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Collectibles and Curiosities For Sale
Period: 1960s
Period: 1930s
"George The Drummer Boy" Tin windup Toy by Louis Marx, New York City. Circa 1930
Located in Incline Village, NV
This circa 1930 "George, Drummer Boy" brightly colored lithographed tin wind-up toy capitalizes on the popularity of marching bands, spawned from the military and World War I victory...
Category

1930s American Folk Art Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Tin

Wyandotte Lasalle Toy Car and Airstream Trailer .pressed steel , Art Deco
By Wyandotte
Located in Buffalo, NY
1930's Wyandotte Lasalle Touring Car and Airstream Trailer .pressed steel , Art Deco vintage toy.. Seldom seen green color,, Car and Trailer in Nice original condition,original paint...
Category

1930s American Art Deco Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Steel

Model 547 by Castiglioni and Caccia Dominioni for Phonola, Italy
Located in Argelato, BO
Model 547 radio receiver by Piergiacomo and Livio Castiglioni and Luigi Caccia Dominioni for Phonola. The Phonola 547 model is a radio receiver designed by ...
Category

1930s Italian Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Bakelite

Machine Age Copper and Steel Smokeless Ashtray
Located in Van Nuys, CA
Machine Age Copper and Steel Smokeless Ashtray featuring streamline styling with geometric accents. The ashtray features a solid copper construction with a polish steel interior with...
Category

1930s American Machine Age Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Copper, Steel

Five Rare Christmas Ornaments Vintage, German, 1910s to 1930s
Located in Nuernberg, DE
A rare set of 5 Christmas ornaments. Each is made from thin mouth blown glass, this would be a great antique addition for your Christmas or feather tree. Included is a nice Reflector ornament from the 1930s, 2 small walnut feather tree ornaments from the 1910s and two flower bunch ornaments with glass balls and Dresden Sebnitz Christmas paper...
Category

1930s German Folk Art Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Wire

1960s Vintage Italian Vincenza 18-Karat Brushed Gold Bamboo Bangle Bracelet
Located in Haarlem, NL
Vintage Classic 18-karat gold faux-bamboo Italian, Vincenza made bracelet. Consists of nine gold etched and brushed finish bamboo segments which, when closed, form a solid heavy (33g...
Category

1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Gold

Jean Dubuffet , Cerceaux ‘Sorcellent Limited Edition, 1st 1967
Located in London, GB
Jean Dubuffet. Cerceaux ‘Sorcellent by Max Loreau. Edition Jeanne Bucher, Editions Beyeler, Paris, 1967. Limited edition of 800 of which this is no. 496. Contains 20 original colo...
Category

1960s French Mid-Century Modern Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Paper

Art Deco Cartoon Style Map of Paris possibly by Arthur Zaindenberg circa 1930's
By Arthur Zaidenberg
Located in New York, NY
Art Deco cartoon style map of Paris possibly by Arthur Zaidenberg. The map depicts witty references to Parisians lifestyle, along with drawings of notable landmarks, circa 1930's. T...
Category

1930s American Art Deco Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Paper

Early 20th Century English Folk Art Jigger Doll
Located in London, GB
Early 20th century English Folk Art jigger doll A wonderful example of a unique Folk Art handcrafted jigger doll we have lovingly ...
Category

1930s British Folk Art Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Pine, Paint

Six Crises, Signed by Richard Nixon, First Edition, 1962
Located in Colorado Springs, CO
Nixon, Richard. Six Crises. New York: Doubleday & Company, Inc., 1962. Stated first edition. Signed on free endpaper. Presented in the publisher's original dust jacket and gray board...
Category

1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Paper

Space Age Floor Standing Ashtray - Retro Design Italy 60s Home Decor
Located in San Benedetto Del Tronto, IT
Indulge in the nostalgia of space age design with our exquisite Italian floor standing ashtray from the 1960s. Crafted with a sleek plastic silhouette in a timeless white hue, this a...
Category

1960s Italian Space Age Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Metal

Newly Lacquered Baldwin Piano with Ivory Keys
Located in Dallas, TX
Newly Lacquered Baldwin Piano
Category

1960s American Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Wood

"Boy Riding An Alligator" Vintage Wind-Up Toy by J. Chein Co., N.J., Circa 1935
Located in Incline Village, NV
Manufactured circa 1935 by The J. Chein Company in Harrison, New Jersey, this vintage tin toy, when wound up, depicts a young boy in islander garb, trying to ride an alligator who da...
Category

