Collectibles and Curiosities
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Collectibles and Curiosities For Sale
Period: 20th Century
Period: 1960s
Rare Set of Six Mercury Glass & Cotton Christmas Ornament Vintage, 1910s
Located in Nuernberg, DE
A rare Christmas ornament set from Germany or Austria. Each is made from mouth blown glass, one of pressed cotton, this would be a great addition for your Christmas or feather tree. ...
Category
1910s German Folk Art Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Wire
14 demountable geometric solids in oak height inch 4.8 1960 Vallardi Milan
Located in Milan, IT
Box containing 14 detachable geometric solids made of oak wood, height 12 cm, housed in their original wooden box. Produced for educational purposes for schools by Antonio Vallardi e...
Category
1960s Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Wood
The Earthly Paradise: A Poem by William Morris in 4 Leatherbound Volumes
Located in San Francisco, CA
A lovely leatherbound 4 volume work by William Morris( 1834-1896) the famous British designer and poet, entitled "The Earthly Paradise" published in 1905 by Longmans, Green and Co. L...
Category
Early 20th Century English Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Leather, Paper
Charlotte’s Web by E. B. White First Edition, First Printing, 1952
Located in Southbury, CT
This exceedingly rare hardcover first edition, first printing of E.B. White's timeless classic, "Charlotte's Web" is a literary classic and trophy for the book collector.
The book ...
Category
Mid-20th Century American Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Paper
Round Bronze Wall Plaque Depicting a Suffering Christ in Tears by Sylvain Norga
Located in Lisse, NL
Small yet impressive, circular bronze sculpture of Jesus, in deep relief.
Having sold many works of religious art we immediately noticed the tears that are on this Christ wall pla...
Category
Early 20th Century Belgian Art Deco Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Bronze
La Ley Del Deseo / The Law of Desire
Located in London, GB
Original Spanish film poster from the 1987 comedy, Thriller Atame! / Tie Me Up Tie Me Down. This film was written and directed by Pedro Almodóvar...
Category
1980s Spanish Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Paper
"The Second World War, " by Winston Churchill
Located in Austin, TX
The Second World War by Winston Churchill from Houghton-Mifflin Company, Boston.
A vintage edition of Winston Churchill's six-volume memoir, The Second World War, for which he was a...
Category
Mid-20th Century American Modern Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Paper
Edwardian Brass and Copper Figural WMF Cigar Cutter Attrib: Ignatius Taschner
Located in Chapel Hill, NC
Arts and Crafts figural metalwork cigar cutter / ashtray. A brass Billy goat cigar cutter, jointed at the hip with integral cutter leaping over a cylindrical copper receptacle mounte...
Category
Early 20th Century German Arts and Crafts Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Brass, Copper
Rare Set of Five Mercury Glass Christmas Ornament Vintage, 1930s
Located in Nuernberg, DE
A rare Christmas ornament set from Germany or Austria. Each is made from mouth blown glass, these would be a great addition for your Christmas or feather tree. Size always given for ...
Category
1930s German Folk Art Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Wire
Madonna de la Media after Rafael Antique Framed Portrait on Porcelain
Located in Hamilton, Ontario
This finely executed portrait is unsigned and presumed to have originated from Italy and date to approximately 1900 and done in a Renaissance style. The portrait is hand-painted on a...
Category
Early 20th Century Italian Renaissance Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Metal
Antique 14 Karat Yellow Gold & Hand-Carved Jade Chinoiserie Styled Necklace
Located in Hamilton, Ontario
This antique women's necklace is unsigned and unmarked but dates to approximately 1900 and presumed to originate from China and done in a period Chinoiserie style. The necklace is co...
Category
Early 20th Century Chinese Chinoiserie Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Jade, Gold
Daiya Japan 1960s Motorcycle - Stunt Driver - Tin Motorcycle Tin Toy
Located in Catania, IT
Daiya brand tin motorcycle made in Japan 1960s
in very good condition consistent with the wear and tear of time
See photos in details.
Measures:
Length 27 cms
Width 13 cm
Height ...
Category
1960s Japanese Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Metal
Antoine Philippon and Jacqueline Lecoq (Book)
Located in North Yorkshire, GB
This book was published on the occasion of an exhibition in May 2011 held at Demish Danant Gallery, New York. Philippon and Lecoq joined forces in 1955 after having worked in Marcel ...
