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Collectibles and Curiosities For Sale
Period: 1960s
Period: 1930s
Globe from Dietrich Reimers. Germany 1930's
By Dietrich Reimers 1
Located in BAAMBRUGGE, NL
Globe by Dietrich Reimers berlin in the 1930's Made of papier mache with a wooden foot.
Category

1930s German Art Deco Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Brass

Izaak WALTON. The Compleat Angler. Illustrated by Arthur Rackham FIRST TRADE ED
Located in Hillsborough, NJ
AUTHOR: WALTON, Izaak. TITLE: The Compleat Angler. PUBLISHER: London: George C. Harrap & Co., 1931. DESCRIPTION: FIRST TRADE EDITION. 1 vol., 9-3/4" - 7-9/16", illustrated by Art...
Category

1930s British Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Leather

DODGSON - Lewis Carroll - Alice in Wonderland - Illustrated by Dali - 1969
Located in Hillsborough, NJ
AUTHOR: DODGSON, Charles L. (Lewis Carroll) (Salvador Dali - illustrator). TITLE: Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. PUBLISHER: NY: Maecenas Press - Random House, 1969. DESCRIPTION...
Category

1960s American Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Leather

Collection of Three Vintage Wooden Toys
Located in Port Chester, NY
Charming collection of vintage wooden toys from England The big blue British Rail engine is from Nicol Toys, an early wooden toy company in Roberts...
Category

1930s English Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Paint, Wood

1968 2001 A Space Odyssey
By Arthur C. Clarke
Located in Bath, GB
A sought after first edition of one of the most important sci-fi novels of all time, signed by Arthur C. Clarke to the title page. The first U.S. edition, first printing. Signed by...
Category

1960s American Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Paper

10 demountable geometric solids in oak height 7.9 inch 1960 Vallardi Milan
Located in Milan, IT
Box containing 10 removable geometric solids made of oak wood, maximum height 20 cm -inches 7.9, housed in their original wooden box. Made for educational purposes for schools by pub...
Category

1960s Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Wood

Italian Space Age Floor Standing Ashtray - Orange Retro Chic Home Decor, 1960s
Located in San Benedetto Del Tronto, IT
Step back in time to the swinging sixties with this iconic Italian vintage 1960s ashtray, a stylish and functional piece that embodies the retro charm of the era. Crafted with a slee...
Category

1960s Italian Space Age Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Metal

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

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

Sears Tower Constellation Portable Typewriter W/Metal Case. Circa 1960s.
Located in Miami, FL
Vintage Sears Tower Constellation Portable Typewriter W/Metal Case. Circa 1960s. Manufactured for SEARS is the equivalent of a Smith-Corona Classic 12. Features a stylish mid century...
Category

1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Metal

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

Modernist Space Age Clairtone G3 T13 Stereo System with Globe Speakers
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

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

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

Brass Vintage Clip on Earrings by Anna Greta Eker, Norway, 1960s
Located in Stockholm, SE
Midcentury brass clip earrings with a dark purple glass stone in the middle with a cut rock shape. Designed by Anna Greta Eker, Norway, 1960s. A typical couple of vintage earrings re...
Category

1960s Norwegian Scandinavian Modern Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Stone, Brass

"Alphaville" Original Japanese Movie Poster
Located in London, GB
Original Japanese movie poster for Jean-Luc Godard's 1965 French New Wave film starring Eddie Constantine, Anna Karina, Akim Tamiroff.
Category

1960s Japanese Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

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

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

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

Berkel LP Scales
Located in Roma, IT
Berkel scale mod.LP from the 1960s made in the Netherlands
Category

1960s Dutch Mid-Century Modern Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Iron

Finnair Caravelle 1960
By Schaarschmidt
Located in Weesp, NL
Take flight into aviation history with the iconic 1960's Finnair Aero Caravelle airplane model, meticulously crafted by Schaarschmidt Modelbau in Berlin. This exquisite model pays ho...
Category

1960s Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Aluminum, Sheet Metal

Art Deco Ashtray Stand, Chrome and Bakelite by Demeyere, Belgium, 1930s
Located in Saarburg, RP
Art Deco ashtray stand This beautiful and rare Art Deco Ashtray Stand from the 30s/40s is in the streamline modern art deco style. The designer of this extraordinary object has succ...
Category

1930s Belgian Art Deco Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Metal, Chrome, Iron

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

1930s European Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Brass

Ronson 1937 Art Deco Heart Lighter Faux Tortoise Lacquer And Chromed Steel
Located in Miami, FL
Heart shaped lighter designed by Ronson. This an extremely rare heart shaped pocket petrol lighter, created in New Jersey United States by The Ro...
Category