1930s American Folk Art Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Tin

Nautical magnetic compass made USA 1930s original wooden box
Located in Milan, IT
Nautical magnetic compass, made in the USA in the 1930s. Bon état. Housed in its original box with wooden slot lid and mounted on gimbal. Box measures 12x12x8.5 cm - inches 4.8x4.8x...
Category

1930s Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Brass

Vintage Santa Mailbox
Located in Asheville, NC
Vintage Santa mailbox, made of tin and wood this small child size mailbox is a dear reminder of sending letters to Santa whether you are naughty of nice!
Category

1960s American Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Tin

Vintage Hans Hansen Sterling Silver Four Clover Heart Pin Brooch
Located in Esbjerg, DK
A stylish four clover pin brooch cleverly made from 4 connected hearts. Designed and made by Hans Hansen in Denmark ca 1960-70. Hallmarked: HH, 108, Denmark, 925s. Measurements: 27x2...
Category

1960s Danish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Silver

Rare and Collectible 1960's Horikawa Space Station Toy
Located in Redding, CT
Rare and Collectible 1960's Horikawa Space Station Toy. Perfect for that space age toy collector. Tin Lithograph sphere that says Nasa Space Station on t...
Category

1960s Japanese Space Age Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Metal

Vintage 9kt. yellow gold pen knife, Sheffield, 1960
Located in Braintree, GB
Vintage 9kt. yellow gold pen knife, Sheffield, 1960 Made in England, Sheffield, 1960 Fully hallmarked. This 9kt. yellow gold pocketknife has a nigger b...
Category

1960s British Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Gold

1960 Hans Hansen Design Danese Collana e Bracciale Cuori Argento
Located in Brescia, IT
Collana e Bracciale in Argento Danimarca, 1950 Raro set in Argento 925 Ottima Fattura Design Senza Tempo COLLANA Lunghezza Massima: 53 cm circa / Minima 42 cm circa BRACCIALE Lun...
Category

1960s Danish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Silver

Ronson 1930 Pik A Cig Magic Penguin Lighter Cigarette Dispenser Desk Box
Located in Miami, FL
Art deco magic penguin mechanical dispenser box designed by Ronson. A beautiful, exceedingly rare and very decorative mechanical dispenser desk box, created in the city of Newark, New Jersey in the United States by The Ronson Art Metal Works Co. during the art deco period, back in the 1930. This is the iconic mechanical Pik-a-Cig Penguin Lighter...
Category

1930s American Art Deco Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Brass, Enamel, Bronze

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

Rare Early Vintage Christian Dior Monogrammed Bowling Bag
Located in Redding, CT
Rare Early Christian Dior Monogrammed Bowling Bag. Iconic design with the classic trotter pattern. Large round oversized bag with designer label plates. Original condition. No repair...
Category

1960s French Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Metal

Vintage Toy Wind-Up Dump Truck by The Marx Toy Company, N.Y. American Circa 1930
Located in Incline Village, NV
Offered is a hard to find Marx floor toy dump truck with dual action. NOT diecast------made of all tin. Capability to raise and lower the bed is activated by rotating the attached a...
Category

1930s American Folk Art Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Tin

"Joe Penner" Vintage Clockwork Windup Toy by Louis Marx Co American Circa 1930's
Located in Incline Village, NV
Fabulous American vintage all tin wind-up toy with attached key and clockwork mechanism, whereby upon winding it up, the character (Joe Penner) waddles aimlessly across the floor, hat flying in the air with notorious cigar in motion (see attached video with listing). The toy is in wonderful and complete original condition with all original parts and authentic factory paint. It is often found incomplete (cigar or hat missing more often than not); and usually doesn't work properly. My example works great and is in nice bright original paint and lithography, in multiple colors of a black and white checkered suit...
Category

1930s American Folk Art Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Tin

U S Navy Mark V Diving Helmet Military Prototype The Helmet is a replica model
Located in Chillerton, Isle of Wight
U S Navy Mark V Diving Helmet Military Prototype The Helmet is a replica model of US Navy equipment, the helmet is a full size piece made in chrome brass...
Category

1960s American Craftsman Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Brass

Sailboat Blueprint of the Sloop Turnover
Located in Norwell, MA
Framed blueprint of the sailboat turnover, designed by William Atkin for Motor Boating Publishing. Showing hull lines, deck, and profile. Circa 1937....
Category