Category
20th Century Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Paper
Windup Ham and Sam “The Minstrel Team” Tin Litho Toy c.1921, , Piano / banjo
By STRAUSS
Located in Buffalo, NY
Americana Toy
This is a tin, lithographed, windup Ham and Sam “The Minstrel Team” manufactured by the Ferdinand Strauss Company/Strauss Mfg. Co. of New York ...
Category
1920s American Art Deco Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Metal, Steel
Bose 901 Series Speakers On Eero Saarinen Tulip Bases
By Eero Saarinen, bose
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Pair of newly finished and upholstered, mid-century modern, Bose 901 series speakers on tulip base stands designed by the Finnish-American designer and architect Eero Saarinen, circa...
Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Metal
The Life of Benvenuto Cellini in 2 volumes. Published: 1906 by Brentanos.
Located in San Francisco, CA
The Life of Benvenuto Cellini in 2 volumes. Published: 1906 by Brentanos. Top edges gilt. Cellini (1500-1571) was an Italian Renaissance goldsmith, sculptor, and author whose most fa...
Category
Early 1900s Antique Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Leather, Paper
Viennese enamel opera glasses, c. 1900.
Located in Gargrave, North Yorkshire
Viennese enamel opera glasses, c. 1900. The gilt metal opera glasses, having hand painted barrels of a couple wearing 18th Century costume, playing music in garden settings.
The hand...
Category
Early 1900s Austrian Victorian Antique Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Enamel
Antique Austrian French Bulldog or Pug Dog Figural Cigar Cutter, 1920s
Located in Nuernberg, DE
A beautiful cigar cutter Shaped as a standing french bulldog or Pug Dog. Some wear with a nice patina, but this is old-age. Made of bronze and metal. A beautiful nice collectible ite...
Category
1920s Austrian Art Nouveau Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Metal, Bronze
Large Marble Solitaire Board Game with 33 Early Handmade Clay Marbles
Located in Lincoln, Lincolnshire
This is a complete board game of marble solitaire with a large turned maple board from the 20th century and handmade clay or stone marbles from the mi...
Category
Early 20th Century English Folk Art Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Stone
Anne Sexton Signed Galley & First Edition, The Death Notebooks
Located in Southbury, CT
The proof (printed before the hardcover, sent out to reviewers) and final first printing, first edition of American poet, Anne Sexton's final collection of poetry printed in her life...
Category
1970s American Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Paper
Maurice Feild Two Original Vintage Sketchbooks with Than 240 Sketches, 1970s
Located in Jersey, GB
• Two sketchbooks from artist Maurice Feild
• Featuring more than 240 pages of sketches and notes from the 1970s
This is a pair of sketchbooks belonging to the artist Maurice F...
Category
1980s Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Paper
Medieval Knight Helmet Chrome Eletric Lighter by Omsco
Located in Van Nuys, CA
The Vintage Knight Chrome Electric Lighter by Osco is a classic and elegant piece of smoking paraphernalia crafted with precision and attention to detail, this lighter is a testament...
Category
1940s American Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Chrome
Long Silver Necklace by Marianne Berg for Uni David-Andersen, Norway, 1960s
Located in Stockholm, SE
Lovely silver necklace by designer Marianne Berg for Uni David-Andersen 1960s Norway. This is a two-section longer pendant with Viking inspired patterns on a long silver chain neckla...
Category
1960s Norwegian Scandinavian Modern Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Silver
Antique 1917 General Joffre WWI French Trench Art Cigarette Lighter
Located in Stamford, CT
Very unique Trench art, WW1 era brass petrol lighter, on one side is the portrait of Marshal
Joseph Joffre. Marshal Joffre was the Commander in Chief of the French forces on the Wes...
Category
Early 20th Century French Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Brass
Novels 'Works' of Jane Austen. Winchester Edition, 10 Vols, 1906 Leather Bound
Located in Hillsborough, NJ
AUTHOR: AUSTEN, Jane.
TITLE: The Novels (Works) of Jane Austen.
PUBLISHER: Edinburgh: John Grant, 1906.
DESCRIPTION: THE WINCHESTER EDITION. 10 vo...
Category
Early 1900s British Antique Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Leather
Large Polychrome Painted Bronze Sculpture of a Young Horse Riding Napoleon
Located in Lisse, NL
Impressive size and highly decorative, French bronze sculpture.
If you are looking for a work of art with both historical and decorative value then this large bronze sculpture could...
Category
20th Century French Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Bronze
An Early Victorian Album: The Photographic Masterpieces, 1st Ed
By Roy Strong
Located in valatie, NY
An Early Victorian Album: The Photographic Masterpieces (1843-1847) of David Octavius Hill and Robert Adamson by Roy Strong. Alfred A. Knopf, New York. ...