1930s American Art Deco Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Steel, Chrome

20th Century Large English Made Wooden Pond Yacht c.1930
Located in Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent
Superb 20th Century pond yacht known as "Sea Mist". This J Class beauty showcases a meticulously crafted planked wood hull, adorned with gaff rigging supporting four sails, alongside...
Category

1930s British Other Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Fabric, Wood

Marelli Fan
Located in Roma, IT
The company was founded in 1891 in Milan as a sole proprietorship by Ercole Marelli, in his youth a worker at the Italian Tecnomasio in Milan. Initially the company manufactured elec...
Category

1960s Italian Industrial Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Brass, Iron

Asprey - Art Deco Engine Turned Butt Marker - Shooting Interest - Chester 1937
Located in London, London
Hallmarked in Chester in 1937 by Asprey & Co. Ltd., this very stylish, Art Deco period, Sterling Silver Butt Marker, features engine turned decorati...
Category

1930s English Art Deco Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Sterling Silver

Rare English Sterling Silver Yad - Hallmarked in London in 1937
By A. Taite & Sons Ltd
Located in London, London
Hallmarked in London in 1937 by A. Taite & Sons, this handsome, Sterling Silver Yad, is of traditional form. The yad measures 12"(30.5cm) in length, by 1.25...
Category

1930s English Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Sterling Silver

Art Deco Sterling Silver Darts Trophy - Hallmarked in 1938
Located in London, London
Hallmarked in Birmingham in 1938 by A. L. Davenport, this Sterling Silver Darts Trophy, is modelled as three darts and presented on its original base. The trophy measures 9.75"(25cm)...
Category

1930s English Art Deco Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Sterling Silver

Brionvega Radiocubo by Zanuso & Sapper, 1960s
Located in Parma, IT
Radiocubo Mod.TS502 produced by Brionvega, designed by Zanuso & Sapper in the 1960s. PVC body in the very rare brick red colour, chromed and black metal finishes, with removable ant...
Category

1960s Italian Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Plastic

The Book Of Common Prayer - 1960 - IN A SCARCE EARLY BINDING BY PHILIP SMITH !
Located in Hillsborough, NJ
AUTHOR: BOOK OF COMMON PRAYER. TITLE: The Book Of Common Prayer, And Administration of the Sacraments, & other Rites & Ceremonies of The Church, According to the use of The United ...
Category

1960s British Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Leather

Vintage Apollo 11 "Voyage to the Moon" Pennant, 1969
Located in Colorado Springs, CO
Presented is a vintage pennant from 1969 highlighting the Apollo 11 space mission. The felt pennant features a white field with the words "A Voyage to the Moon- Collins - Aldrin- Arm...
Category

1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Felt

Polaire Paris 1938 Art Deco Table Desk Petrol Lighter-Clock In Chromed Steel
Located in Miami, FL
A desk lighter clock designed by Polaire Paris. A beautiful desk lighter-clock, created in Paris France by the Alphonse Brun company know as Polaire Paris, back in the 1938. This pi...
Category

1930s French Art Deco Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Steel, Chrome

Sailboat Blueprint for Simple Simon
Located in Norwell, MA
Framed blueprint showing a fourteen foot sailing punt named Simple Simon. The plan is from Motor Boating Publishing in the 1930s. Showing all constru...
Category

1930s North American Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Paper

Orange Stereophonic RR-126 Radio by F.lli Castiglioni for Brionvega, 1960s
Located in Lasne, BE
Orange Brionvega stereo radio. Très rare dans cette couleur. The radio and record player work perfectly. There is also a bluethoot to connect the mobile phone. It has been completel...
Category

1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Metal

Vintage 20th Century "Not In Service" Framed London Red Route Bus Sign c.1960
Located in Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent
A wonderful mid 20th Century Transport for London sign, hailing from the iconic red route master buses of London. This piece of history is elegantly framed in black. Whether for enth...
Category

1960s British Other Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Wood

Hermes Solid Silver Cigarette Box & Matchbox With Gold Horse Detail c.1960
Located in Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent
A Vintage mid-20th Century Hermes cigarette box and matchbox holder crafted from solid silver, adorned with exquisite gold horse detailing. This exceptional set, dating back to 1960,...
Category

1960s French Mid-Century Modern Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Silver

Blue Clown Head Cookie Jar, USA, 1960s
Located in Esbjerg, DK
A rare survivor from late 1950s or early 60s comes this large canister in the shape of a clown bear head. It measures 25 cm in height and 17 cm in width. Originally made as a toy beach/sand toy...
Category

