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Collectibles and Curiosities For Sale
Period: 1970s
Period: 1890s
The Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum
Located in valatie, NY
The Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, by Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum. The Trustees, 1978. 1st Ed hardcover with dust jacket. The book consi...
Category

1970s American Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Paper

Original Antique City Plan of Milwaukee, USA, 1894
Located in St Annes, Lancashire
Fabulous colorful map of Milwaukee Original color By Rand, McNally & Co. Published, 1894 Unframed Free shipping.
Category

1890s American Antique Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Paper

The Elegant Auctioneers by Wesley Towner and Stephen Varble, Stated 1st Ed
Located in valatie, NY
The Elegant Auctioneers by Wesley Towner and Stephen Varble. Hill & Wang, Date: 1970. Stated 1st Ed hardcover with dust jacket. History of America's most notable auction houses, they...
Category

1970s American Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Paper

The Prints of Reginald Marsh by Norman Sasowsky, Catalog Raisonne, First Edition
Located in valatie, NY
The Prints of Reginald Marsh by Norman Sasowsky. Clarkson N. Potter, Inc. / Publisher / Distributed by Crown Publishers, Inc., New York, 1976. First Edition hardcover with dust jacke...
Category

1970s American Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Paper

The Hudson, by Wallace Bruce, 1st Ed
Located in valatie, NY
The Hudson by Wallace Bruce. New York: Bryant Literary Union, 1894. 1st Ed hardcover. Illustrated by Alfred Fredericks. Alfred Frederick's photo-engravings ...
Category

1890s American Antique Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Paper

1979, Old Danish Train Bronze Sign
Located in Esbjerg, DK
A very heavy and patinated bronze sign with raised numerals of the year 1979. The sign is handmade in thick stock and weighs in around 8 kg. The provenance...
Category

1970s Danish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Bronze

Apocalypse of S. John with 22 Drawings by Giorgio De Chirico, Autographed
Located in Torino, IT
Apocalypse of Saint John with 22 drawings by Giorgio De Chirico. Bestetti Publisher. Volume n ° 1028/1099 Autographed by De Chirico Origin Italy Period 1977. Author Te...
Category

1970s Italian Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Leather, Paper

Luxury Set Smoke Steel and 1970 Swarovsky Crystals for a Big Yacht Diamonds Chic
Located in Palermo, Sicily
Luxury set smoke steel and 1970 Swarovsky crystals for a big yacht diamonds chic. Precious objects of great value, of great quality of execution. Cigarettes box height cm.13.5, dia...
Category

1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Crystal, Steel

1970s Pal Kepenyes Sculptural Brass Pendant
Located in Chula Vista, CA
AMBIANIC presents 1970s Pal Kepenyes Sculptural Brass Pendant 4 h x 2 w x .13 Preowned vintage Refer to images please
Category

1970s Mexican Mid-Century Modern Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Brass

The Magnificent Builders and Their Dream Houses by Joseph Thorndike, 1st Ed
Located in valatie, NY
The Magnificent Builders and Their Dream Houses by Joseph Thorndike. New York, American Heritage Publishing Co. Inc., 1978. First Edition hardcover with dust jacket. An intimate look at the most fantastic private homes in the world. With very good descriptions of the houses, palaces, chateaux, as well as old Roman imperial villas, a modern cave home, a luxury Pullman railroad...
Category

1970s American Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Paper

Large Victorian Sterling Silver-Mounted Threaded Crystal Cup-Form Match Striker
Located in New York, NY
Large, sterling silver-mounted threaded crystal, cup-form match striker, Birmingham, England, year-hallmarked for 1897, Charles Mappin (of Mappin Brothers) - maker. Measures 4 inches...
Category

1890s English Victorian Antique Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Crystal, Sterling Silver

Carved Boxwood and Lacquer Netsuke of a Noh Dancer, Meiji Period, Japan
Located in Austin, TX
A fine lacquer decorated carved boxwood netsuke of a Noh dancer in a Hannya role, unsigned, Meiji period, late 19th century, Japan. The boxwood netsuke finely carved as a kneeling Noh dancer dressed in striking geometric patterned robes. The actor holds an opened war fan behind their back in one hand, a Shinto wand slung over the shoulder in the other. The war fan, tessen, decorated in red lacquer with a golden rising sun at the center. Tessen were sturdy fans used by samurai as protective devices, and sometimes as weapons. The wand, called an onusa, is a traditional Shinto ritual implement comprised of folded paper streamers, shide, attached to a wooden wand, often used in purification rituals. Here, the shide are crafted from silver maki-e, with the handle of the natural boxwood. The actor wears a fierce and unearthly hannya mask...
Category