Category
1970s American Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Paper
1960s Vintage Hansen classic longboard
Located in Haleiwa, HI
Vintage 1960s Hansen classic longboard made in the early 1960s. Features beautiful aqua blue and red color scheme with matching pinstripes. Incredible 21 piece redwood/balsawood with...
Category
1960s American Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Fiberglass, Foam, Hardwood, Softwood
Rare Set of Four Mercury Glass & Plastic Christmas Ornament Vintage, 1910s
Located in Nuernberg, DE
A rare Christmas ornament set from Germany or Austria. Each is made from mouth blown glass, the 4 mushrooms with wire are made of plastic and are younger age, this would be a great a...
Category
1910s German Folk Art Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Wire
Antique Brass on Leather Horse Sleigh Bells, Circa 1900's.
Located in New Orleans, LA
Antique Brass on Leather Horse Sleigh Bells, Circa 1900's.
Category
Early 20th Century Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Brass
58CM COLNAGO MASTER OLYMPIC FREULER ART DECOR PAINT SCHEME ROAD BiKE FRAME SET
Located in GB
Royal House Antiques is delighted to offer for sale this lovely vintage Colnago Master Olympic Art Décor road bike with Freuler geometry Columbus Gilco steel frameset with straight Colnago Chrome Precisa forks
HISTORY
I am selling my entire bike collection which comprises of 16 bikes, all luxury high end pieces, there are Colnagos, Cervelo’s, Lemon’s, Specialized, with Carbon Titanium or Columbus steel frames and some of the most expensive parts in the world, there are also some frames, again Titanium and Colnago, Bianchi etc, some wheels Zipp 303’s, Campagnolo Hyperion carbons etc, and then a few parts. I also have a NOS in the case Dura Ace 25th Anniversary groupset. These are all that is left over from my bike shop, I have kept them for years hanging around my furniture workshop as pieces of art and to remember the good old days, my new warehouse doesn’t have the same hanging space so these all need to go!
DESCRIPTION
A very good looking well made and collectable road bike frameset from the masters… Colnago! This is an early collectable model with the super rare raised seapost and head tube know as the Freuler geometry, it has the original Campagnolo headset, the straight chrome forks, the rear triangle is matching chrome...
Category
20th Century Other Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Steel
Alpacca English silver metal toiletry set - circa 1900 - England
Located in Beuzevillette, FR
Very pretty toiletry set in silver metal with chiseled decoration of foliage scrolls with guilloche background including a mirror called "Face à main", and two brushes.
This set is v...
Category
Early 20th Century English Art Nouveau Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Alpaca
Early 20th c. Folk Art Log Cabin Model c.1900-1940 (FREE SHIPPING)
Located in San Francisco, CA
ABOUT
An original handmade folk art log cabin model with a chimney, one door and seven windows. Three windows have glass panes.
CREATOR Unknown.
DATE OF MANUFACTURE c.1900-...
Category
Early 20th Century Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Wood, Glass
Alexis Bittar Gem Mounted Lucite Flower Pins, 4
Located in New York, NY
Group lot of four Alexis Bittar brooches, one daisy with gold-tone metal stem, one frosted pink lucite flower pin, one fuschia flower mounted with orange gemstones, and one black luc...
Category
Late 20th Century Unknown Modern Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Metal, Gold
Modernist Space Age Clairtone G3 T13 Stereo System with Globe Speakers
By Clairtone
Located in Buffalo, NY
Vintage classic Modernist / Spaceage of high design Clairtone G3 T13 with Garrard turntable all made in Canada.Amazing design..
All functions workin...
Category
1960s Canadian Space Age Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Metal, Chrome
David Marshall hexagonal ashtray in cast brass and aluminum from the 1970s
Located in Roma, IT
Wonderful hexagonal ashtray in solid brass and aluminum. This lovely piece was designed by David Marshall in Spain during the 1970s.
The simple straight lines and contrast between t...
Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Brass, Aluminum
Japanese Unique Old Owl Face Cigar Stogie Tray
Located in South Burlington, VT
Even if you dont smoke cigars- delightful to display
Japanese Unique Old Owl Face Cigar Stogie Tray
This handsome Japanese quality over sized iron "Owl" faced cigar tray...
