with a tin Litho interior. These cars, 17, came from a lot of ...
Category
1960s Japanese Industrial Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Metal
Vintage Set of Three Amber Necklaces, 1960s
Located in Oostrum-Venray, NL
Do you also want to wear something nice and especially something that others don't have, this might be something for you.
These are three amber necklaces strung with irregular pie...
Category
1960s Baltic Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Multi-gemstone
Large Maritime Signal Flag in Shadow Box Frame
Located in Norwell, MA
Large linen nautical signal flag representing numeral FIVE. Stitched in panels of blue and yellow. White canvas hoist with manila rope and wood toggle. Big dimensions. Circa 1955.
W...
Category
1950s North American Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Linen
Large Nautical Signal Flag in Frame
Located in Norwell, MA
Framed linen signal flag fitted to a shadow box frame. This nautical flag represents the numeral ZERO. With makers label from Annin Flag Company. Stitched in panels of yellow and red...
Category
1950s North American Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Linen
Brass Crucifix, Italy, 1960s
Located in Palermo, IT
Brass crucifix, Italy, 1960s
It belonged to an elderly aunt of my parents.
Small signs of the time.
Category
1960s Italian Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Brass
1960s Gorgeous Smoking Set in Onyx, Made in Italy
Located in Milano, IT
1960s Gorgeous smoking set in onyx. The table lighter works perfectly. Made in Italy. The items are in excellent condition.
Dimension:
Table Lighter
diameter 3,39" x 4,33" H inche...
Category
1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Onyx
Industrial Design large Pulley, Cable Pull by Lyon Lilienfeld, 1950s
Located in Saarburg, RP
Old large Pulley Industrial Design - 1950/60s
The old pulley (cable pull) in industrial design is an impressive piece of the past times. It combines the charm and sturdiness of the past industrial era.
This iron pulley...
Category
1950s European Industrial Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Metal
Anemometer 1950 Coal Mining Vintage Science Equipment in Brass and Steel
Located in Miami, FL
Mechanical desk anemometer in brass.
Very interesting scientific coal mining anemometer, made up back in the 1950's with brass and blackened steel parts...
Category
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Brass, Steel, Iron
Diamond Smugglers by Ian Fleming, First Edition, in Dust Jacket, 1957
By Ian Fleming
Located in Colorado Springs, CO
Fleming, Ian. The Diamond Smugglers. London: Jonathan Cape, 1957. Octavo. First edition, first impression. In the original dust jacket and original black cloth-textured boards. Prese...
Category
1950s American Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Paper
Mid-Century Modern Architectural Model of an Atlantic City Hotel, circa 1960
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A very cool Mid-Century Modern Architectural Model of an Atlantic City hotel, incredible detail, housed in lucite box, circa 1960.
Category
1960s American Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Lucite
Globe Cigarette Dispenser with Music Playing Globe Lighter, Brass, Germany, 1950
Located in Vienna, AT
Globe cigarette dispenser with music playing globe lighter, brass, Germany, 1950s.
Category
1950s Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Brass
Industrial Design large Pulley, Cable Pull with Hook, 1950s
Located in Saarburg, RP
Old large Pulley with Hook Industrial Design - 1950/60s
The old pulley (cable pull) in industrial design is an impressive piece of the past times. It combines the charm and sturdiness of the past industrial era.
This iron pulley...
Category
1950s European Industrial Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Metal
Colorful Waldorf School Tractor with Movable Front Axle, 1950s Germany
Located in Nürnberg, Bayern
Old painted Waldorf school wooden toy tractor with movable front axle from Germany. 1950s / 1960s.
Category
1950s German Mid-Century Modern Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Metal
Lancel tennis Ashtray, France, 1960s
Located in Paris, FR
Tennis ashtray by Lancel , France 1960's.
Category
1960s French Modern Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Metal
Wire Cage for Shipping Shell Fish
Located in Chicago, IL
Wire cage with feet. Used for transporting shell fish. Fun and rare. Multiples available.
Category
1960s French Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Metal
Ships Engine Order Telegraph with Polish Commands
Located in Norwell, MA
Solid brass ships engine order bridge telegraph. This is an American ships telegraph that has been fitted with faceplates with ships commands in Polish language for forward and aster...
Category
1950s North American Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Brass
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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