Collectibles and Curiosities

Collectibles and Curiosities For Sale

Period: 1930s

Period: 1940s

Montague J Dawson, ‘Valetta Harbour’

Located in Lymington, Hampshire

Montague J Dawson (1895-1973), ‘Valetta Harbour’, oil on board, painted in a grisaille palette with a British Hunt Class Type II destroyer in Valetta Harbour, Malta, signed ‘Montague Dawson’, English, 1940. Footnote: Montague Dawson RMSA, FRSA (1890–1973) was born in West London, in Chiswick in 1895, Montague Dawson was the grandson of Victorian landscape painter Henry Dawson. He studied under the seascape artist Charles Napier Hemy...

Category

1940s English Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Paint

Montague J Dawson, ‘Valetta Harbour’

Traditional Shield Swimming Trophy

Located in Godshill, Isle of Wight

Traditional Shield Swimming Trophy The is a traditional golden oak shield has a large silver plated mount, in the centre “CATHOLIC SCHOOLS SWIMMING FATHER HUDSON’S SHIELD BOYS” ...

Category

1930s British Colonial Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Oak

Traditional Shield Swimming Trophy

Set of Vintage Snowshoes, 1943

Located in Eindhoven, NL

Vintage pair of snow shoes. Manufatured in 1943 by Snowcraft Inc. in Norway, Maine, US.

Category

1940s Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Leather, Hardwood

Set of Vintage Snowshoes, 1943

Murano 1940, Attributed to Flavio Poli, Italian

By Flavio Poli

Located in Ciudad Autónoma Buenos Aires, C

Murano We have specialized in the sale of Art Deco and Art Nouveau and Vintage styles since 1982. If you have any questions we are at your disposal. Pushing the button that reads 'V...

Category

1940s Italian Art Deco Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Murano Glass

Murano 1940, Attributed to Flavio Poli, Italian

The Flag of the United States by Milo Milton Quaife, First Edition, 1942

Located in Colorado Springs, CO

Quaife, Milo Milton. The Flag of the United States. New York: Grosset & Dunlap, 1942. First edition. Octavo. Rebound in ¼ leather and cloth boards, with raised bands and gilt embossed titles to the spine. Illustrated. Presented with a matching archival slipcase. Presented is a first edition printing of The Flag of the United States by Milo Milton Quaife. The book was published in New York by Grosset & Dunlap in 1942. It is presented here rebound in ¼ leather and cloth boards, with raised bands and gilt titles to the spine, and a matching archival slipcase. Quaife wrote The Flag of the United States in order to present “the true and authentic history of the United States.” Wading through the myths and stories surrounding the flag, he details the origins and evolution of the American flag, using careful research to determine fact from fiction. There are several chapters on the early flags of Spain, France, and Holland in America and Quaife traces the development of the American flag from its English predecessor. He articulates the twenty-nine word resolution of the Second Continental Congress that made the flag of the United States, then outlines the changes to the flag’s design made in 1795, 1818, and 1912. He has a chapter on Civil War flags, a chapter on flags of the Army, and several debunking the many myths surrounding the American flag. This book was very well received upon its publication. “Quaife is entitled to a good deal of praise for having written a straightforward, and very readable, history of our flag” (Ralph W. Steen, Southwestern Historical Quarterly, 1943). “To read this history of our flag is to read the history of these United States, not only in the years when we became an infant nation, but also in those later years variously devoted to territorial expansion, extending our commerce, and fighting other wars.” (Ardelia Olden Koch, Wisconsin Magazine of History, 1943). Milo Milton Quaife (1880–1959) was a historian and writer, born in Nashua, Iowa. He received his education at Grinnell College, the University of Missouri, and the University of Chicago. Quaife was a published historian of the Great Lakes region, the Mississippi River valley, the Gold Rush, and President Polk...

Category

1940s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Leather, Paper

The Flag of the United States by Milo Milton Quaife, First Edition, 1942

Retro Gold and Diamond Ring

Located in New York, NY

A Classic retro 18-karat French gold ring with a grouping of five mine cut diamonds flanked by buttresses that protect the mounted diamonds and give i...

Category

1940s French Mid-Century Modern Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Gold

Retro Gold and Diamond Ring

Austrian Art Deco Smoker Set

Located in Vienna, AT

Glass bowls with brass nickel-plated frame, made in Austria in the 1930s.