Category
Early 20th Century Japanese Taisho Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Iron
Midcentury Sailor Scottish Terrier Drinking Beer Cigarette Box, 1950s
Located in Saint-Amans-des-Cots, FR
Midcentury sailor Scottish terrier drinking beer cigarette box, France, 1950s. Wood, metal and synthetic. Glass eyes. Measures: Height 8.2" (20.8cm), width 9" (22.9cm), depth 5.3" (1...
Category
1950s French Mid-Century Modern Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Metal
Annette Himstedt doll Neblina 1991/1992 with children's doll pram
Located in Delft, NL
Annette Himstedt doll Neblina 1991/1992 with children's doll pram
A Mid 20th Century children's doll pram with an Annette Himstedt doll.
Neblina is from th...
Category
20th Century German Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Fabric, Plastic
Rene Mercier French Art Deco Mother & Child Sculpture, 1930s
Located in Saint-Amans-des-Cots, FR
Beautiful French Art Deco mother & child statue by René MERCIER, France, 1930s. Wood. Hand carved.. Height : 16.1"(41cm), width : 9"(23cm), depth : 9.8"(25cm). A perfectly made and m...
Category
1930s French Art Deco Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Wood
Modernist Architectural Model in Stained Plywood 1950s
Located in Tilburg, NL
Modernist Architectural Model in Stained Plywood, presumably Dutch, 1950s.
This highly tasteful 1950s Modernist architectural model is well crafted in stained plywood and solid wood...
Category
Mid-20th Century European Mid-Century Modern Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Wood
1970 Sergio Asti Cedit Space Age Design Italiano Ceramica Verde Posacenere
Located in Brescia, IT
Posacenere
designer Sergio Asti
prod. Cedit
Italy, 1970
Ceramica verde
Posacenere composto da due elementi in ceramica verde
Etichetta adesiva e firma impressa sotto vetrina
Perfet...
Category
1970s Italian Space Age Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Ceramic
Large-Scale Hand-Crafted World War I Airplane Aviation Model
Located in AMSTERDAM, NH
Magnificent large-scale airplane model from the World War I era, complete with a functioning engine. Capture the essence of aviation history and craftsmans...
Category
Late 20th Century Dutch Industrial Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Metal
Rustic Taxidermy White Tail Deer Buck Antlers Horns on Wall-Mounted Plaque 1970s
Located in Miami, FL
Mid-Century Modern white tail deer buck antlers, horns on a wooden wall-mounted plaque.
Great Taxidermy Plaque Mount, wall sculpture for hunters.
Category
1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Leather, Wood, Antler
The Further Adventures of Sherlock Holmes by Arthur Conan Doyle 1993
Located in North Hollywood, CA
The Further Adventures of Sherlock Holmes by Arthur Conan Doyle.
Collectible hardcover book.
New York: Reader's Digest Association, 1993.
First Edition First Printing.
Hardcover, Eng...
Category
Late 20th Century British Expressionist Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Paper
Gold Wash Floral Engraved Silver Religious Offering Chalice with Hallmark & Case
Located in Big Flats, NY
Gold Wash Floral Engraved Silver Religious Offering Chalice with Hallmark & Case, 20th C
Measures- 8.75''H x 5''W x 5''D
Category
20th Century Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Gold, Silver
ANCIENT FORM OF FRENCH HATS early 20th Century Maillard Allie
By Europa
Located in Madrid, ES
ANCIENT FORM OF FRENCH HATS early 20th Century
from the Maillard Allie brand in wood and metal.
Small defects, not tested.
Dim.: 19 x 29 cm
Category
20th Century French Modern Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Wood
Antique Oak Wall Phone by Julius Andrae and Sons
Located in Cincinnati, OH
Antique Oak Wall Phone by Julius Andrae and Sons of Milwaukee WI.
Phone found as is, probably some refinishing.
Very good condition for age.
...
Category
Early 20th Century American Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Metal
Elementary playful atlas composed of a puzzle, by D. Locchi, Paravia, Italy 1920
Located in Milan, IT
Elementary playful atlas composed of a puzzle made up of eighty fruit wood cubes sandwiched in paper faces. Each of the faces of each die participates in a geographical table, or ele...
Category
Early 20th Century Italian Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Fruitwood, Paper
King Edward V111 Royal Commemorative Pottery Beaker, May 12th 1937
Located in Lincoln, Lincolnshire
This is a royal commemorative earthenware (pottery) beaker celebrating the planned coronation of King Edward V111th on May 12th 1937.
The tapering beaker or cup would have been made...
