Skip to main content

Collectibles and Curiosities

111
1,247
to
105
655
561
1,247
1,247
1,247
282
103
37
32
30
30
26
8
7
5
5
4
3
1
4,481
6,618
13,268
2,842
3,559
4,542
2,937
491
601
739
495
909
856
849
611
624
471
263
255
136
88
740
326
248
185
108
13
12
10
8
4
Collectibles and Curiosities For Sale
Period: 1950s
Period: 1910s
Altamira: Italian Furniture Glassware Lamps Accessories
Located in New York, NY
Catalog showcasing high-end Italian furnishings and accessories, published circa 1956 by the fabled Altamira design center located at 18 East 50th St in New York City. Per the introduction, “Altamira is the only center in this country where Interior-Architecture by Italy’s foremost architects is represented together with furniture, handicrafts, accessories and every other element essential to the modern interior.” Altamira commissioned a line of furniture from Gio Ponti in 1953, crafted by Giordano Chiesa in Milan. Included were a number of Ponti’s iconic mid-century designs—the Distex lounge chair and a self-described masterpiece, the two-drawer desk, model AP 1025, are shown in the present catalog. Shown, too, are furniture designs by Ponti’s fellow “interior architects” and designers Marco Zanuso (produced by Arflex Milano), Enrberto Carboni, Enrico Peresutti of BBPR, Carlo Pagani, Enrico Taglietti, Nino Zancada, Ico and Luisa Parisi, Ignacio Gardella...
Category

1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Paper

Edwardian Period Sterling Silver-Mounted Threaded Crystal Match Striker
By Salmon & Gluckstein Ltd
Located in New York, NY
Edwardian Period, sterling silver-mounted threaded crystal match striker, Birmingham, England, Ca. 1910 (year mark is rubbed), Salmon and Gluckstein, Ltd.- makers. Measures 2 1/2 inc...
Category

1910s English Edwardian Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Crystal, Sterling Silver

Tiffany Co. Paris 1919 French Table Petrol Lighter In Brass & Carved White Nacre
Located in Miami, FL
Table petrol lighter designed by Tiffany & Co. Beautiful and unusual antique table petrol lighter, created in Paris France by the Tiffany & Co., back in the 1919. Crafted after the WWI as a trench-art piece in solid brass with high polished finish and embellished with a round flat holed piece, carved from natural white nacre. It is mounted in a round flat base and is fitted with a thumbwheel and a chained snuffer lid. This antique lighter should be a great conversation piece. Trench Art This is a term used to describe objects made from the debris and by-products of modern warfare. Trench Art is usually associated with the First World War, although similar items have been produced in other conflicts too. Most trench art was made by servicemen to pass the time when not in the front line. Weight: 124.7 Grams, (79.94 Dwt). Measurements: Diameter of 42 mm and a height of 94 (1.65 x 3.68 Inches). Hallmarks: Stamped with the maker's mark, attached with the French tax plaque Ministere Des Finances and signed, "TIFFANY & CO. FRANCE". Ministere Des Finances Lighter Tax 1911-1945 Historic Taxation Data On 10th December 1910 the French state adopted a new tax regulations on all devices indented to produce spark or fire by friction, or by any other means, and of the combustion of a flammable substance. Since 1st January 1911 every lighter in France that was intended for sale in the French market had to be taxed and adequately marked. To confirm that the excise duty was paid to the Ministry of Finance a special duty metal plate (stamp) was attached (usually welded) to the lighter by the lighter manufacturers. The fees charged by the French state were high but the tax rates levied by the state were varying depending on the type and finish of the lighter. Following tax rates were used: 2 French francs for common pocket lighters, 5 Fr for pocket lighters made of silver, 20 Fr for luxury pocket lighters made in gold, 5 Fr for common table/desk lighters (lower 10 cm), 10 Fr for table/desk lighters (over 10 cm) made of silver, 50 Fr for luxury table/desk lighters (over 10 cm) made of gold or platinum. Between 1911 and 1916 a simple cooper plate was used which had the date 1911 engraved. Later, between 1916 and 1945 a new plate (undated) was introduced with the letters "C" and "I" (stands for indirect taxes) and a profile of Mercury (patron god of financial gain, commerce and messengers) with an inscription "Ministère Des Finances" (Ministry of Finance). Two shapes were used for the plate – oval for table lighters, the other one for pocket lighters. Additional to the two duty plates a marking "BL" (Briquet de Luxe, eng. luxury lighter...
Category