Category

1930s Austrian Art Deco Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Brass, Nickel

Austrian Art Deco Smoker Set

Stunning handmade circa 1930 Childrens Rocking Horse of a Dachshund Sausage Dog

Located in West Sussex, Pulborough

We are delighted to offer for sale this one of a kind hand made in England rocking horse in the form of a Sausage dog. What a charming period piece of children’s folk art...

Category

1930s English Art Deco Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Wood

Stunning handmade circa 1930 Childrens Rocking Horse of a Dachshund Sausage Dog

Carved and Painted Children's Toy Skittle Game Set from England, circa 1940

Located in Los Angeles, CA

Four sets of skittle pins painted to look like toy soldiers from 1940s England. The bright, cheery colors and elegant carving make these an especially char...

Category

1940s English Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Wood

Carved and Painted Children's Toy Skittle Game Set from England, circa 1940

Comptoir Canoë Canadien Et Méthacrylate

Located in SAINT-SEVER, FR

Sur la base d'un piètement d'atelier industriel en fonte, monté sur roulette, repose solidement un canoë canadien, distribue par Manufacture Saint-Etienne dans les années 1940. Le canoë est recouvert d'un épais plateau en méthacrylate formant un comptoir, un mange debout...

Category

1940s French Sporting Art Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Fruitwood

Comptoir Canoë Canadien Et Méthacrylate

A Turkish Or-A'Haïm National Israelite Hospital Charity Container, Circa 1930

Located in New York, NY

A charity container for the Turkish Or-A'Haïm National Israelite Hospital from circa 1930 is a historically significant artifact reflecting efforts to support healthcare and charitab...

Category

1930s Turkish Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Tin

A Turkish Or-A'Haïm National Israelite Hospital Charity Container, Circa 1930

Early 20th Century Algerian Palace-Shaped Brass Hanukkah Lamp

Located in New York, NY

Hanukkah lamp shaped like a palace, surmounted by Islamic crescent. Made in Laghouat, Algeria. The Hanukkah lamp is made of two parts: a pierced and engraved brass in the shape of ...

Category

1930s Algerian Islamic Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Brass, Copper

Early 20th Century Algerian Palace-Shaped Brass Hanukkah Lamp

New Parade, 1939

Located in Roma, IT

New Parade is an original film from the 1940s. It includes original packaging. 8mm or 16mm. Good conditions

Category

1930s European Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Plastic

New Parade, 1939

Located in Roma, IT

New Parade is an original film from the 1940s. It includes original packaging. 8mm or 16mm. Good conditions

Category

1930s European Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Plastic

New Parade, 1939

Located in Roma, IT

News Parade is an original film from the 1940s. It includes original packaging. 8 mm or 16 mm. Good conditions.

Category

1930s European Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Plastic

New Parade, 1939

Smoking Art Deco Table, France 1930 in Bronze and Opaline

Located in Ciudad Autónoma Buenos Aires, C

Table Material: opaline and bronze Style: Art Deco France We have specialized in the sale of Art Deco and Art Nouveau styles since 1982.If you have any questions we are at your disp...

Category

1930s French Art Deco Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Bronze

Smoking Art Deco Table, France 1930 in Bronze and Opaline

Diamond Modernist Platinum Cuff Bracelet

Located in New York, NY

A strong but elegant modernist open fret bracelet with rows of brilliant cut and baguette diamonds 12-carats of fine quality diamonds set in platinum. When worn it is a fantastic an...

Category

1930s American Art Deco Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Platinum

Diamond Modernist Platinum Cuff Bracelet

'To My Best Love' Cigar Band Folk Art Bowl

Located in Seattle, WA

Perfect gift for your true love. Charming cigar band Folk Art bowl with old valentine in center, great details.

Category

1930s Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

'To My Best Love' Cigar Band Folk Art Bowl

Boat 1930, France

Located in Ciudad Autónoma Buenos Aires, C

Exhibited at Original antique show ( Miami beach ) and Palm beach "American International Fine Art Fair (AIFAF)". Materials: (parchment leather ) and wood Style: Art Deco Country: Fr...

Category

1930s French Art Deco Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Bronze, Chrome

Boat 1930, France

Ado Ko Verzuu Puzzel Box Model 259 Holland 1939

By Ko Verzuu, ADO

Located in Roosendaal, Noord Brabant

Very rare puzzle tiles box model 259. designed by Ko Verzuu for Ado Holland in 1939. Ado means Arbeid door onvolwaardigen, translated; labor by incapacitated, which makes this an even more special piece. Toys by Ado are being highly collected at the moment, even more than ever cause this is very decorative combined with 1950s furniture from all countries! Jacobus Johannes Josephus (Ko) Verzuu, a former construction supervisor from Utrecht, led the ADO workshops. He had delved into architecture and art and developed a strong preference for the abstract lines and bright colors, which can also be found in the followers of De Stijl group from the 1920s, followed by Piet Mondriaan, Theo van Doesburg, Vilmos Huszár...

