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Collectibles and Curiosities For Sale
Period: 20th Century
Period: 18th Century
Antique Decorative Cast Iron Cannon Early 20th Century
Located in London, GB
This is a superb antique decorative cast iron signal cannon mounted on a two-wheeled carriage, and dating from Circa 1920. This well-proportioned and detailed cast iron model of an ...
Category

Early 20th Century Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Iron

Aesop's Fables - 1793 Stockdale ILLUSTRATED EDITION, Bedford binding
Located in Middletown, NY
Aesop (S. Croxall transl.) The Fables of Aesop; With a Life of the Author; and Embellished with one Hundred & twelve Plates London: John Stockdale, 1793. FIRST EDITION - 2 vol., La...
Category

Late 18th Century English Antique Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Leather, Paper

1940's WW2 Carl Zeiss BLC Flak 12x60 Anti Aircraft Binoculars
Located in Leicester, Leicestershire
Carl Zeiss blc Flak 12 x 60 binoculars. A beautiful set of WW2 binoculars in excellent condition made in Germany during World War 2. These were designed to be used in conjunction wi...
Category

1940s German Industrial Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Aluminum

Large 18th Century Italian / Neapolitan Hand Carved Wooden Head of Christ
Located in Buisson, FR
Unique handcarved wooden head of Christ with beautiful expression and glass eyes, once used at processions. Napels/ Italy, circa 1750-1800. Beautiful example of 18th century craftsma...
Category

18th Century Italian Baroque Antique Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Gesso, Glass, Wood

Set of 2 Brass Furniture Leg Embellisher, circa 1930
Located in Barcelona, ES
Set of two brass decorative embellishers imitating feline paws. Designed by unknown manufacturer, circa 1930. In original condition, with minor wear consistent with age and use...
Category

1930s Spanish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Brass

Parke-Bernet NY Florence H. Crane, Castle Hill, Important English Furniture, 1st
Located in valatie, NY
Parke-Bernet NY Florence H. Crane, Castle Hill Ipswich Mass, Important English Furniture, 1st Ed. Chicago industrialist Richard Teller Crane Jr., heir to Crane Co., and his wife, Flo...
Category

1950s American Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Paper

Lavishly-Filled German Wooden Grocery Dollhouse Store Toy 1900s
Located in Nuernberg, DE
A beautiful grocery shop room box, painted and stained wood with lithographed wall and floor papers, side stair case and upper gallery, some drawers on rear w...
Category

Early 1900s German Folk Art Antique Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Porcelain, Fabric, Wood

Cabinet of Curiosities Sculptural Artwork, circa 1950
Located in Barcelona, ES
Exquisite cabinet of Curiosities showcasing a stunning collection of plaster figures and pieces, reminiscent of a Classic sculpture museum. Olot has been a hub for sculpture and rel...
Category

1950s Spanish Modern Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Plaster, Wood

The Complete Works Of Charles Dickens - 36 vols. - IN A FINE LEATHER BINDING !
Located in Hillsborough, NJ
AUTHOR: DICKENS, Charles. TITLE: The Complete Works Of Charles Dickens. PUBLISHER: NY: Chas. Scribner's Sons, 1902. DESCRIPTION: 36 vols., 8-1/4" x 6", all illustrations after th...
Category

Early 1900s American Antique Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Leather

Large Antique GE General Electric Oscillating Industrial Desk Fan Works 21"
Located in Dayton, OH
Large antique 1915 2-Star / Loop handle desk fan by General Electric. Black painted steel housing with four brass blades / wings and cage with serpentine bars. Three speed; oscillati...
Category

1910s Industrial Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Brass, Steel

Set of 9 Antique Brass Scale Weights in Wood Block Apothecary 1920s
Located in Dayton, OH
1920's brass apothecary scale weight set including nine weights (one 50 gram, three 100 grams, one 200 grams, one 500 grams, one 1 kilo, and one 2 ki...
Category

1920s Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Brass

Hohner SUPER CHROMONICA 270/48 C
Located in Taranto, IT
We present a Hohner SUPER CHROMONICA 270/48 C, equipped with its own case, fully functional. The item is in good conservative condition, no cosmetic or structural defects to repor...
Category

1970s Italian Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Steel

Plaster Praying Virgin Traditional Figure, circa 1950
Located in Barcelona, ES
Traditional religious plaster figure of a praying woman. Made in traditional Catalan atelier in Olot, Spain, circa 1950. In original condition, with minor wear consistent with ...
Category

