Collectibles and Curiosities
to
4,335
10,558
8,924
20,232
1,930
884
778
542
536
468
240
218
134
121
117
113
86
49
37
30
24
22
4,428
6,762
13,470
2,711
3,525
4,677
3,078
513
302
604
746
481
899
886
900
659
595
7,391
7,336
4,357
1,779
1,487
9,580
4,222
3,552
3,304
1,836
20,232
20,232
20,232
104
48
39
35
32
Collectibles and Curiosities For Sale
Period: 20th Century
Period: 19th Century
Cross pendant necklace by Gianfranco Ferré, Italy
Located in Delft, NL
Cross pendant necklace by Gianfranco Ferré, Italy
Black metal necklace with cross pendant by Gianfranco Ferré with black crystal stones in various patterns. The cross pendant is sec...
Category
Late 20th Century Italian Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Metal
The History of the Crusades for the Recovery and Possession of the Holy Land
Located in Middletown, NY
Charles Baudelaire: Souvenirs, Correspondances, Bibliographie, suivie de pièces inédites
Paris: René Pincebourde, 1872.
FIRST LIMITED EDITION - EXTRA ILLUSTRATED
Small 8vo 8 12 x 5...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Gold Leaf
Vintage Vita Master Wood Roller Massager Model VMRL-3 Turquoise Blue - Works
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Please message us with your zip code to request a more reasonable domestic U.S. shipping quote.
Vintage Vita Master Wood Roller Massager Model VMRL-3 Turquoise Blue, Works. Circa Mi...
Category
Mid-20th Century Unknown Other Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Wood
1970s Stunning Pink and White Chess Set in Volterra Alabaster Handmade Made in I
Located in Milano, IT
1970s Stunning pink and white chess set in Volterra alabaster. Handmade. Made in Italy, this set is in excellent condition, with all the pieces intact and flawless.
So rare to find i...
Category
1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Alabaster
Vintage Rulette Game 1960s
Located in Čelinac, BA
Vintage Rulette Game 1960s
Category
1960s Austrian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Plastic, Paper
Town & Country Vintage Surfboard Dave Wallace Double Winged Swallow Tail (1984)
By Dave Wallace
Located in Haleiwa, HI
All original 1984 Town & Country (T&C) double wing swallow tail surfboard shaped by Dave Wallace. This ultra-rare work of art features a custom galactic airbrushed mural by the renow...
Category
1980s American Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Fiberglass, Foam, Softwood
MILNE, A. A. Winnie The Pooh. (1926 - FIRST EDITION - FIRST PRINTING)
Located in Hillsborough, NJ
AUTHOR: MILNE, A. A.
TITLE: Winnie The Pooh.
PUBLISHER: London: Methuen & Co. Ltd., 1926.
DESCRIPTION: FIRST EDITION FIRST PRINTING. 1 volume, illustrated by E. H. Shephard. Boun...
Category
1920s British Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Fabric
Mid-Century English Hand-Cranked Gramophone With Records, 1930s
Located in Palermo, IT
Mid-Century English hand-cranked gramophone with records, 1930s
Intact and in good condition
Category
1930s British Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Wood
Pair of 19th C. Italian Reliquaries
Located in Los Angeles, CA
19th century pair of ornate gilded relicquaries made of brass with a gilt finish.
The feature highly decorative Baroque or Rococo-style detailing, including intricate scrollwork, f...
Category
19th Century Italian Baroque Antique Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Brass
$2,440 / set
Antique Catholic Reliquary Box Crucifix Pendant, Saint Relic Wood Carved 1890s
Located in Nuernberg, DE
This antique reliquary contains a relic of Saints with paper roll telling the name in latin. It is hand made of wood, hand carved and very professional made.
it can be worn or just d...
Category
Late 19th Century Italian Edwardian Antique Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Wood
Magnifying Glass in Patinated Brass and Mother of Pearl Early 20th Century
Located in Meer, VAN
Magnifying Glass in Patinated Brass and Mother of Pearl, Europe, Early 20th Century.
This is a beautiful and very well made magnifying glass in patinated brass and mother of pearl. ...
Category
Early 20th Century European Art Deco Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Brass
Rosary Catholic Reliquary Box Crucifix Pendant with Relic of a Saint
Located in Nuernberg, DE
This vintage reliquary contains relics of a Saint. It is made of metal. It's 1 1/2" high (with hanger) in size, that making it easily worn. It is part of a Rosary. It was found at an...