1910s French Art Deco Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Brass, Nickel

Altamira Catalog Circa 1956
Located in New York, NY
Mid-1950’s catalog for the fabled Altamira design center, located at 18 E 50th St in New York City, one of the top U.S. venues for high-end Italian design. Altamira commissioned a li...
Category

1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Paper

Theodore Roosevelt Signed Letter Collage
Located in Colorado Springs, CO
Presented is a Theodore Roosevelt signed letter to Colonel C. D. MacDougall, dated August 16, 1910. In the letter, Roosevelt politely declines MacDougall’s invitation to speak, as he...
Category

1910s American Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Paper

1958 Our Man in Havana
By Graham Greene
Located in Bath, GB
A smart first edition copy of this black comedy by Graham Greene, an exceptional novel by one of the leading writers of the twentieth century, scarce to see in the promotional wrapar...
Category

1950s British Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Paper

Citizen Kane
Located in London, GB
Original German film poster used for the film's re-release in the 1960's Orson Welles at the age of only twenty-five directed, produced, co-wrote and starred in this remarkable film....
Category

1950s Swedish Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Paper

Wall-Mounted Weather Station in Art Nouveau Style Carved Oak 1910s
Located in Verviers, BE
Wall-Mounted Weather Station in Art Nouveau Style Carved Oak 1910s Belgium High quality mechanism with jeweled movement barometer and thermometer (in centigrade) Unusual design wit...
Category

1910s Belgian Art Nouveau Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Oak

1915 "San Francisco City and County" Hanging Map by W. Bashford Smith
Located in Colorado Springs, CO
Presented is a rare wall map of San Francisco by W. Bashford Smith. Published in San Francisco in 1915, this map indicates streets and city districts, and, most notably, shows the si...
Category

1910s American Art Deco Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Wood, Paper

Atomic structure for educational use of carbonic acid Czechoslovakia 1950s.
Located in Milan, IT
Struttura atomica ad uso didattico dell'acido carbonico (H2CO3) in metallo, sfere in bachelite verniciate rosso e nero. Czechoslovakian manufacture of the 1950s. Good condition sign...
Category

1950s Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Metal

Struttura molecolare del cloruro di sodio ad uso didattico Cecoslovacchia 1950
Located in Milan, IT
Struttura molecolare del cloruro di sodio (NaCl) ad uso didattico in metallo satinato e verniciato giallo, sfere in bachelite verniciate verde e grigio. Manifattura cecoslovacca de...
Category

1950s Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Metal

Art Deco 1913 Egyptian Revival Pharaoh Retractable Pencil .800 Silver And Enamel
Located in Miami, FL
Egyptian revival Pharaoh sarcophagus pencil designed by Hans Aigner. Fantastic miniature pendant-pencil, created at the silversmith atelier of Hans...
Category

1910s Austrian Art Deco Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Silver, Enamel

Charming tobacco box tin, man, drinker, 1915 Art Nouveau, Johann Maresch Czech R
Located in Wien, AT
Extraordinary, charming tobacco box, made in the 1910s, an original art nouveau piece, made by wellknown Johann Maresch, Czech Republic. The tobacco tin is designed like a linen ba...
Category

1910s Czech Art Nouveau Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Ceramic

Wall-Mounted Weather Station in Art Nouveau Style Carved Oak By Grand Bazar
Located in Verviers, BE
Wall-Mounted Weather Station in Art Nouveau Style Carved Oak By Grand Bazar 1910s Liege Belgium High quality mechanism with jeweled movement barometer and thermometer (in centigrade...
Category

1910s Belgian Art Nouveau Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Oak