1890s Japanese Meiji Antique Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Boxwood, Lacquer

Mobilier Louis XVI by Monica Burckhardt, 1st Edition
Located in valatie, NY
Mobilier Louis XVI by Monica Burckhardt. Editions Charles Massin, Paris, 1976. 1st Ed hardcover with dust jacket. 80p of interior full color photos of period antique furniture of the...
Category

1970s French Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Paper

Antique Novelty Billiard Clock
Located in Oxfordshire, GB
Novelty Billiard mantel clock. A rare and very unusual novelty mantel clock, the base being a miniature billiard table. The drum-shaped clock case has a 6 cm porcelain dial fronting...
Category

1890s British Sporting Art Antique Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Metal

Guy Sydenham Poole Pottery Ltd Edn QEII Silver Jubilee Loving Mug
Located in Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire
A large and impressive Poole Pottery limited edition twin handled loving mug commemorating the Silver Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II in 1977 by renowned potter Guy Sydenham (British, 1916-2005). Guy Sydenham joined Poole Pottery in 1931 and completed a seven year apprenticeship. He was a master potter for more than 50 years and was renowned for the original work he created in the Poole Pottery Studio in the 1960’s and 1970’s. He worked as head of the ‘making department’ at Poole Pottery resigning in 1977 possibly making this commemorative one his last important works. This stylish twin handled stoneware mug (as it was called!) stands raised on a wide round base the rim carved with the words THE QUEENS SILVER JUBILEE 1952 – 1977. The piece has a narrow stem and a wide round cup shaped top with finely formed and elegant handles applied to either side. The is mounted with a relief molded medallion with a Lion, Unicorn and Crown and initials E II R. The medallion has a contrasting brown stained finish with a brown wash also applied to the edge of the foot. The body has a slightly textured satin brown glazed finish with a rich dark honey glaze...
Category

1970s English Modern Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Stoneware

Star Wars
Located in London, GB
Original Japanese film poster this unique design was used for the films Japanese release of the film. The art work is by Seito (dates unknown). This poster is unfolded and conserva...
Category

1970s Japanese Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Paper

Painted Ladies, San Francisco's Resplendent Victorians
Located in Bradenton, FL
Painted Ladies, San Francisco's Resplendent Victorians. Photographs by Morley Baer, text by Elizabeth Pomada and Michael Larson. Published by E.P. Dutton of New York in 1978, printed...
Category

1970s Victorian Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Paper

Japanese Meiji Porcelain Figurine of Boy Holding a Green Whistle Bird, Ca. 1890
Located in New York, NY
Japanese Meiji Porcelain Figurine of a Boy Holding a Green Whistle Bird, Ca. 1890 Meiji Period (1868-1912) DIMENSIONS Height: 8 inches Length: 7 inches Depth: 6.5 inches
Category

1890s Japanese Japonisme Antique Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Ceramic

Large Kokeshi Doll XL Size Hand Painted Wood Japan Showa 48cm
Located in Poperinge, BE
Beautiful large hand made and painted kokeshi doll from the late Showa period (1926-1989), XL size of 48cm! Circa 70s-80s, Japan, signed at the bottom by the maker. Specific areas h...
Category

1970s Japanese Showa Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Wood

Royal Souvenirs by Geoffrey Warren, 1st Edition
Located in valatie, NY
Royal Souvenirs by Geoffrey Warren. Orbis Publishing, 1977. 1st Edition, 64 page hardcover with a dust jacket. Explores the surprisingly wide range of royal commemoratives...
Category

1970s English Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Paper

Bicolor Travertine Chess Game Angelo Mangiarotti Style, Italy, 1970s
Located in Rome, IT
Rare modernist chess game in two colored travertine in the style of Italian design Angelo Mangiarotti. Made in Italy in the 1970s. The minimalistic design of this game set will make a fine table top accessory...
Category