1930s North American Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Paper

1930s German Black Forest Hand Carved Wood Pipe
Located in Tarrytown, NY
1930s German Black Forest Hand carved wood pipe with antler top.
Category

1930s Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Wood

Boat Blueprint of the Runabout "Puffy Doodle"
Located in Norwell, MA
Speedboat plan by William Atkin of "Puffy Doodle", A 20 foot runabout designed by William Atkin. The hull lines and offset are shown in great detail. Printed by Motor Boating Publish...
Category

1930s North American Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Paper

Vintage Mid-Century 1960's Designer Style Backgammon Set
Located in San Diego, CA
Vintage 1960s backgammon set. Enveloped in a pleather with signature gucci style lines, this piece is reminiscent of Gucci with its designer lines and high end stance. The discreet,...
Category

1960s British Mid-Century Modern Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Plastic, Fabric

Framed Nautical Signal Flag
Located in Norwell, MA
Framed nautical flag flown from dive vessels. This linen flag has a blue filled with white stripe. Canvas hoist with brass grommets. Matted and fr...
Category

1960s North American Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Linen

Vintage 20th Century English Made Large Mahogany Pond Yacht c.1930
Located in Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent
A fantastic Gaff Cutter pond yacht, lovely “bread and butter“ wood hull construction dating to the first part of the 20th Century. Bread and butter construction is when planks of woo...
Category

1930s British Mid-Century Modern Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Wood

Walt Disney Enterprises "Pinocchio" Wind-Up Toy by Marx Toy Co., N.Y. Dated 1939
Located in Incline Village, NV
Fabulous condition and in perfect working order on this "Walt Disney Enterprises" copyrighted (labeled---see image) vintage wind-up toy of the iconic Disney character "Pinocchio", da...
Category

1930s American Folk Art Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Tin

1937 The Years
Located in Bath, GB
The first edition of the final novel published during Virginia Woolf's lifetime, in an especially bright example of the sought-after Vanessa Bell dust wrapper. The first edition, fi...
Category

1930s British Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Paper

Zenith 1939 Art Deco model 12S370 Streamline 12 Tube Bluetooth Restored
Located in Oakland, CA
This is a 1939 Zenith 12 tube model 12S370, commonly called by collectors “Big Bertha,” one of Zenith’s most famous and collectible years. It is sporting the fabulous “Robot Shutter ...
Category

1930s American Art Deco Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Glass, Bakelite, Wood

"Walking Popeye" With Parrots Vintage Windup Toy by Marx Toy Co.
Located in Incline Village, NV
Vintage 1930's wind-up toy by the Marx Toy Company of New York, portraying the iconic comic character, "Popeye" the sailorman. He is depicted with Parrots in each hand inside of bird...
Category

1930s Art Deco Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Tin

Cendrier Servofumo noir de Achille et Pier Castiglioni pour Zanotta Italy 1960
Located in AIX-LES-BAINS, FR
Servofumo est un cendrier ou vide poche ultra design, réalisé par Achille et Pier Giacomo Castiglioni fabriqué de 1961 à 1986 pour Zanotta. Il appartient à la série "Servi" d'Achille...
Category

1960s Italian Industrial Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Aluminum, Cut Steel

Boat Blueprint Showing the Sand Piper
Located in Norwell, MA
Motor Boating Publishing plan for a thirty foot day cruiser. Designd by William Atkin. The vessel is shown in great detail. Circa 1937 matted and framed. Weight: 7 lbs. Overall Dime...
Category

1930s North American Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Paper

Chelsea Flower Show Interest - Gold Medal Prize for 1937 Made By Omar Ramsden
Located in London, London
Hallmarked in London in 1936 by Omar Ramsden, this wonderful, Sterling Silver Chalice, is in the Arts & Crafts taste, and features the original gilding and the cast and applied crest...
Category

1930s English Arts and Crafts Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Sterling Silver

Boat Blueprint of the Runabout Vamoose
Located in Norwell, MA
1930's boat plan by Naval Architect William Atkin of the V bottom runabout "Vamoose". The plan is in great detail showing hull lines, profile, deck plan, et...
Category

1930s North American Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Paper

1960s Vintage Greg Noll Custom Longboard
Located in Haleiwa, HI
Mid-1960s Greg Noll custom longboard. Features gorgeous bright red panels, redwood stringer, and three piece wooden tail block. Beautiful jet-black single fin with signature wide squ...
Category