1950s Spanish Modern Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Plaster

GERMANY 1915 Art Nouveau Antique Duck Head Cigar Cutter In Plated Silver
Located in Miami, FL
An art-nouveau cigar cutter made in Germany. This is a beautiful cigar cutter created in Germany during the late art-nouveau period, back in the 1910-1920, The cigar cutter has been...
Category

1910s German Art Nouveau Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Silver

Lot of 61 Britains Toy Soldiers Deetail Scots Guards Highlanders Band Mounties
Located in Dayton, OH
Lot of 61 circa 1960s - 1970s Deetail plastic toy soldiers by Britain Ltd. Lot includes Royal Canadian Mounties (two on horseback), Scots Guards, Scottish Highlanders including pipes and drums (one on horseback), and seven guardhouses. "The "W. Britain" brand name of toy and collectable soldiers is derived from a company founded by William Britain Jr., a British toy manufacturer, who in 1893 invented the process of hollow casting in lead, and revolutionized the production of toy soldiers. In 1907 the family proprietorship, William Britain & Sons, incorporated as "Britains, Ltd". The Britain family controlled the firm until 1984 when it was sold to a British conglomerate, Dobson Park Industries. They combined the operations with an existing line of toys and renamed the company Britains Petite, Ltd. In the early 1950s Britains was associated with W. Horton Toys and Games which made the die-cast Lilliput ranges of small-scale, rather generic, cars and trucks and other vehicles. In 1959, Britains acquired Herald Miniatures which produced plastic figures designed by Roy Selwyn-Smith. In the 1950s, besides soldiers, a variety of vehicles began to appear, mostly in the military field. In 1966 safety regulations in the United Kingdom combined with rising costs halted the production of lead toy soldiers. Britains shifted most production of Herald plastic to Hong Kong from 1966. In 1971 Britains started Deetail plastic figures with metal bases that were initially manufactured in England but later outsourced to China. In 1973 Britains introduced New Metal models, which are die cast in a durable alloy. Initially these sets were aimed at the British souvenir market. In 1983 Britains responded to a growing collectors' market by introducing additional models and limited edition sets. In 1997, Britains Petite, Ltd was bought by Ertl Company of Iowa, a maker of die-cast toys. Ertl was subsequently bought by RC2 LLC, another American die-cast miniature and plastic kit maker. At this time, production of toy soldiers was moved to China. In 2011, Japanese-headquartered toy company Tomy acquired RC2 which included the Britains die-cast farm miniatures range. In 2005, the W. Britains brand was acquired by First Gear...
Category

Mid-20th Century Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Plastic

Large brass nautical compass signed OBSERVATOR Rotterdam of the 1930s
Located in Milan, IT
Large brass liquid compass signed OBSERVATOR Rotterdam from the 1930s. Eight-twenty rose complete with goniometric circle. Compass diameter cm 21.5 - 8.5 in, height cm 10.5 - 4.1 in...
Category

1930s Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Brass

Rare Antique 1901 Steinway Model B Rosewood Grand Piano Louis XV Rococo Restored
Located in Dayton, OH
Fully Restored 1901 Steinway & Sons Model B Louis XV Baroque Rococo Grand Piano – Serial Number 99151, Full 88 key keyboard. The most exquisitely d...
Category

Early 20th Century American Louis XV Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Fruitwood, Rosewood

Chinoiserie Grand Piano From Rogers and Sons London
Located in Berlin, DE
Chinoiserie Grand Piano by Rogers and Sons London The grand piano was manufactured according to the device number 1930. The grand piano was sold in 1932 by Harrods London to a lady ...
Category

1930s Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Wood

1997-2007 The Harry Potter Series
Located in Bath, GB
An excellent complete set of the wildly popular Harry Potter series by J. K. Rowling, including four first impressions. A terrific set offering all seven books from the magical 'Har...
Category

1990s British Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Paper

1970s Grundig Cube Box Design Speaker Set Futuristic Mid Century Modern
Located in Chula Vista, CA
AMBIANIC presents Original Grundig Cube Speaker Audiorama Design. Amazon design, cube shape mounted in tripod base. Original vintage unrestored. Speaker box 12 h x 8.5 d x 7.25 w Pr...
Category

1970s Mid-Century Modern Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Metal