Category
1950s Italian Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Metal
Fine Antique Russian Vermeil Silver, Enamel Christ Pantocrator Icon, Moscow 1848
Located in New York, NY
Superb Moscow School antique Russian vermeil silver and enamel icon of Christ Pantocrator, All Powerful, Sustainer of the World
Moscow, 1848
The icon of Christ Pantocrator is one of ...
Category
19th Century Russian Antique Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Silver, Enamel
Vibrant Antique Red Leatherbound Book Collection
Located in Brønshøj, DK
Transform Your Space with the Bold Elegance of Antique Red Leatherbound Books.
Immerse your surroundings in the unmatched sophistication of our antique decorative books—all meticulo...
Category
Early 20th Century Danish Victorian Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Gold
$1,181 / set
Collection of Leather Bound Classic Books, Easton Press & Franklin Library
By Easton Press, Franklin Press
Located in Peabody, MA
A collection of twenty-seven 1970s-1980s era leather bound and 22kt gold leaf classic novels. Nineteen by Easton Press, and eight published by Franklin Library. Many feature silk mo...
Category
1970s American American Classical Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Gold Leaf
Mark TWAIN. The Prince and the Pauper. FIRST EDITION SECOND STATE - 1882
Located in Hillsborough, NJ
AUTHOR: TWAIN, Mark (Samuel Clemens).
TITLE: The Prince and the Pauper: A Tale for Young People of All Ages.
PUBLISHER: Boston: James R. Osgood, 1882.
DESCRIPTION: FIRST EDITION ...
Category
1880s British Antique Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Leather
First Trade Edition of Winnie-the-Pooh signed by Author & Illustrator, with Orig
Located in Middletown, NY
Milne, A.A. (Alan Alexander): Winnie-the-Pooh
An Exceptionally rare copy of the FIRST TRADE EDITION of Winnie-the-Pooh signed by both the Author and the Illustrator, with Original dust-jacket.
London: Methuen, 1926.; First Trade Edition.
Crown 8vo, 7 5/8 x 5 in (194 x 127 mm), pp. 158, full-page and text illustrations, illustrated endpapers with map of "100 Aker Wood... Drawn by me and Mr. Shepar Helpd (sic.)" Green cloth, gilt stamping on the front board with an illustration of Christopher Robin...
Category
1920s English Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Paper
Braun SK 61 Phonosuper Radiogram by Dieter Rams & Hans Gugelot, Germany, c. 1962
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Braun SK 61 Phonosuper Radiogram by Dieter Rams & Hans Gugelot, Germany, c. 1962
A rare and iconic Braun SK 61 Phonosuper Radiogram, designed by Dieter Ra...
Category
Mid-20th Century German Minimalist Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Metal, Aluminum, Enamel
Original Catalog – Picasso Peintures 1955-1956 at Galerie Louise Leiris, 1957
Located in Barcelona, ES
Original Exhibition Catalog – Picasso Peintures 1955-1956 at Galerie Louise Leiris, Paris, 1957
Artist: Pablo Picasso
Exhibition: Picasso Peintures 1955-1956 – Galerie Louise Leiri...
Category
1950s Spanish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Paper
$1,742 Sale Price
50% Off
Early 20th century English Enamel Equestrian Silver Flask
Located in Leesburg, VA
Early 20th century English Enamel Equestrian Silver Flask
Unidentified Maker
England; early 20th century
Silver, enamel
Approximate size: 6 (h) x 3 (w) x 1.25 (d) in.
Crafted in E...
Category
Early 20th Century English Edwardian Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Silver, Enamel
Black Japanned Fly Box By Malloch Of Perth
By P.D. Malloch
Located in Oxfordshire, GB
Malloch's Japanned Salmon Fly Tin.
A good, black japanned swing leaf Salmon fly box by Malloch of Perth. The cream interior of this fly box is with 4 boards each fitted with metal ba...
Category
Early 20th Century Scottish Sporting Art Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Tin
Malloch Of Perth Black Japanned Fishing Fly Box
By P.D. Malloch
Located in Oxfordshire, GB
Malloch's Japanned Salmon Fly Tin.