20th Century Soviet Cold War Anti Aircraft Binoculars c.1950
Located in Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent
An impressive set of highly polished Cold War-era anti-aircraft binoculars from the former USSR, crafted in the 20th Century. Accompanied by a sleek and adjustable metal tripod, thes...
Category

1950s Russian Other Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Metal

Two Deer Antler Mount Trophy Black Forest Carved Wood Plaque Austria Folk Art
Located in Nuernberg, DE
A set of two antique Black Forest deer antler trophies on hand carved, Black Forest wooden plaques. They are not dated. Measurement's given in dimensions section refers to the talles...
Category

1950s Austrian Folk Art Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Antler, Wood

Chrome-plated brass and leather telescope signed W. OTTWAY from the first war 1915
Located in Milan, IT
Chrome-plated brass and leather telescope signed W. OTTWAY & Co Ltd Ealing London A49 in use by British Army officers during World War I. Single-length focus, focal diameter cm 3...
Category

1910s Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Brass

Antique 1915 Mahogany Chicago Cable Company Carolina Inner Player Upright Piano
Located in Dayton, OH
Antique Victorian player piano by The Cable Company of Chicago which features a Carolina Inner-player. Circa 1915. Includes: I Love Paris and Oh Lady Be Good by Max Kortlander, Hey There and Mack the Knife by J Lawrence Cook, Cherry Pink & Apple Blossom White by Sid Laney, If You Knew Susie Fox Trot, Bye Bye Blackbird Fox Trot, Loving You Has Made Me Bananas by Dick Watson, and two unmarked. The Cable Piano Company, Chicago established 1880 by Herman D. Cable born in New York in 1849. The Cable Piano Company was originally with the Wolfinger Organ Co., which later changed to the Western Cottage Organ Co., and then to Chicago Cottage Organ Co. In 1890 H. D. Cable consolidated with Conover Bros. and his two brothers, Fayette S. and Hobart M. Cable. Cable and Conover acquired the Schiller Piano Co. of Oregon, Ill. By 1920 The Cable Piano Co. had two factories. One factory located in Chicago at 22nd Street, Paulina and Dale Place. The second factory at St. Charles, Ill. In the 1920s George J. Dowling was president and The Cable Co. was manufacturing Conover, Cable, Kingsbury; and Wellington, and Schiller pianos. Player piano names Conover Carola Inner-Player, Conover Solo Carola Inner-Player, Carola Inner-Player, Solo Carola Inner-Player, Euphona Inner- Player, and Solo Euphona Inner-Player. “Tonarch” and “Crownstay”, trademarks of the Cable Co., Chicago. “Tonarch” a patented sounding-board-and- frame construction used in uprights and “Crownstay” designed to maintain the curvature of soundboards in grands. Other owners of the Cable Company include Aeolian with the factory at 2718 Pershing Ave., Memphis, TN., Jackson & Wabash, Chicago, Ill., and Winter & Co. The Cable Piano Company claimed to be "the world's greatest manufacturer of pianos, inner player pianos, and organs." Cable built a factory in 1901 in St. Charles on 3.5 acres west of the Fox River. Cable Piano Company became known not only for its products, but also for its working conditions. During the factory's heyday in the early 1900s, there were as many as 500 employees, many of whom were women. Employees could enjoy the company sponsored brass band and male chorus, or play on the company baseball team. With its own electric plant and fire protection...
Category

1910s Edwardian Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Mahogany

1950s Vintage Italian Cigarette Holder Dispenser
Located in Chula Vista, CA
1950s Vintage Italian Cigarette Dispenser 7.25 h x 3.25 d x 3 Unrestored original vintage condition Refer to images
Category

1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Brass

Midcentury Advertising Mirror "Airliner" San Telmo Cigar Co Bay City Michigan
Located in Weiningen, CH
Midcentury advertising mirror "Airliner" San Telmo Cigar Co. Bay City Michigan on a chain Some wear on the edges.
Category

1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Mirror

Solid Brass Ship Captains Telescope
Located in Norwell, MA
Ships spyglass telescope appropriate for use on a yacht, ship, or anywhere with a view. This has been meticulously polished and lacquered. We just restored a great collection of thes...
Category