1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Travertine, Marble

Vintage Triangular Hanukkah Menorah
Located in San Diego, CA
Beautiful vintage Hannukah Menorah. This vintage piece is a replica of a menorah from the 14th century southern Europe. Made in Israel, this piece is ...
Category

1970s Israeli Baroque Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Brass

Chinese Export Porcelain: An Historical Survey by Elinor Gordon First Edition
By Elinor Gordon
Located in valatie, NY
Chinese Export Porcelain: An Historical Survey by Elinor Gordon. Stated first edition hardcover. Main Street / Universe Books, New York, 1975. By the doyen of export porcelain. A col...
Category

1970s American Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Paper

Meissen, Organized by the Lowe Art Museum, University of Miami 1977, 1st Ed
Located in valatie, NY
Meissen, organized by the Lowe Art Museum, University of Miami, 1977. 1st Ed softcover. A museum exhibition that started with a core donation from ...
Category

1970s American Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Paper

Antique Left Handed Golf Club, Smooth Face Iron
Located in Oxfordshire, GB
Willie Park Left Handed Smooth Face Golf Club. This early Willie Park Jr. hickory shafted lofting iron has a smooth face, original hickory shaft and the remains of the original sheep...
Category

1890s Scottish Victorian Antique Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Iron

VINTAGE CIRCA 1970'S MUSICAL MINIATURE FOLK ART CIGARETTE CiGAR DISPENSER
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
Royal House Antiques Royal House Antiques is delighted to offer for sale this lovely miniature Folk Art musical Cigarette or Cigar dispenser circa 1...
Category

1970s English Folk Art Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Beech

Dictionary of British Landscape Painters by Maurice H. Grant
Located in valatie, NY
Dictionary of British landscape painters by Maurice H. Grant. Leigh-on-Sea: Lewis, UK, 1970. Re-print hardcover with dust jacket. One of the bibles of English landscape painters. NPT...
Category

1970s English Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Paper

Being There by Jerzy N. Kosinski, Stated 1st Ed
Located in valatie, NY
Being There by Jerzy N. Kosinski. Published by Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, NY, 1970. Stated 1st Ed hardcover with dust jacket. 142 pages. hardcover. Dust ja...
Category

1970s American Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Paper

Classic Victoria Littlejohn Hand Thrown Mid Century Pottery Vessel Dish Ashtray
Located in Miami, FL
An enticing pottery design by Victoria Littlejohn, hand thrown Dish with a wonderful neutral oatmeal color glaze with a central red orange crystalline thick glaze surrounded by a cri...
Category

1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Clay, Earthenware, Pottery

Vermont Clock & Watchmakers, Silversmiths, & Jewelers, 1778-1878, Signed Ltd Ed
Located in valatie, NY
Vermont Clock and Watchmakers, Silversmiths, and Jewelers, 1778-1878 by Lilian Baker Carlisle. L.B. Carlisle, Burlington VT, 1970. 1st, signed and numbered Ed (#601/1000) hardcover w...
Category

1970s American Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Paper

Moderns by Gaston Diehl
Located in Bradenton, FL
The Moderns by Gaston Diehl, a treasury of painting throughout the world. Hardcover book with dustjacket. First edition published in 1978 by Crown Publishers, Inc. of New York. Print...
Category

1970s Italian Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Paper

Prototype Late 19th Century Hand Carved Toy Horse Drawn Hansom Cab, American
Located in Incline Village, NV
This is a hand carved wood prototype for a toy that would have been the model for a 19th century cast iron or tin horse drawn hansom cab. It precedes the mol...
Category

1890s American Folk Art Antique Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Wood

Klee by Denys Chevalier
Located in Bradenton, FL
Klee by Denys Chevalier. Hardcover book with dustjacket. Published in 1979 by Crown Publishers Inc of New York. Printed in Italy. 51 Illustrations in color, 23 illustrations in black...
Category

1970s Italian Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Paper

Antique Golf Painting in Watercolour of Caernarvonshire Golf Club, Wales
Located in Oxfordshire, GB
A fine landscape watercolour of Caernarvonshire Golf Club, Conway, by H.C. Whaite. golfers in the left hand corner, the course, sea and mountain range making up the rest of the painting. There are catalogue extracts on the rear of the painting 'Mullock's, Sporting & Golfing Memorabilia...
Category