A good, black japanned swing leaf fly box by Malloch of Perth. The cream interior of this fly box is with 4 boards each fitted with metal back-plat...
Category
Early 20th Century British Sporting Art Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Tin
Old Rotary Telephone Red Copper Bakelite KTAS 1930s
Located in Poperinge, BE
Rare old rotary telephone made of black lacquered steel, copper-plated steel, brass and a bakelite receiver, probably by KTAS, model unknown but in the style of the D30, Denmark, ca ...
Category
1930s Danish Art Deco Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Metal, Brass, Copper
19th Century Scottish capercaillie foot brooch
Located in Delft, NL
19th Century Scottish capercaillie foot brooch
A Scottish capercaillie foot, also known as the leg of a grouse set as a brooch or kilt pin mounted on silver (not hallmarked)
The bac...
Category
19th Century Scottish Antique Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Silver
Antique Transit Theodolite, English, Surveying Instrument, Thornton, Edwardian
Located in Hele, Devon, GB
This is an antique transit theodolite. An English, bronze and brass surveying instrument by AG Thornton of Manchester, dating to the Edwardian perio...
Category
Early 20th Century British Edwardian Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Brass, Bronze
19th Century Turkish Antique Massive Metal Anchor
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A massive, antique Turkish anchor made of cast iron, in good condition. The large detailed metal décor piece was recovered from the ocean floor, 80 miles south of Izmir. Encrusted wi...
Category
Mid-19th Century Turkish Antique Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Metal, Iron
Scale model made in the 1950s of a 15th-century Spanish galleon
Located in Milan, IT
Scale model made in the 1950s of a 15th-century Spanish galleon.
Planked hull, 3 masts with sails and 23 guns.
Measurements 56x10x42.5 inche 22x3.9x16.8 cm
The Galleon was a mighty w...
Category
Mid-20th Century Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Wood
[1st ed] Teenage Lust (Signed)
By Larry Clark
Located in New York, NY
First edition of Larry Clark’s iconic second book of photographs (following 1971’s Tulsa) documenting and immortalizing a debauched adolescent subculture. Self-published in 1983. Con...
Category
1980s American Modern Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Paper
![[1st ed] Teenage Lust (Signed)](https://a.1stdibscdn.com/1st-ed-teenage-lust-signed-for-sale/f_8285/f_441747221742773661557/f_44174722_1742773662340_bg_processed.jpg?width=240 "[1st ed] Teenage Lust (Signed)")
Vintage Heiser Parade Saddle with Bohlin Sterling Silver Accents C. 1940’s
By Edward H. Bohlin
Located in Bernville, PA
Parade saddle by Heiser of Denver with Bohlin sterling silver. Beautiful tooling on the leather and seat marked Hieser, Denver. Name plate marked Kenny Unger Cold Water. Tip of belt ...
Category
Mid-20th Century American Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Sterling Silver
Miniature Travelling Chess Set Game handmade & Pokerwork Board / Box, Circa 1900
Located in Lincoln, Lincolnshire
This is a high quality handmade Miniature or travelling wood chess set game of 32 pieces in its own lidded pokerwork decorated box, which we date to the English Edwardian period, cir...
Category
Late 19th Century British Edwardian Antique Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Brass
Old Rotary Telephone Bakelite Bell Telephone Company 1942
Located in Poperinge, BE
Cool vintage rotary telephone by Bell Telephone Company, Belgium, dated inside 1942.
This beautiful and elegant model has a bakelite horn and...
Category
1940s Belgian Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Metal
Impressive Antique Hand Carved Oak Gothic Revival Door Complete with Wall Frame
Located in Lisse, NL
Stunning Gothic architectural door with strong iron hardware in original frame.
This striking and all hand carved door was originally probably part of a church or monastery and the ...
Category
19th Century European Gothic Revival Antique Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Iron
Antique Carved Oak Gothic Revival Bible Stand / Church Book Stand w IHS Symbols
Located in Lisse, NL
Antique bible table stand with hand carved cross and open IHS symbols in Gothic quatrefoil in the sides.
This beautifully and fine quality hand-carved Gothic bible stand dates from...
