Collectibles and Curiosities

Stunning contemporary reproduction of a vintage racing car from the 1930s. The streamlined body, inline engine, wheels and dashboard are all faithfully reproduced and highly detailed...

Desk elephant Striker Lighter designed by Ronson. The striker lighters made by Ronson are famous under collectors. This extremely rare desk Striker Li...

Frankart standing lady smoking stand. Original paint shows some losses but overall looks good. Glass is a later replacement.

Art Deco mechanical dispenser box with lighter made by Ronson. An exceptional and very decorative mechanical desk box, created in the city of Newark, New Jersey United States by The Ronson Metal Works Co. during the Art Deco period, back in the 1938. This is a very rare box designed by Frederick Kaupmann with geometric machine age patterns. It was crafted with parts made up in solid steel and chromed steel. Embellished with semicircular linear knob to lid on gunmetal base with black lacquer enamel, creating a great contrast to the brilliant steel and the interiors are finished with round brushed Fiorentine patterns. This is the variation which is mounted in four squared sabbots, the touch tip is cylindrical, the knob is semicircular and the lighter part is decorated with lines instead plain. This piece is extremely well made with a solid construction and with very nice attention to all details. This surely is a very decorative collectors piece and a great conversation item. Weight: 2,267 Grams, (5 Pounds). Measurements: 205 mm by 120 mm by 104 mm (8.07 x 4.75 x 4.10 Inches). Marks: Stamped with the maker's mark and signed, "FASHIONED BY Ronson NEWARK NJ Ronson TOUCH-TIP-US PATS 1.986.754-DESIGN PAT .97.247-BRITISH PAT APPL'D FOR-CANADA PAT 349.148 ART METAL WORKS INC-NEWARK NJ USA" The Ronson lighter company started as The Art Metal Works in 1897 and was incorporated on July 20, 1898, by Max Hecht, Louis Vincent Aronson and Leopold Herzig, in Newark, New Jersey. Louis V. Aronson was a huge creative driving force for the company; and, with a few business adjustments, including the addition of Alexander Harris (1910–11) as Business Manager, the company soon became World Famous. In the 1910s The Art Metal Works were producing very good quality Hood Ornaments and gained a reputation as a dependable supplier of same. All accounts state that Louis Aronson was a gifted man, who at 16 years old set up a money-making shop in his parent's home - before receiving a U.S. patent for a commercially valuable metal-plating process he developed when he was 24 years old, and he sold half the rights while retaining the Right to Use. "His experiments, which he has been conducting since his early youth, resulted in 1893 in the discovery of a process for electrically producing tinplate. Much money was expended upon improving the process. and has been of great practical value to the whole industry. Retaining its rights, he sold half the patent rights, and later used part of the proceeds to open the Art Metal Works in Newark, N.J. Soon the company was producing a variety of high-quality Lamps, Book ends, Art Statues and other decorative items, prized today for their detail in the collector marketplace. Literature: Urban K. Cummings, Ronson, the World's Greatest Lighter : Wick Lighters 1913-1966 Bird Dog Books, California. 1992. For this exact model Illustrated. Note: This model was produced in two colors, black or brown with geometric variants at the touch tip lighter...

1940s Antique Silver Telephone Western Electric Bell System Rotary dial vintage Phone with ringer untested. 9 w x 5 d x 5 h Selling as is presented v...

The most iconic “on air” sign warning lights were made by RCA Victor in the 1930s. When radio and television stations were creating live programs, they had...

Pair of antique friezes in wood in the shape of a flower. They bear traces of lacquering, now erased by time. I just had the centrale part redone, to gi...

Rare Zeppelin wine cooler by Fritz August Breuhaus de Groot, 1925/1935, Bauhaus Stil Part of the dinnerware used in the Zeppelin LZ 129. Design and ...

Set of 6 brass dice in a felt-lined steel box - with brass topped lid and feet. The steel and brass have been oxidized prior to patinating with our unique statuary bronze formula. T...

Antique mechanical marionette theatre toy by CK made in Japan. A clockwork tin - metal swing with 2 adorable celluloid puppets or dolls: a clown and a ballerina. By the movement of the swing it seems that the boy and girl are dancing. At the back of the boy you see " my friend Japan " and the swing does have a patent number. The mechanical swing still works by the wind-up clockwork. The little dolls do not have damage. The upper part of the strings have been replaced during the years. The cardboard canopy roof with felt of the theatre and the original cardboard box do have some traces by age and beeing played with. Antique toys - antique tin toys - celluloid dolls...

A rare and important Italian alabaster bust sculpture of Jesus Christ, C. 1860 A modeled bust of Holy Christ wearing a crown of thorns, excep...

Rare and large 18th century carved religious figure that resembles St. Francis. 159 cm / 62.5 inch tall. Carved in one piece of Balayong wood....

Beautifully handcrafted and practical size, airplane theme table clock. Over the years we have sold a number of striking (no pun intended) clocks, but never one as decorative and co...

Vintage Art Deco cork and bakelite backgammon set, circa 1940s. Set is complete with a foldable wood board with cork inset, 30 bakelite checker...

Rectangular German Baroque style chest of drawers with curvy front standing on four bun feet and holding three frieze drawers with bronze handles. Top, front and both sides with fine...

Katie Larmour Studio is the original vintage scarf pillow maker. Gaining notability for her unique idea and creations back in 2013 - featured in the likes of the Financial Times, and first selling here on 1stdibs in 2016 - our creations are of the absolute top most quality, craftsmanship and finesse. Thank-you for looking.\ Title: Set of 4 matching rare vintage French cartier panther bracelet designer silk scarf pillows...

Extremely rare aluminum string bass, circa 1930s, bass was originaly wood grain painted, has been stripped and polished.. restrung and set up, new bridge and custom (alcoa) tail piece, original ebony fret board, Sounds amazing. If purchasing to play, wonderful decorative sculpture, Pfretzschner aluminum bass In 1928, The Aluminum Company of America manufactured 50 aluminum double basses...

Stunning white and black Art Deco porcelain penny scale by Navco. Amazing design, reminiscent of a womans cloaked silouette, retains original key...

An Art Deco sterling silver and carved jade matchbook cover by Edward Farmer NYC . The carved oval jadeite held with 14 k gold pins on a sterling base. Signed, rare, one of a kind.

Swarovski crystals make these stunning and gorgeous statement earrings perfect for that glamorous look. Vintage 1980s punch with Art Deco timeless style. Gold plated white metal (the...

Scandinavian mid-17th century bronze iron, dated 1646.

Vintage adjustable necklace stand and jewelry holder.

A now out of print book which is the catalogue raisonne of the great deco silversmith Jean Puiforcat. 339 pages with bilingual text in French and English and illustrated throughout w...

Official Uruguay 1930 F.I.F.A. World Cup Poster, Art Deco Football, Soccer, 92 year-old poster for the first World Cup, held in Uruguay in 1930. Pos...