1910s European Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Brass

U.S. Army officer's pocket compass during WW1 signed WITTNAUER
Located in Milan, IT
U.S. Army officer's pocket compass during World War I made of chrome-plated brass in the shape of an onion clock, signed WITTNAUER. The compass is equipped with a snap-lock cover wi...
Category

1910s Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Brass

Solid Brass Ship Captains Telescope
Located in Norwell, MA
Ships spyglass telescope appropriate for use on a yacht, ship, or anywhere with a view. This has been meticulously polished and lacquered. We just restored a great collection of thes...
Category

1910s North American Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Brass

Svenskt Tenn, Strandvagen 5, Stockholm: samtliga möbler och textiler
Located in New York, NY
Svenskt Tenn catalog featuring the furniture, lighting, and botanical-print textile and wallpaper designs of in-house architect/designer Josef Frank. Published in the early 1950’s, t...
Category

1950s Swedish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Paper

Vintage 1950's MARX Pressed Steel and Aluminum A&P Market Delivery Toy Truck
Located in Buffalo, NY
Vintage 1950's MARX Pressed Steel and Aluminum A&P Market Delivery Toy Truck and trailer .. Amazing original condition. rear doors open and close, all whee...
Category

1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Aluminum, Steel

Hohner "C-Tenor" Concert Woodwind Instrument Germany, Circa 1950
Located in Incline Village, NV
Hohner C-Tenor "Koncert" wooden recorder; this circa 1950, made in Germany instrument is in excellent condition (appears to be unused); is made of pearwood. It is in three pieces con...
Category

1950s German Mid-Century Modern Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Wood

Weather Station in Art Nouveau Style Carved Walnut C. Engel & Cie Verviers
Located in Verviers, BE
Wall-mounted weather station in carved walnut made in Verviers Belgium by C. Engel & Cie Opticiens Verviers High quality mechanism with jeweled movement barometer and thermometer (in...
Category

1910s Belgian Art Nouveau Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Walnut

CESCINSKY & Webster. English Domestic Clocks. SECOND EDITION. 1914
Located in Hillsborough, NJ
AUTHOR: CESCINSKY, Herbert & Malcolm R. Webster. TITLE: English Domestic Clocks. PUBLISHER: London: George Routledge & Sons, Ltd, 1914. DESCRIPTION: SECOND EDITION. 1 vol., 11-15...
Category

1910s American Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Leather

Mid-Century Modern Ceramic Virgin Mary
Located in Chicago, IL
This elegant ceramic representation of the Virgin Mary is a superb example of mid-century modern craftsmanship, hand-formed by a skilled European studio pottery artist. The figure ca...
Category

1950s European Mid-Century Modern Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Ceramic

Mid-Century Modern Ceramic Crucifix
Located in Chicago, IL
This mid-century modern crucifix is a poignant example of European studio pottery that combines the spiritual gravitas of religious art with the aesthetic principles of the era. The ...
Category

1950s European Mid-Century Modern Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Ceramic

Vintage Chinese Cinnabar Shou Pendant Beaded Necklace and Matching Earrings.
Located in Van Nuys, CA
This vintage Chinese beaded necklace and earrings set features a large Shou symbol pendant and intricate red beads with flower motifs. This look...
Category

1950s Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Gold

Prismatic liquid pocket compass signed F. Barker's & Son London 1917
Located in Milan, IT
Prismatic compass pocket liquid and sensing signed F. Barker's & Son Makers London 1917, Pat No.29677/10, Futher Pat Pending, in use by British army officers during World War I. T...
Category

1910s Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Brass

Mid-Century Modern Ceramic Virgin Mary
Located in Chicago, IL
This mid-century modern ceramic sculpture portrays the Virgin Mary, a central figure in Christian iconography, handcrafted with a unique artistic interpretation by a European studio ...
Category

1950s European Mid-Century Modern Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Ceramic

Ceramic Mid-century Abstract Crucifixion, Studio Pottery, Handmade in Europe
Located in Chicago, IL
This striking mid-century modern ceramic wall cross is a remarkable example of European studio pottery from the 20th century. The piece is a harmonious fusion of spiritual symbolism ...
Category