1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Plastic

Park Sherman 1930 Art Deco Chromed Steel Roller Box With Red And Black Bakelite
Located in Miami, FL
Decorative roller desk box designed by Park Sherman. Very decorative desk box, created during the art deco period in America by the Park Sherman Company, back in the 1930. This roller-lid box is very innovative in design and with Avant Garde look. It was crafted in chromed steel with red lacquer and elements in red and black Bakelite. It is fitted with a roller lid, which is in perfect working condition. The Park Sherman Company Park Sherman was an important Springfield company for several decades ending with the sale of the company to a New Jersey firm in 1960. They mass-produced smoking accessories, particularly lighters, as well as a multitude of office, novelty, and other items. The Park Sherman Company operated in Springfield, Illinois until 1960 when it was sold to a New Jersey company. A man named Jacob S. Sherman was the founder of the Park Sherman Company. The company sold miner's supplies (miner's cap lamps, match cases, etc.) and later specialized in things like coin banks and smoking accessories such lighters and cigarette cases. The company's products were sold throughout the 1930s, 1940s and 1950s. 'Everdry' was a brand name that Park Sherman used on some of its products. The word "Everdry" was used, for example, on match cases to indicate that the case would prevent the matches from getting wet. Presumably, your "Everdry" cigarette case kept the contents from getting wet. Materials: Chromed steel and red and black Bakelite. Weight: 231.7 Grams, (0.51 Pounds). Measurements: 114.3 mm by 101.6 mm by 63.5 mm (3.50 x 4.0 x 2.50 Inches). Literature: Rodney and Diane Capstick-Dale, The art deco Collectibles...
Category

1930s American Art Deco Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Steel

Bronze Art Deco religious lamp stand signed Brom
Located in Den Haag, NL
Unique Bronze handmade lamp stand . Manufactured and signed by Edelsmidse Brom . Goldsmith Brom was a Dutch company, based in the city of Utrecht (1856-1961), specialized in making...
Category

1930s Dutch Art Deco Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Bronze

Cast Model Of The Armstrong Whitworth Argosy Xn 824 Transport Plane c.1960
Located in Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent
A superb mid 20th Century painted cast model depicting a British post-war transport plane, the Argosy XN 824 that served from 1959 to 1978 with the RAF. Following its military servic...
Category

1960s British Other Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Metal

c1936 One-Hundred and Forty-Four Postcards of Military Uniforms
Located in Bath, GB
A fascinating collection of one-hundred and forty-four postcards of military uniforms, a number of which depict 1930s Germany. A total of one-hundred and forty-four twentieth century postcards, the majority depicting military uniform in England, France and Europe. A number of post cards, intriguingly, depict 1930s Munich and Potsdam. Sixteen envelopes holding images and postcards, and a further ten loosely inserted postcards. Housed in a signed morocco box with gilt detailing by W & J Milne of Princes St. Edinburgh. One envelope has the handwritten title ‘Postcards from Munich 1932’, and houses eleven postcards. Two of these present headshots of popular German actors Heinz Ruhmann and Gustav Frohlich, both of whom are dressed in military costume, and remained neutral in the Second World War. The remaining nine postcards depict images of a funeral procession of Prince Regent Leopold of Bavaria in October 1930 in Munich. Leopold was commander of the German and Austro-Hungarian forces during World War I. Further images depict Prince Rupprecht, Crown Prince of Bavaria, surrounded by military figures. The next envelope includes fifteen photographic postcards depicting Potsdam in the 1930s, and is captioned in ink to the front of the envelope with ‘Potsdam. September 1936’, and ‘Frederick William I’s Giant Guards’. Each post card is undated, but captioned. Three post cards depict military parades in Potsdam, and predate the Nazi regime, seven depict memorials the First World War, and one of the remaining postcards depict Prince August Wilhelm of Prussia. A further collection is ten colour post cards in the publisher’s original paper wraps, titled ‘Potsdams Stolzen Tagen’, or ‘Potsdam’s Proud Days’. It features ten colour illustrated postcards by artist Paul Pietsch, depicting the uniforms of Potsdam military positions between the late seventeenth and late nineteenth centuries. Collated, complete. Loosely inserted are ten colour illustrated post cards depicting the military uniform of the various regiments of the German army, illustrated by Carl Henckel, and covering the period of the First World War. Present here are depictions of the garb of the Gardes du Corps...
Category

1930s British Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Paper

Vintage 1930s Original Czech School Sports Leather Gym Mat Four Handled
Located in London, GB
An original 1930s vintage school gym mat originating from the former Czechoslovakia. The mat is very well made and heavy, made from a thick leather hide and stitched together around ...
Category