1890s British Antique Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Paint

Peggy Bacon, Personalities and Places by Peggy Bacon
Located in valatie, NY
Peggy Bacon, Personalities and Places: Exhibition at the National Collection of Fine Arts, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C., ...
Category

1970s American Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Paper

Vintage 1970s Gucci 22-Karat Gold-Plated Wrap Sunglasses with Brown Lenses Italy
Located in St. Louis, MO
Classic 1970s vintage Gucci wrap sunglasses or eyewear, plated in 22-karat gold with brown plastic lenses, with nice knurled texture to front of frames. Some wear to gold plating, al...
Category

1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Metal

Paktong, by W.D. John & Katherine Coombes, 1/500, Signed by the Authors, 1st Ed
Located in valatie, NY
Paktong: The Non-Tarnishable Chinese 'Silver' Alloy Used for 'Adam' Firegrates and Early Georgian Candlesticks by W. D. John and Katherine Coombes, 1/500, Signed by Both Authors. Ceramic Book...
Category

1970s English Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Paper

Vintage Masonic Shriner Burgundy Ceramic Vase
Located in North Hollywood, CA
AL Malaikah vintage Masonic Shriner iconic burgundy Fez hat design ceramic planter or vase. Vintage fez hat from Los Angeles Al Malaikah Shriner mason...
Category

1970s American Moorish Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Ceramic

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

Italian Solid 800 Silver Statue depicting the Virgin Mary and Child blessing
Located in VALENZA, IT
Hanging statue depicting the Madonna and Child blessing, seated on the throne. It was made with the sand/earth casting technique, finely chiseled and subsequently burnished and treat...
Category

1970s Italian Other Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Silver

Selected Works of Russian Art 11th-Early 20th Century, First Edition
By Sokolova Natalia
Located in valatie, NY
Selected works of Russian Art: Architecture Sculpture painting Graphic Art: 11th-early 20th century, Sokolova Natalia (editor). Aurora Art Publishers, Leningrad, 1976. This book cont...
Category

1970s European Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Paper

Splendours of the East Temples Tombs Palaces and Fortresses of Asia
Located in valatie, NY
Splendours of the East Temples Tombs Palaces and Fortresses of Asia by Mortimer Wheeler. Spring Pub., London, New York, 1970. Hardcover with dust jacket. 288 pages; illustrated with ...
Category

1970s American Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Paper

Old Blue Scale Gwarancja Olsztyn, Europe, 1970s
Located in 05-080 Hornowek, PL
A fantastic antique weighing scale with nicely aged blue paint. Made by Gwarancja Factory in Olsztyn, Poland in the late 20th century. It presents...
Category

1970s Polish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Metal, Iron

Samuel Goldwyn Presents by Alvin H Marill, 1st Edition
Located in valatie, NY
Samuel Goldwyn Presents by Alvin H Marill. A.S. Barnes and Co., NY, 1976. 1st Ed hardcover with dust jacket. Samuel Goldwyn Presents offers a comprehensive study of Samuel Goldwyn. o...
Category

1970s American Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Paper

Schafer & Vater White Glazed Drunken Man Dish
By Schafer & Vater
Located in Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire
A delightful and rare antique German porcelain dish or desk stand modelled as a drunken man by Schafer & Vater and dating from around 1890. The figure lies outstretched on a ground w...
Category

1890s German Jugendstil Antique Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Porcelain

Rudyard KIPLING. Plain Tales From The Hills. THIRD EDITION - PRESENTATION COPY !
Located in Hillsborough, NJ
AUTHOR: KIPLING, Rudyard. TITLE: Plain Tales From The Hills. PUBLISHER: London: Macmillan & Co., 1890. DESCRIPTION: THIRD EDITION PRESENTATION COPY. 1 vol., inscribed on the titl...
Category

1890s British Antique Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Fabric

City of Stuttgart TV Television Tower Aluminum Scale Design Model, 1970s
Located in Nuernberg, DE
Scaled model of the Stuttgart television tower. Hand-spun in Aluminum, with brass top. A nice architectural sculpture for every living or men’s room. It has ...
Category

1970s German Mid-Century Modern Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Brass, Aluminum