1950s European Mid-Century Modern Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Ceramic

Mid-Century Modern Ceramic Crucifix
Located in Chicago, IL
This ceramic crucifix is a fine example of mid-century modern religious art, handcrafted by an unknown European studio pottery artist. The piece is marked by a minimalist silhouette ...
Category

1950s European Mid-Century Modern Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Ceramic

Mid-Century Serenity Dove Ceramic Cross
Located in Chicago, IL
This serene ceramic cross is a distinguished example of mid-century modern studio pottery from Europe. Embodying the innovative spirit of that era, it ...
Category

1950s European Mid-Century Modern Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Ceramic

Didactic atomic structure of zinc-iron sulfide Czech production 1950s
Located in Milan, IT
Atomic structure for educational use of zinc-iron sulfide, made of metal with Bakelite spheres painted gray and yellow. It is an inorganic compound found naturally in wurtzite, a mi...
Category

1950s Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Metal

Mid-Century Modern Ceramic Crucifix
Located in Chicago, IL
This mid-century modern wall cross represents the innovative artistic currents that swept through European studio pottery in the post-war period. Handcrafted by an unidentified arti...
Category

1950s European Brutalist Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Ceramic

Mid-Century Modern Ceramic Cross
Located in Chicago, IL
This distinctive mid-century modern ceramic wall cross represents a unique fusion of religious symbolism and the aesthetic principles of the mid-20th century European studio pottery ...
Category

1950s European Mid-Century Modern Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Ceramic

Virgin Mary, Mid-20th Century Studio Pottery, Europe
Located in Chicago, IL
This captivating ceramic wall sculpture of the Virgin Mary epitomizes the ingenuity of mid-century European studio pottery. Handcrafted by an anonymous artist, this devotional artwor...
Category

1950s European Mid-Century Modern Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Metal

Mid-Century Modern Madonna and Child Ceramic Sculpture
Located in Chicago, IL
This Madonna and Child sculpture is a distinctive piece of mid-century modern ceramic art, handcrafted by a European studio pottery artist. The sculpture presents a stylized depictio...
Category

1950s European Mid-Century Modern Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Ceramic

Didactic atomic structure of graphite made Czech manufacture circa 1950s
Located in Milan, IT
Atomic structure for educational use of graphite made metal with black Bakelite spheres. Czechoslovakian manufacture of the 1950s. Good condition, Measures 28x28x20 cm - inches 11...
Category

1950s Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Metal

Mid-Century Ceramic Crucifix with INRI Inscription
Located in Chicago, IL
This ceramic crucifix is a distinctive artifact of mid-century European studio pottery, highlighting the period's unique blend of traditional religious motifs with modern artistic se...
Category

1950s European Mid-Century Modern Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Ceramic

Verdant Mid-Century Ceramic Maltese Cross
Located in Chicago, IL
This robustly glazed ceramic Maltese cross represents the confluence of religious symbolism and mid-century modern aesthetics, crafted by the hands of European studio pottery artists...
Category

1950s European Mid-Century Modern Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Ceramic

1918 Antique Hammond Folding Portable Typewriter
Located in San Carlos, CA
For sale we have a beautiful antique typewriter. This 1918 Antique Hammond Folding typewriter is a great relic from the early 20the century that will add cool industrial detail to your interior. All the parts on this Hammond typewriter...
Category

1910s American Industrial Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Metal

Mid-Century Modern Ceramic Wall Cross
Located in Chicago, IL
This mid-century modern wall cross is a quintessential example of European studio pottery from the 1950s. Handcrafted by a skilled artisan, it showcases the raw beauty of ceramic art...
Category

1950s European Mid-Century Modern Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Ceramic

English Porcelain Mortar and Pestle #7
Located in Garnerville, NY
Porcelain mortar and pestle. Signed on the underside with the size #7, Acid Proof, Made in England. Wood handled pestle. Great for use in the kitchen, artist's studio or office. It d...
Category

1950s English Rustic Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Paste, Porcelain