Category
Early 20th Century European Gothic Revival Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Brass
Rare Disney Mickey Mouse Porcelain Figurine, Rosenthal 1930´s
By Walt Disney, Rosenthal
Located in Buenos Aires, Olivos
Extremely Rare Antique / Vintage Disney Mickey Mouse beautiful porcelain figurine by the famous Rosenthal Germany , circa 1930s This is #551 in the series w/incised number under base along w/"Rosenthal" company mark. Originally All Rosenthal Mickey Mouse figurines...
Category
1930s German Mid-Century Modern Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Porcelain
Antique Mahjong Case, Oriental, Teak Gaming Tile Box, Late Victorian, Circa 1900
Located in Hele, Devon, GB
This is a superb antique Mahjong case. An Oriental, teak gaming tile box, dating to the late Victorian period, circa 1900. Showcasing fine craftsmanship a...
Category
Early 1900s Chinese Chinese Export Antique Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Bamboo, Teak
Circa 1912 African Leopard Cub Skin Rug By Edward Gerrard & Sons London
Located in Lowestoft, GB
African Leopard Cub Skin Rug (Panthera pardus), circa 1912-1913, British East Africa, by Edward Gerrard & Sons, Taxidermists & Osteologists, 61 College Place, Camden Town, London
An...
Category
Early 20th Century British Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Natural Fiber
Large Antique Pipe Wall Rack & Antique Pipe Stand w. Barrel & Many Carved Pipes
Located in Lisse, NL
Antique oak pipe wall rack and nutwood table pipe stand/holder with antique/vintage pipe collection.
This beautiful collection for pipe smoking enthusiasts consists of a whole lot o...
Category
Early 20th Century European Arts and Crafts Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Sterling Silver, Metal
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
$640 Sale Price
20% Off
Vintage Black Dial Telephone Bakelite PTT Ericsson Type 1951
Located in Poperinge, BE
Vintage rotary or dial telephone, made entirely of Bakelite, designed in 1951 by Ericsson for the PTT, the design is based on its art deco style predecessor, the Ericsson model 1931....
Category
Mid-20th Century Belgian Art Deco Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Bakelite
Art and the Machine Book by Sheldon and Martha Cheney
Located in New York, NY
Seminal early consideration of Machine Age design and architecture in America, tracking the rise of the industrial design profession, written by Sheldon and Martha Cheney and publish...
Category
1930s American Machine Age Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Paper
Antique French Silver Topped Walking Stick Cane 19th Century 94cm / 37 inches
Located in London, GB
This is a beautiful antique French Art Noveau silver pommel handled walking stick, circa 1890 in date.
The striking stick features an ornate silver handle featuring superb leaf cast...
Category
1890s French Antique Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Silver
Antique Japanese Woodblock Print Book Edo Period, circa 1833
Located in Barcelona, ES
Antique Japanese Oraimono book Edo period, circa 1833 Woodblock print book Book dimensions: 260 mm x 180 mm There are damages because it is antique item as we show on the photos.
Category
1830s Japanese Edo Antique Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Paper
Quad Electrostatic Loudspeakers, Rare Midcentury Modern Set Collectors Speakers
By Quad Manufacturing 1, Design Acoustics
Located in Antwerp, BE
The original ESL decorative pieces of art objects electrostatic speakers in its range in production between 1957 and 1985, has been hailed in Sound & Vision as one of the most import...
Category
1960s English Mid-Century Modern Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Metal
Rare Antique Russian Moscow School Silver Enamel Icon of the Holy Trinity, 1853
Located in New York, NY
Fine and rare antique Russian silver and enamel Holy Trinity icon
Moscow, 1853
Marks: Cyrillic D O maker's mark, A C assay master's mark for Aggey Grigorievich Svechin ( Postnikova-L...
Category
19th Century Russian Antique Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Silver, Enamel
Soldier on Horse Pull Toy Vintage Folk Art Ore Mountains, German, 1950s
Located in Nuernberg, DE
This old hand carved wooden Soldier and horse on wooden wheels Toy, was made in the Ore Mountains (Erzgebirge) in Germany. It remains fully functional. Crafted in Germany during the ...
Category
1950s German Folk Art Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Wood
Sergio Rodrigues (Book)
Located in North Yorkshire, GB
This book provides a unique insight into the Brazilian designer Sergio Rodrigues world by reflecting on his lifetime achievements, from design to architecture, his design concepts, h...