Category
Mid-20th Century English Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Earthenware
1930's Japanese WW2 Nippon Kogaku Bronze & Aluminium 60° Inclined binoculars
By NIKKO
Located in Leicester, Leicestershire
A refurbished set of Nippon Kogaku 'Nikko' 60 degree inclined 15 x 80 4 degree field of view WW2 binoculars originally used for land, sea and air observation.
Stripped of the origin...
Category
1930s Japanese Industrial Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Aluminum, Bronze
EVANS 1940 Spitfire Pocket Lighter With Windshield Chromed Steel & Black Lacquer
Located in Miami, FL
Spitfire pocket lighter designed by Evans.
Rare automatic spitfire pocket lighter, created in America by the Evans Company, back in the 1940. This very handsome piece has been crafted with deco-modernist patterns in chromed steel with accents decorations in black lacquer. This model is fitted with the hinged windguard adding extra rarity. It it never used or fired and is offered with the original box. Stunning modernist design, very decorative and surely a great conversation piece.
Model: The Spitfire with windguard pocket lighter.
Year: 1940.
Materials: Chromed steel and black lacquer.
Weight: 50 Grams.
Measurements: 62 mm by 37 mm by 13 mm (2.44 x 1.46 x 0.52 Inches).
Rarity: Rare with windshield and never fired condition.
Marks: Lighter is stamped with the maker's mark and signed as follow; "EVANS FUEL U.S. PAT. REG, 19023".
Evans
The Evans Company first started out as a handbag and accessory manufacturing company, originating from Attleboro, Massachusetts as a novelty company in 1918. However, by the late 1920’s, the company took on a different path and began to manufacture lighters with a “lift arm system”. This system is very similar to the one used by the Alfred Dunhill Company – minus the fact that the flint wheel was located vertically, rather than horizontally. Many lighters were manufactured by the Evans Company with this “lift arm system” with a variety of attractive styles, including enameled cases. In addition, the Evans Company produced complementary cigarette cases and perfume sprays...
Category
1940s American Art Deco Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Steel, Chrome
Antique Book, Old English Furniture, Illustrated, Reference, Edwardian, C.1910
Located in Hele, Devon, GB
This is an antique book 'Old English Furniture' by W E Mallett. An English language, illustrated reference guide, dating to the Edwardian period, circa 1910.
Full Title: An Introduc...
Category
Early 20th Century British Edwardian Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Paper
KARL GLAZER 1932 Austria Schnauzer Dog Table Petrol Lighter Bronze & Red Lacquer
Located in Miami, FL
Petrol lighter designed by Karl Glazer.
Fabulous and rare antique table petrol lighter, created in Vienna Austria by the Karl Glazer Metallwarenfabrik, back in the 1932-1933. This u...
Category
1930s Austrian Art Deco Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Brass, Bronze
Viennese enamel miniature screen, c. 1900.
Located in Gargrave, North Yorkshire
Viennese enamel miniature screen, Austria, c. 1900. Hand painted with panels after Francois Boucher, of courting couples wearing 18th Century costume, and sat in idyllic rural settin...
Category
Early 1900s Austrian Victorian Antique Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Enamel
Anatomical model: a male human body in life-size proportions, Italy 1930.
Located in Milan, IT
Anatomical model for schools, educational use, depicting the flayed male human body in life-size proportions, with removable organs, made of painted resin, all placed on a black wood...
Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Resin, Wood
Memphis: Ceramique, Argent, Verre 1981-1987" Editeur Michel Aveline (Book)
Located in North Yorkshire, GB
A very good hardback book with a dust jacket in excellent condition. 143 pages with 120 full pages color plates showing examples of ceramics, silver and glass ware, by designers such as Ettore Sottsass, Mateo Thun...
Category
1980s Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Paper
Dunhil's 'Tinder Pistol': 20th C. English Oak Wood/Bronzed Brass Table Lighter
By Dunhill
Located in North Miami, FL
Dunhil's 'Tinder Pistol': early 20th century oak wood and bronzed brass table lighter made in England
By: Dunhill
Material: brass, bronze, copper, metal, oak, wood
Technique: cast, forged, bronzed, hammered, hand-carved, hand-crafted, molded, metalwork
Dimensions: 4 in x 2.5 in x 6 in
Date: early 20th century, circa 1920
Style: Arts and Crafts
Place of origin: England
This 1920s english oak, copper and bronzed brass Dunhill table lighter neatly evokes an 18th century flintlock pistol...
Category
Early 20th Century English Arts and Crafts Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Metal, Brass, Bronze, Copper
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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