Modernist Iron Nesting Incense Bowls or Ashtray
Located in San Diego, CA
Iron nesting incense bowls or ashtrays with a design reminiscent of Frank Lloyd Wright's logo. Wonderful patina. 1950s
Category

1950s Japanese Mid-Century Modern Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Iron

Scale model of an Italian motorboat from the 1950s
Located in Milan, IT
Scale model of an Italian speedboat 1950s, wooden planking hull, mounted on wood and brass base. Length cm 25 - inches 9.8, width cm 8.8 - inches 3.4, height with base cm 8.5 - inc...
Category

1950s Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Wood

Danish Modernist Silver Plate Ashtray or Incense Burner by Carl Cohr, 1950s
Located in San Diego, CA
Egg-shaped silver plated brass ashtray or incense burner. Titled The Smile, it was designed and manufactured by Carl Cohr in Fredericia Denmark. Stamped Cohr, Denmark, 1950s.
Category

1950s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Silver Plate, Brass

MOORHOUSE. Letters Of The English Seamen: 1587-1808. IN A FINE COSWAY BINDING !
Located in Hillsborough, NJ
AUTHOR: MOORHOUSE, E. Hallam. TITLE: Letters Of The English Seamen: 1587 - 1808. PUBLISHER: London: Chapman & Hall, 1910. DESCRIPTION: A COSWAY BINDING. 1 vol., octavo., 8-7/16" ...
Category

1910s British Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Leather

14K Gold Mid Century Charm Bracelet
Located in Van Nuys, CA
Charming mid-century ladies' charm bracelet featuring 3 charms with room to add more. All 3 have 14K gold markings on them as well as the substantial gold chain. Charms feature a cherub holding a burning jewel heart, a basket of roses, and a New York Cityscape. Charms feature gems of Garnet, Emerald, and pink and blue Sapphire. They hang on a substantial 14K gold chain with a heart...
Category

1950s Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Gold

Half Model of a Catboat
Located in Norwell, MA
Carved half model of a catboat sloop. Hull is painted white and is mounted to a painted backboard. The name "Cook" is printed on backboard. Weight: 4 lbs. Overall Dimensions: 6"H x ...
Category

1950s North American Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Wood

Early 19th Century Negretti and Zambra Bakelite Weather Forecaster
Located in Norwich, GB
19th century Negretti and Zambra Bakelite Weather Forecaster. Housed in a black metal case with a cream coloured bakelite front plate. The dial with barometer scale, hand turned indicator and a secondary dial operated by the side lever to set the wind direction...
Category

1910s English Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Bakelite

Ashtray attributed Pietro Chiesa for Fontana Arte
Located in Lugo, IT
Glass, brass and leather ashtray attributed to Pietro Chiesa for Fontana Arte Good Condition Similar model on Fontana Arte House of Glass 181 Thank you
Category

1950s Italian Modern Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Brass

Michigan State Spartans Football 1952 Calendar
Located in Garnerville, NY
Straight from the Spartan alumnus and their estate. Graduating in 1952 in Graphic Arts, he was a rabid sports fan. This calendar was procured from his study. Green graphics on heavie...
Category

1950s American Sporting Art Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Paper

Antique Royal Doulton, Isaac Walton Fishing Plate
Located in Oxfordshire, GB
Vintage fishing plate by Royal Doulton. A good Royal Doulton plate decorated with Isaac Walton design fishing scenes with the inscription: FRIEND W...
Category

1910s European Sporting Art Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Ceramic

Flair Magazine, Complete Set, February 1950 to January 1951 (Book)
Located in North Yorkshire, GB
This is the complete set of the 12 monthly issues that were ever printed of "Flair", which at the time of its production was very stylish and innovative, it folded after only one yea...
Category

1950s Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Paper

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

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.

Tauba Auerbach’s Geometric Pop-Up Book Is Mighty Rare, Thanks to a Hurricane

This sculptural art book has an epic backstory of its own.

Step inside the Storied Mansions of Palm Beach’s Most Effervescent Architect

From Spanish-style courtyards to fanciful fountains, these acclaimed structures abound in surprising and elegant details.

Recently Viewed

View All