1960s American Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Fiberglass, Foam, Hardwood, Softwood

Boat Blueprint of White Cap II
Located in Norwell, MA
Sleek boat blueprint design by John L. Hacker for a twenty four foot utility boat "White Cap II". The sleek vessel is shown in great detail with hull ...
Category

1930s North American Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Paper

Ships Telegraph From Oil Tanker
Located in Norwell, MA
Polished aluminum ships engine order telegraph by Nunotani Keiki Seisakusno Lto, Amgasaki Japan. Twin face design. Faceplate commands are full, half, slow, dead slow, stand by and st...
Category

1960s Asian Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Aluminum

Ships Telegraph By Bendix of Brooklyn NY
Located in Norwell, MA
Polished brass ships engine order telegraph by Bendix of Brooklyn N.Y. Serial number CB-13402-5A is also shown. Ships commands slow, half, full, stop, astern and ahead are the displa...
Category

1930s North American Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Brass

Brionvega Radio Cube mod. TS502, Richard Sapper and Marco Zanuso
Located in Rivoli, IT
Brionvega TS502 Red Cube Radio with Knobs, designed by Richard Sapper and Marco Zanuso
Category

1960s Italian Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Metal

1960s Coca-Cola Trade Sign 'Drugs & Soda' From WPB, Florida Clematis Street
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
1960s Coca-Cola Trade Sign: 'Drugs & Soda'  Salvaged from a pharmacy on Clematis Street, West Palm Beach, Florida  A piece of Americana history: a 1960s Coca-Cola Trade Sign advertising "Drugs & Soda," salvaged from a pharmacy on Clematis Street in West Palm Beach, Florida. This sign stands as a rare survivor, retaining its original presence and bearing the iconic Coca-Cola logo that has resonated through generations. Untouched and naturally preserved, this dual-sided sign is a testament to the golden era of soda fountain culture. Standing at an impressive 55.5 inches high, including the hanging brackets, it commands attention with its vibrant polychrome finish. The sign itself measures 45 inches high by 46 inches wide, with a depth of 8 inches. This artifact not only embodies the fusion of pharmacy and soda fountain traditions but also serves as a nostalgic reminder of a bygone era. Its presence evokes memories of simpler times when soda shops...
Category

1960s American Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Metal

Stunning Art Deco Cigar Humidor by Baromdor.. Birdseye Maple and Walnut
By Brand Barometer American Association
Located in Buffalo, NY
Stunning Art Deco Cigar Humidor by Baromdor.. Birdseye Maple and Walnut.. Classic 1930s design. Superior quality and construction,, Great desk accessory, sleek .simple design
Category

1930s American Art Deco Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Birdseye Maple, Walnut

Solid Brass Ships Telegraph By Bendix
Located in Norwell, MA
Highly polished engine order telegraph by Bendix of New York. With painted faceplates with ships commands full, half, slow, stand by, stop, ahead and astern. Twin face design, two ha...
Category

1930s North American Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Brass

Asprey & Co. London Guilloche Wafer Petrol Lighter In Solid .925 Sterling Silver
Located in Miami, FL
Wafer petrol pocket lighter designed by Asprey & Company. Beautiful wafer lighter, created in London England by the luxury house of Asprey & Company Limited, back in the 1963. Crafted during the post-war period with a rectangular shape in solid .925/.999 sterling silver The lighted is embellished with an amazing engine turned guilloche decorations and is fully dismountable for servicing. Fitted on top with push semi automatic button. Excellent craftmanship depicting an odd and geometric shape, It is in perfect condition with no dents or previous restorations. Weight: 43.50 Grams, (27.88 Dwt). Measurements: 56 mm by 39 mm by 6.5 mm (2.20 x 1.53 x 0.26 Inches). Hallmarks All parts are stamped with British crown marks, the lion head mark for the city of London, the maker's mark A&Co. Ltd. associated to Asprey, the mark for the assay of the .925 silver, the letter H for the years 1963-1964 and signed, "ASPREY LONDON MADE IN ENGLAND Y7 A&CO LTD H REGD No. 856727". Asprey The company was established in England in Mitcham, Surrey, in 1781. Founded as a silk printing business by William Asprey, it soon became a luxury emporium. In 1841, William Asprey's elder son Charles went into partnership with a stationer located on London's Bond Street. In 1847, the family broke with this partner and moved into 167 New Bond Street, the premises Asprey occupies today. From its central London location, Asprey advertised 'articles of exclusive design and high quality, whether for personal adornment or personal accompaniment and to endow with richness and beauty the table and homes of people of refinement and discernment.' An early specialty was dressing cases. Asprey crafted traditional cases and designs, mostly in leather, suitable for the new style of travel ushered in by railways. As the business grew, the company acquired manufacturing facilities and hired silversmith, goldsmith, jewelers and watchmakers. In the 1920's, commissions poured in from around the world, from American millionaire J. P. Morgan to potentates such as the Maharaja of Patiala, who commissioned a huge teak travelling trunk for each of his wives, in which each trunk was fitted with solid silver washing and bathing utensils with waterspouts of ornate tiger head and lined with blue velvet. Asprey cigarette...
Category