Sketch of a tiger Korea 1970s Acrylic on Paper for an Animals Encyclopedia
Located in Milan, IT
Acrylic colors on paper depicting a tiger; it is a preparatory sketch commissioned for an animals encyclopedia for children, created and signed by a Korean artist in the 1970s. Very ...
Category

1970s Korean Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Paper

Antique Yacht Or Boat Binnacle Compass by Polaris
Located in Norwell, MA
Boat compass in binnacle with hinged lid, sidelight, brass hook, etc. Very fine condition. Gimballed compass is by Polaris. Great piece. Overall dimensions: 11"H x 7"D x 8"L. 5 po...
Category

1890s American Antique Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Brass

Uncle of Europe by Gordon Brook-Shepherd, 1st American Ed
Located in valatie, NY
Uncle of Europe by Gordon Brook-Shepherd. Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, New York, 1975. Stated 1st Ed hardcover with dust jacket. "Edward VII, succeeded his mother, Queen Victoria, to the throne in 1901. He is regarded as the 'most genial bon vivant and uninhibited rake' to occupy the British throne...
Category

1970s North American Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Paper

1970s Cast Aluminium & Steel Flame Proof Floor Lamp Tripod - Warm White T8 Led
Located in Leicester, Leicestershire
Reclaimed and modified 1970s Daeyang Electric Co. Ltd flame proof luminaire with fully updated electrics and fitted with T8 Warm white LED tubes. The tube light has been fitted to a custom made tripod was comprises of 6 rigging screws to create the tripod base and spine, the tilt can be adjusted by a few degrees to allow the light lean back or stand more upright. The light has been cleaned back to its factory finish which is aqua marine and battle ship grey then lacquered to protect and give a gloss finish. The mains cable is sleeved with silver grey braid and has an onboard switch mounted on the opposite side to the cable entry. Daeyang strip lights were originally used in hazardous areas on large cargo ship and supertankers where dangerous gasses and flammable cargo may have been present, typically in cross loading areas, cargo bays and engine rooms. The cast aluminium chassis and toughened glass make an extremely robust fixture which has stood the test of time in the harshest of conditions. Flame proof light...
Category

1970s Korean Industrial Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Aluminum, Steel

MAHON, Lord. The Letters Of Philip Dormer Stanhope. 5 vols. 1892 IN FULL LEATHER
Located in Hillsborough, NJ
AUTHOR: MAHON, Lord. TITLE: The Letters Of Philip Dormer Stanhope, Earl Of Chesterfield; Including Numerous Letters Now First Published From The Original Manuscripts. PUBLISHER: L...
Category

1890s British Antique Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Leather

The Owl and the Pussycat
Located in London, GB
Original Us film poster for the 1970 comedy, romance The Owl and the Pussycat starring Barbra Streisand and George Segal. This film was directed by Herbert Ross. This poster is conse...
Category

1970s American Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Paper

Perpetual Maritime Date Calendar in Bronze, 1970s
Located in Esbjerg, DK
A nautically themed date calendar in bronze. It features a ship in waves at the top, an anchor at the bottom and a sliding N/S/E/W disc that sets the dat...
Category

1970s Scandinavian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Bronze

Pal Kepenyes Brutalist Bronze Ring
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

Late 19th-Century Art Nouveau Silver Pendant
Located in Madrid, ES
Late 19th-Century Art Nouveau Silver Pendant Material: Silver Dimensions: 4 x 2 x 1 cm An enchanting late 19th-century Art Nouveau silver pendant, gracefully capturing the essence o...
Category

1890s Antique Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Silver

Bukowski, Mockingbird Wish Me Luck, Presentation Copy First Paperback Edition
Located in Hillsborough, NJ
Author: bukowski, charles. Title: mockingbird wish me luck. Publisher: los angeles: black sparrow press, 1972. Description: presentation copy first paperb...
Category

1970s American Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Paper

Pair of Brass Trinket Dishes with Silver Greek Coins by Illias Lalaounis
Located in Palm Desert, CA
Pair of vintage brass and sterling silver trinket dishes by Ilias Lalaounis, Greece. A sterling silver Greek coin (replica) is set in the middle of each...
Category

1970s Greek Greek Revival Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Silver, 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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