Category

1930s Dutch De Stijl Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Plywood

Ado Ko Verzuu Puzzel Box Model 259 Holland 1939

France Art Deco Horse, 1940

Located in Ciudad Autónoma Buenos Aires, C

It was exhibited in the original Miami beach antique show and Palm beach "American International Fine Art Fair (AIFAF)". Horse in wood and chrome. We ha...

Category

1940s French Art Deco Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Chrome

France Art Deco Horse, 1940

Charles Dixon R.A. for King George V, Royal Yacht Britannia

Located in Lymington, Hampshire

This ‘en grisaille’ watercolour on paper is Charles Dixon’s preparatory sketch for a proposed but apparently uncompleted painting of the royal racing yacht Britannia...

Category

1930s English Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Paper

Charles Dixon R.A. for King George V, Royal Yacht Britannia

Murano 1940, Italian

Located in Ciudad Autónoma Buenos Aires, C

Murano We have specialized in the sale of Art Deco and Art Nouveau and Vintage styles since 1982. If you have any questions we are at your disposal. Pushing the button that reads 'Vi...

Category

1940s Italian Art Deco Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Murano Glass

Murano 1940, Italian

Alpine Ski Photograph, 'Bend Zie Knees', Taken from Original 1930s Photograp

Located in Oxfordshire, GB

Alpine Ski photograph. 'BEND ZIE KNEES', a new mounted black and white photographic image after an original 1930s skiing photograph. Black and white alpine photos are the perfect addition to any home or ski lodge, so please do check out our other ski photos...

Category

1930s British Sporting Art Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Paper

Alpine Ski Photograph, 'Bend Zie Knees', Taken from Original 1930s Photograp

Sioux Child's Moccasins

Located in Coeur d'Alene, ID

Sioux child's moccasins. 5 1/2" brain tanned elk. Classic Sioux buffalo hoof design with yellow crosses with red faceted beads and commercial tanned elk hide. Period: circa 1940. Or...

Category

1940s American Native American Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Other

Sioux Child's Moccasins

Murano, 1930, Italian, Attributed to Paolo Venini Technique Pelegoso

By Paolo Venini

Located in Ciudad Autónoma Buenos Aires, C

Murano We have specialized in the sale of Art Deco and Art Nouveau and Vintage styles since 1982. If you have any questions we are at your disposal. Pushing the button that reads 'View All From Seller'. And you can see more objects to the style for sale. Venini ( Technique Pelegoso ) Pelegoso technique A type of glass characterized by countless irregular air bubbles (pulighe) within the vitreous wall, which deliberately obscure its transparency. It is obtained by pouring substances such as petrol into the pot, which produce a boiling over of the glass in fusion. Attributed to Venini Early life and education Venini was born in the town of Cusano near Milan, Italy. After serving in the Royal Italian Army in World War I, he trained as a lawyer and began his practice in Milan. He soon developed an acquaintance with Giacomo Cappellin, a native of Venice who owned a Milan antiques...

Category

1930s Italian Art Deco Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Murano Glass

Murano, 1930, Italian, Attributed to Paolo Venini Technique Pelegoso

Fishing Book, Golden Days by Romilly Fedden

Located in Oxfordshire, GB

Vintage fishing book, golden days by Romilly Fedden A good 1949 (2nd edition) angling book by Romilly Fedden entitled 'Golden Days' and printed in Grea...

Category

1940s English Sporting Art Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Paper

Fishing Book, Golden Days by Romilly Fedden

Jeweler Box in Marquetry of Different Woods and Applications, circa 1930

Located in Saint-Ouen, FR

Jeweler box in marquetry of different woods and applications. Artdeco period. circa 1930.

Category

1930s French Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Wood

Jeweler Box in Marquetry of Different Woods and Applications, circa 1930

Vintage Leather Child's Saddle, circa 1930

Located in Napa, CA

Vintage leather child's saddle.

Category

1930s British Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Leather

Vintage Leather Child's Saddle, circa 1930

Sculptor of Mary in Wax by Vernez

Located in Chicago, IL

This is a wax carving of Mary, probably done before WWII and is actually signed. The signature is Vernez and could have been a model for a future casting. Signed.