Antique Hand Carved Gothic Church Panel of Feeding Pelican as Symbol of Christ
Located in Lisse, NL
Stunning religious wall panel in thick relief with strong hook for easy mounting. For the collectors of stunning antique church relics we are also offering this marvelously hand carved pelican sculpture for wall mounting. The character ascribed to the pelican in this context is nearly as fabulous as that of the phœnix. From a clumsy, gluttonous, piscivorous water-bird, it was by the growth of legends transformed into a mystic emblem of Christ, whom Dante terms "Nostro Pelicano". St. Hieronymus gives the story of the pelican restoring its young ones destroyed by serpents as an illustration of the destruction of man by the old Serpent, and his salvation by the blood of Christ. The pelican in Christian art is an emblem of Jesus Christ, by "whose blood we are healed" and it is also a symbol of charity. Many early painters and carvers mistakenly represented it more similar to an eagle (much like in this antique church relic), and not as a natural pelican which is why most people today still are a bit confused at first when this stunning hand carved, symbolic bird is called a pelican. This striking and all hand carved, symbolic panel was originally part of a church or monastery communion rail...
Category

Early 20th Century European Gothic Revival Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Gold Leaf

1930s Art Deco Zenith Radio Floor Model Console
Located in Chula Vista, CA
AMBIANIC presents Art Deco Vintage Decorative Zenith Floor Model Radio Console 43 h x 24 W x 16.75 Preowned vintage condition Tested not working. Missing...
Category

Mid-20th Century Art Deco Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Wood

Golden Disco Ball 30 cm Mosaic Mirror, With Rotor, 1980s
Located in Palermo, IT
Golden disco ball 30cm mosaic mirror, with rotor, 1980s Never used, intact and in perfect condition
Category

1980s Italian Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Mirror

Antique English Brass Cased Folding Magnifying Glass c.1920
Located in Bath, GB
A lovely shaped little folding / pocket magnifying glass which folds into a shaped brass case, marked "Made In England". Dating to c.1920, remaining in excellent condition measuring...
Category

1920s British Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Brass

Van Gogh in Arles by Ronald Pickvance
Located in Bradenton, FL
Van Gogh in Arles by Ronald Pickvance. Hardcover book with dustjacket, published in conjunction with the exhibition held at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, between October ...
Category

1980s Swiss Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Paper

Mid-Century Giordani Pedal Car, 1960s
Located in Palermo, IT
Mid-Century Giordani pedal car, 1960s It has always belonged to my family and was given to my father by his grandfather. Good condition, small signs of aging.
Category

1960s Italian Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Metal

Jaguar XK 120 Roadster 1950, Rare Collection Car, A+ Condition incl. Expert Op.
By Jaguar Cars Ltd.
Located in Lichtenberg, AT
We offer you the chance of buying this breathtaking, rare Jaguar XK 120 which had its first road legal in february 1950. There has been built only a very little number of these cars,...
Category

Mid-20th Century British Mid-Century Modern Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Metal

Large-Scale Brass Biplane World War I Airplane Aviation Model
Located in Atlanta, GA
Take flight into history with this breathtaking WWI-era biplane model, expertly hand-crafted in France circa 1950. A true masterpiece of craftsmanship, this large-scale brass airplan...
Category

1950s French Art Nouveau Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Brass

Triumph Typewriter, Germany, 1930
Located in Palermo, IT
Triumph typewriter, Germany, 1930 Found in a notary's office, signs of aging.
Category

1930s German Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Metal

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, He...
Category

1910s American Edwardian Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Mahogany

Rare Arts & Crafts Standing Floor Crucifix w Stylized Bronze Sculpture of Christ
Located in Lisse, NL
Rare Gothic revival church crucifix and a wonderful hand crafted work of religious art. Made and marked by Brom, Utrecht (see image 17). Brom of Utrecht was a family (or dynasty) of...
Category

Early 20th Century Dutch Gothic Revival Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Brass, Bronze

Cartier Textured Plorgalva Gold Plated Lighter in Original Box
Located in Palm Springs, CA
A nice Cartier Gold plated lighter in a textured pattern. It comes with its original box. There are no papers with it. The lighter functions as it should as you can see in the photos...
Category

20th Century French Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Gold Plate