1930s Czech Industrial Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Leather, String

Gold Ceramic Thermometer by Mithé Espelte
Located in Saint-Ouen, IDF
Beautiful wall thermometer in ceramic by Mithé Espelt. Abstract decors with gold glaze and pockets of molten glass Marie Thérèse Espelt, aka. Mithé Espelt (1923-2020) Born in...
Category

1960s French Mid-Century Modern Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Ceramic

1967 Vintage Hobie Hawaii model Pintail Surfboard
Located in Haleiwa, HI
Vintage 1967 Hobie Hawaii model surfboard. Features a pintail shape design with white pigment and bright blue pinstriping. Very low production Hobie Hawaii model logo. As seen in “Th...
Category

1960s American Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Softwood, Foam, Fiberglass

Plastic School Model Of Ethylen, Czechoslovakia 1960s
Located in Zohor, SK
Original and unique home assessory, this is a school chemist model of ethylene. Produced and used in Czechoslovakia since 1960s, this model is made of plastic, with a plastic base. I...
Category

1960s Czech Mid-Century Modern Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Plastic

Plastic School Model Of Diamant, Czechoslovakia 1960s
Located in Zohor, SK
Beautiful and unique vintage science model of diamant. This is a school model originating in Czechoslovakia. Produced and used until now since 1960s. The...
Category

1960s Czech Mid-Century Modern Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Plastic

20th Century Brass Model GNR Atlantic 3 1/2 Inch Gauge Steam Locomotive c.1930
Located in Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent
Early 20th Century brass model, showcasing the GNR Atlantic locomotive 251 and its three-axle tender. Crafted to a 3 1/2 inch gauge, the model gleams with polished brass, copper, and...
Category

1930s British Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Brass

Cram's 16" Deluxe Globe W/Daily Sun Ray and Season Indicator
Located in San Francisco, CA
Cram's 16" Deluxe Globe W/Daily Sun Ray and Season Indicator 1936
Category

1930s Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Metal

Large Art Deco Traditional Wooden Artist Mannequin Model, Italy 1930s
Located in Nuernberg, DE
A handmade wooden Artist mannequin model - all joints move as they should. Found on a Estate sale in Modena, Italy. Shows some minor wear - but looks beautiful on display! Some scrat...
Category

1930s German Art Deco Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Metal

Danish Mid-Century Teak Pianette by Louis Zwicki, c. 1960's
Located in Norwalk, CT
Serial No. 11494. 82 Keys. Step back in time with this masterfully crafted Danish Mid-Century Teak Pianette by the renowned Louis Zwicki. From the heart of the 1960's, a period whe...
Category

1960s Mid-Century Modern Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Teak

Vintage Toy Wind-Up "Johnny" The Dancing Clown by Lindstrom Toy Co., Circa 1930
Located in Incline Village, NV
This is a hard to find pre war vintage, Made in America wind up tin toy by The Lindstrom Toy Company of Bridgeport, Connecticut, circa 1928-1932. The action is fabulous; when wound ...
Category

1930s American Folk Art Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Tin

Lovely Set of 6 Scandinavian Wooden Danish Vikings, 1950s
Located in Nürnberg, Bayern
Fantastic collection of 6 different Scandinavian Vikings. Measures: The largest is 33.5 cm high. The others are 22 cm, 18 cm, 13.5 cm and 9 cm high.
Category

1960s Scandinavian Scandinavian Modern Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Leather, Wood

Vintage 1960's Costume Jewelry- A Carnelian Necklace.
Located in St Annes, Lancashire
Pretty piece of carnelian jewelry Silver coloured links Approximately 27 inches long ( 69 cm ) Good condition Free shipping
Category

1960s English Mid-Century Modern Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Carnelian

Vintage Silver Table Lighter - Animal Fur Texture
Located in Gravesend, GB
Continental Silver Table Lighter Sparks but will need gas filling. Excellent condition Beautiful animal fur texture.
Category

1960s European Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Silver

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

1930s North American Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Brass

Lot of Four Vintage Steiff Animals, Squirrel Camel Hamster & Giraffe, 1960s
Located in Nuernberg, DE
This collection of stuffed animals includes 4 figures: 1) Miniature Steiff Squirrel (No button and flag, but cardboard label). About 3.75" high. 2) Steiff Hamster (parts of flag and...
Category

1960s German Folk Art Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Mohair

1960s Sterling Silver Beaded Necklace
Located in Van Nuys, CA
This 1960s silver beaded necklace is a vintage treasure, exuding retro charm and timeless elegance. Each delicate silver bead is meticulously craf...
Category

1960s Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Gold

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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