1960s English Mid-Century Modern Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Silver, Sterling Silver

Per Qualche Dollaro in Piu / For a Few Dollars More
Located in London, GB
Original photographic production still for Sergio Leone's classic Spaghetti Western "For a Few Dollars More" staring Clint Eastwood. The piece is conservation framed with UV plexigla...
Category

1960s American Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Paper

Mid-Century, Waldorf Wooden Sheep with Brown Sheep Fur
By Peter Kraft
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Cute, Mid-Century, decorative sheep by Waldorf with genuine brown sheep wool and a carved wood face and legs. Vintage accent piece with leather ears and light patina. In original co...
Category

1960s German Mid-Century Modern Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Sheepskin, Wood

Mural Painting Of The Mexican Revolution 1921-1960: 1960 1st Edition Folio Book
Located in Rochester, NY
Mural Painting of the Mexican Revolution 1921-1960: Fondo Editorial De La Plastica Mexicana, Mexico. Banco National de Commercio Exterior S.A. 1960 1st edition - one of 5000 copies i...
Category

1960s Mexican Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Paper

A. A. MILNE. Winnie The Pooh. SIGNED AND DATED BY CHRISTOPHER (ROBIN) MILNE !
Located in Hillsborough, NJ
AUTHOR: MILNE, A. A. TITLE: Winnie The Pooh. PUBLISHER: London: Methuen & Co., Ltd, 1965. DESCRIPTION: SIGNED AND DATED BY CHRISTOPHER (ROBIN) MILNE. 1 vol., 7-7/16" x 5-1/4", ill...
Category

1960s British Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Paper

Ottawa River Yacht Club Flag
Located in Norwell, MA
Framed nautical flag with an embroidered flag from the Ottawa River Yacht Club, The burgee flag is fitted inside a ships wheel. Nicely framed We...
Category

1960s Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Linen

Mid-Century Madonna Bronze Statue 64 cm
Located in Palermo, IT
Mid-Century Madonna Bronze Statue 64 cm. Complete and in good condition. Found in a noble apartment.
Category

1960s Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Bronze

Picasso à L'oeuvre – Photographs by Edward Quinn 1965 Book
By Roland Penrose, Edward Quinn 1
Located in London, GB
Picasso à L'oeuvre – Photographs by Edward Quinn 1965 Published by Manesse-Verlag, 1965. An intimate photographic biography by Edward Quinn with text written by Roland Penrose. Wonderful photographs capturing Picasso working and relaxing, from his finished pieces to his home and studio - including intimate interior and still life shots...
Category

1960s Swiss Mid-Century Modern Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Paper

Ronson 1936 Pik a Cig Magic Monkey Striker Touch Lighter & Cigarette Dispenser
Located in Miami, FL
Art deco magic monkey mechanical dispenser box designed by Ronson. An extremely rare 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 1936. This is the mechanical Pik-a-Cig Monkey box...
Category

1930s American Art Deco Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Bronze, Steel, Enamel

Japanese Camp Knife, 1960s Japan
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Fantastic Japanese camp knife with a leather sheath. Blade stamped 'Japan.' Traditional stacked leather handle in black with red and white accent rings. Full tang blade running strai...
Category

1960s Japanese Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Metal

Yacht Club Commodores Flag
Located in Norwell, MA
Nautical boat flag in frame. Yacht Club Commodores flag showing three stars surrounded by a knotted rope. White hoist with brass grommets. Set into a custom frame. Weight: 5 lbs Ove...
Category

1930s North American Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Linen

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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