Wind in the Willows, by Kenneth Grahame, First Edition with Dust Jacket
Located in Middletown, NY
A rare first edition, with near-fine dust jacket of the children's classic. Grahame, Kenneth. The Wind in the Willows; with a frontispiece by Graham Robertson. London: Methuen and Co., 1908. First Edition. 8vo. 7 1/2 x 4 3/4 in. (190 x 120 mm). pp. [1] + viii + 302 + i. Laid paper, deckle edges, t.e.g. With a captioned frontispieces, "And a River went out of Eden", on coated paper after a pen-and-ink drawing by Walford Graham Robertson (1866 – 1948); tissue guard. Original blue-green cloth with gilt illustration on the spine (Toad dressed in a driving outfit and goggles) and upper cover ( Pan playing flute to Rat and Mole by the river) and a single gilt rule on the upper cover. In the second issue publisher's pictorial peach-color dust jacket printed in black with price of 7/6 instead of 6/-.The spine of the dust jacket slightly darkened but in excellent condition with a couple small tears at head expertly repaired on verso; scattered foxing and discoloration to dust jacket and pages, wear to spine edges consistent with age. [Grolier: One Hundred Books Famous in Children's Literature, no.61; Osborne I, p. 349; Hunt p. 45 & 66; Hahn, D. Oxford Companion to Children's Literature, p. 241-242] Condition: Near fine in Near fine dust-jacket. This is the FIRST EDITION with a SCARCE DUST JACKET of one of the essential classics of children's literature. The book is based on bedtime stories that the Scottish-born banker and author Kenneth Grahame...
Category

Early 20th Century English Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Paper

Eiffel Tower, Sacré-Coeur, Arc de Triomphe Souvenir Building Architectural Model
Located in Nuernberg, DE
A decorative Eiffel Tower, Sacré-Coeur and Arc de Triomphe souvenir building sculpture. Some wear with a nice patina, but this is old-age. Made of metal and a marble base. This item ...
Category

1930s French Art Deco Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Marble, Metal

Queen Conch Shell Aliger Gigas Rare Souvenir Marine Arena Johns Pass Florida 8"
Located in Dayton, OH
Rare marked mid century natural Queen Conch sea shell (Aliger gigas) souvenir from Marine Arena Johns Pass Florida. Off white with a slight flush of coral-pink. Nautical, Maritime, ...
Category

Late 20th Century Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Shell

French 18th Century Risen Christ/Resurrection Statue With Flag
Located in Buisson, FR
Beautiful hand carved wooden risen Christ/ resurrection statue with flag in folk-art style. Great expression and traces of original color still visible. France circa 1750. Weathered,...
Category

18th Century French Baroque Antique Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Wood

Vintage French Mother-of-Pearl and Brass Opera Glasses by Chevalier of Paris
Located in San Diego, CA
Fabulous vintage mother-of-pearl and brass opera glasses made by Chevalier in Paris, circa 1960s. Complete functional glasses that are in good condition and measure 4" x 2.5". Si...
Category

Mid-20th Century French Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Brass

18th Century Italian Gilded Tabernacle with a Hand-Carved Chalice Fragment
Located in Dublin, Dalkey
18th century Italian gilded and hand-carved tabernacle adorned with an 18th century Italian gilt chalice and Sabina Faye Braxton gaufrage fabric. This tabernacle once belonged in a h...
Category

18th Century Italian Rococo Antique Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Gold Leaf

Stunning Decorative Antique Map of Venice in Italy, ca.1787
Located in Langweer, NL
Title: Piano elevato dell'inclita città di Venezia Bird's-eye view (etching) of Venice. Print made by: Marco Sebastiano Giampiccoli After: Matthäus Merian I Two copper engraved sh...
Category

Late 18th Century Antique Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Paper

Jacques Adnet Chess Set
Located in Atlanta, GA
This stunning and rare original chess board and set of thirty-two game pieces were designed by French designer Jacques Adnet (1901-1984) in the 1950s. The bi-color leather board disp...
Category

1950s French Modern Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Leather

Smith London Nautical Maritime Ships Wheel Brass Porthole Wall Clock 25"
Located in Dayton, OH
Late 20th century nautical wall clock in the shape of a wooden ship's wheel / helm, with the face framed in a brass porthole. White face with Roman numerals. Made in India. Prestige ...
Category

Late 20th Century Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Brass

18th Century Italian Antique Oil Painting on Canvas, Madonna in prayer
Located in Casale Monferrato, IT
We are pleased to present this captivating religious painting of the Italian school, painted in oil on canvas in the 18th century. This wonderful painting depicting the Madonna in pr...
Category

18th Century Italian Antique Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Canvas

Fine Museum Quality Large Antique 18th Century Greek Orthodox Icon, Pentecost
Located in New York, NY
An exceptional, museum quality very large 18th century Greek icon of the Pentecost. Egg tempera and gold leaf on wood, primed with gesso. Attributed to Mount Athos...
Category

18th Century Greek Antique Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Wood