Category

1930s French Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Sculptor of Mary in Wax by Vernez

George Stubbs - Anatomy of the Horse 1938

Located in Pewsey, GB

George Stubbs - The Anatomy of the Horse - Heywood Hill, London 1938 - Brown Boards and Cloth. lettering in Gilt on brown leather on spine. Something for every library and a large b...

Category

1930s British Early Victorian Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Paper

George Stubbs - Anatomy of the Horse 1938

Italian Trolley Mill Industrial Archeology

Located in bari, IT

Trolley from an old industrial cotton mill made with mixed timber dating back to the 1930s.

Category

1930s Italian Industrial Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Wood

Italian Trolley Mill Industrial Archeology

Bronze Nautical Alidade from USA

Located in Sagaponack, NY

An impeccably machined nautical alidade crafted of warm patinated bronze and steel.

Category

1940s American Industrial Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Bronze, Steel

Bronze Nautical Alidade from USA

Mother's Day Flowers

Located in Seattle, WA

Sweet vintage trembler pin butterfly and flowers "tremble". A very happy little treasure.

Category

1940s Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Mother's Day Flowers

1930's Vogue Dress Clip

Located in Asheville, NC

This fabulous dress clip is iconic of Depression-era jewelry. The 1930's clip brooch was one of the most versatile jewels ever invented, for the variety of ways in which the clip bro...

Category

1930s Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

1930's Vogue Dress Clip

Rare WWII Italian Prisoner of War Work Model of Italian Cruiser 'Zara'

Located in Lymington, Hampshire

Rare WWII Italian Prisoner of war work model of Italian heavy cruiser 'Zara' with finely detailed superstructure and armament in a cedar and pine glazed c...

Category

1940s English Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Rare WWII Italian Prisoner of War Work Model of Italian Cruiser 'Zara'

Bronze Lidded Jar by George Adlam for George Adlam & Sons

By George Adlam & Sons

Located in Sagaponack, NY

An Arts & Crafts heavy lidded urn of solid bronze.

Category

1930s English Arts and Crafts Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Bronze

Bronze Lidded Jar by George Adlam for George Adlam & Sons

Solid Brass Ships Porthole Table, Very Large

Located in Norwell, MA

Large solid brass ships porthole table. This porthole has been highly polished and lacquered to a very high finish. Mounted to a high table with lower shelf with a ships grating shel...

Category

1940s Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Brass

Solid Brass Ships Porthole Table, Very Large

Solid Brass Ships Porthole Mounted To A Mahogany Table Base

Located in Norwell, MA

Solid brass boat porthole that has been meticulously polished and lacquered, then mounted to a custom mahogany table stand. Oval glass. Weight is...

Category

1940s Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Brass

Solid Brass Ships Porthole Mounted To A Mahogany Table Base

Mid-Century Coro Creeper Earrings

By Coro Costume Jewelry

Located in Asheville, NC

Ice blue rhinestones delicately climb the ear on these fabulous mid century Coro creeper earrings. A luminescent silver tone strand ties this leafy bo...

Category

1940s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Mid-Century Coro Creeper Earrings

Oak Yacht Tiller Mounted on Two Deck Planks

Located in Lymington, Hampshire

Oak yacht tiller mounted on two deck planks from the author Arthur Ransome's 1931 Hilliard built yacht 'Nancy Blackett'. The tiller is from author Arthur Ransome's yacht 'Nancy Bl...

Category

1930s English Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Oak Yacht Tiller Mounted on Two Deck Planks

Franklin D. Roosevelt 1936 Campaign Poster: "The Man with a Heart..."

Located in York County, PA

“THE MAN WITH A HEART, THE PARTY WITH A SOUL”: FRANKLIN D. ROOSEVELT POSTER, MADE FOR HIS 1936 PRESIDENTIAL RUN, THE BEST OF ALL KNOWN EXAMPLES ACROS...

Category

1930s American Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Paper

Franklin D. Roosevelt 1936 Campaign Poster: "The Man with a Heart..."

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.

Medal-Worthy Memorabilia from Epic Past Olympic Games

Get into the games! These items celebrate the events, athletes, host countries and sporting spirit.

Ahoy! You’ve Never Seen a Collection of Sailor Art and Kitsch Quite Like This

French trendsetter and serial collector Daniel Rozensztroch tells us about his obsession with objects related to seafaring men.

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.