Chess Set
Located in grand Lancy, CH
Chess set
Category

1970s European Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Metal

Mid-Century Aries Green & Gold Leather and Velvet Traveling Backgammon Set
Located in Kennesaw, GA
This is a mid-century traveling professional backgammon set by the renowned manufacturer, Aries. Aries was highly regarded for its leather quality. Even companies like Hermes used Ar...
Category

Mid-20th Century Mexican American Classical Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Brass

Vintage Stereo Phonograph/AM FM Tuner Console, Model: Brionvega rr126 Radiogram
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Iconic design by the Castiglioni Studio for Brionvega first introduced in 1966. This later example produced circa 1970. This stereo phonograph/AM FM receiver console is fully functio...
Category

20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Metal

'Taxi Driver' Original Vintage Movie Poster, Japanese, 1976
Located in Devon, GB
Set amidst the moral decay of New York City following the Vietnam War and Watergate scandal, Martin Scorsese's 1976 psychological thriller "Taxi Driver" starred Robert De Niro as a l...
Category

1970s Japanese Post-Modern Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Paper

Italian 18th Century Neoclassical Silvered And Painted Wooden Tabernacle
Located in Buisson, FR
Wonderful small tabernacle that once graced a church altar. Beautiful original silverleaf and faux marble paint. weathered, small losses. Italy circa 1780  
Category

18th Century Italian Neoclassical Antique Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Wood

SK4/1 record player by Dieter Rams and Hans Gugelot for Braun, 1950s Germany.
Located in Landgraaf, NL
SK4/1 record player by Dieter Rams and Hans Gugelot for Braun, 1950s Germany. In the mid-20th century, the world of domestic audio equipment witnessed a revolutionary transformation with the introduction of the Braun SK...
Category

1950s German Mid-Century Modern Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Metal

Art Nouveau French His Master, s Voice Gramophone
Located in Valladolid, ES
Amazing his Master,s Voice Gramophone Features of the Retro His Master's Voice Gramophone Technical Data: Lobed sheet metal trumpet Measurements: 75 cm x 44 cm x 42 cm Original wi...
Category

1910s French Art Nouveau Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Brass

Taxidermy Fish In Bow Fronted Case, Roach
Located in Oxfordshire, GB
Taxidermy, Preserved Fish, Cased Roach. A cased roach in a nice bow fronted case with gilt lines and writing. The case contains a cleverly modelled roach set against a painted backdr...
Category

Early 20th Century British Sporting Art Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Animal Skin, Wood

Baby Jesus Music Box and Movement 1960s
Located in Palermo, IT
Baby Jesus in wax, music box and movement, made in Italy, 1960s He gently moves his head and opens and closes his eyes. Intact and functioning. Small signs of wear, as per descriptiv...
Category

1960s Italian Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Other

Legendary cube radio by Dario & Mario Bellini for Siemens 1968 RK 501 Alpha 2
Located in München, DE
Iconic orange cube radio by Dario & Mario Bellini for Siemens 1968. Model RK 501 ALPHA 2. Design classic made in Germany. Fully functional with electricity or with battery. Very good...
Category

1960s German Space Age Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Metal, Chrome

Original Walt Disney "Winnie the Pooh" Comic Strip Art 1981
Located in San Diego, CA
Hard to find original Walt Disney "Winnie the Pooh" comic strip art (King Features Syndicate), circa 1981. The piece is presented in a black wood frame with white mat. The piece is...
Category

Late 20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Paper

Rene Lalique Green Glass 'Muguet Haut' Bracelet
Located in Chelmsford, Essex
Rene Lalique green glass with white enamel 'Muguet Haut' Bracelet. The bracelet consists of 15 rectangular, cylinder-half shaped tablets, stru...
Category

1920s Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Glass

Chess Board in Onyx and Marble, White and Brown Color
Located in Auribeau sur Siagne, FR
Chess Board in Onyx and Marble, White and Brown Color
Category

20th Century Italian Hollywood Regency Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Onyx, Marble

Fine Pair Antique Mother of Pearl Opera Glasses by LeMaire, Paris c.1910
Located in Bath, GB
A very fine pair of Edwardian opera glasses made from Mother of Pearl and the polished brass; made by the creme de la creme of makers, LeMaire of Paris. Both Mother of Pearl eye pie...
Category

Early 20th Century French Edwardian Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Brass

Vintage Mahjong Case, Chinese, Gaming Set, Locking Form, Mid Century, Circa 1950
Located in Hele, Devon, GB
This is a vintage Mahjong case. A Chinese, mahogany and celluloid gaming set, dating to the mid 20th century, circa 1950. Fascinating locking case, redol...
Category

1950s Chinese Mid-Century Modern Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Mahogany

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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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.

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