Category
Late 20th Century Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Paper
$1,500
Syrian Style Mosaic Wooden Inlaid Marquetry Box Backgammon Set
Located in Miami, FL
Stunning mosaic Backgammon set featuring a traditional Syrian style design and fine craftsmanship. Made in Morocco.
The board/ box is made of various woods and inlays. A genuine wo...
Category
20th Century Moroccan Mid-Century Modern Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Wood, Fruitwood, Walnut
$1,090 Sale Price
27% Off
1960s Vintage Original Disney Snow White & Seven Dwarf Rubber Squeak Toy
Located in Nuernberg, DE
Vintage Set of Snow White and the seven Dwarf squeak rubber toy made by Ledraplastic Italy in the 1960s. These toys have a peculiar asymmetric position of the ears making it particul...
Category
1960s Italian Modern Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Plastic, Rubber
Tin Of Gut Eyed Fly Fishing Salmon Flies
By P.D. Malloch
Located in Oxfordshire, GB
Malloch Of Perth Black Japanned Fly Tin.
A good, black japanned salmon fly tin by Malloch of Perth. The two boards with four rows of plated fly clips, five hooks on each, a total of ...
Category
20th Century Scottish Sporting Art Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Tin
Antique book collection of French photos and portraits 19th century
Located in Cantù, IT
Antique book collection of French photos and portraits 19th century
Category
19th Century French Art Nouveau Antique Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Paper
Complete Works Of Daniel Defoe - EDITION DE LUXE - 8 vols. - IN A FINE BINDING !
Located in Hillsborough, NJ
AUTHOR: DEFOE, Daniel.
TITLE: The Complete Works Of Daniel Defoe.
PUBLISHER: NY: National Library Company, 1903.
DESCRIPTION: EDITION DE LUXE. 8 vols., 8-11/16" x 6", limited to ...
Category
Early 1900s English Antique Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Leather
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
Vintage 1960s Souvenir Building Architectural Model Berlin Bear, Metal Statue
Located in Nuernberg, DE
A classic decorative Berlin bear statue. Some wear with a nice patina, but this is old-age. Made of metal. This item was bought as a souvenir in Berlin and was made in the mid-20th c...
Category
1960s German Mid-Century Modern Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Metal
Vintage Victorinox Swiss Army Knife Large Shop Counter Display 20th Century
By Victorinox
Located in London, GB
A large 72cm high Victorinox Swiss army knife, shop counter display, Mid 20th century in date.
The knife with opening and retracting blades, over a tapered square base with inscript...
Category
Mid-20th Century Swiss Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Metal
Fine Antique Large Russian Icon of the Pokrov, Moscow School, 19th Century
Located in New York, NY
A fine antique Russian icon of The Protection of the Mother of God, Pokrov
Moscow School
19th century
The Protection Icon depicts the Mother of God appearing above congregants a...
Category
19th Century Russian Antique Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Wood
Classic Cartier Silver Plated Cigarette Lighter & Red Cartier Box Serviced
By Cartier
Located in Reading, Berkshire
Classic Cartier Silver Plated Cigarette Lighter With A Red Cartier Presentation Box
Fully Serviced working makes for an ideal gift.
Category
20th Century French Art Deco Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Silver Plate
$964 Sale Price / set
20% Off
A vintage marble backgammon game set, 20th century
Located in View Park, CA
A vintage marble backgammon game set, 20th century. In pink, black, and gray marble.
Category
20th Century Unknown Mid-Century Modern Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Marble
Round section brass telescope with mahogany wood handle 1850s
Located in Milan, IT
Round-section brass telescope with mahogany wood handle, three-extension focus, complete with dust cap. English manufacture of the mid-19th century. Maximum length cm 43, inches 16.9...
Category
Mid-19th Century Antique Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Brass
PACE 1940-1950 Casino Club 5 Cents Slot Machine In Aluminum and Chromed Steel
By Pace Manufacturing
Located in Miami, FL
A casino-club five-cents slot machine designed by Pace.
This is an amazing five-cents slot machine manufactured by the Pace Mfg. Co., in Chicago, Il. and used at the Harrah's casino...
Category
1940s American Art Deco Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Steel
$3,748 Sale Price
25% Off
Vintage French Casino Roulette Wheel Francaise Marque Deposee, 1950's
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
An 1950's French roulette wheel stamped Roulette Francaise, Marque Depose. This casino roulette wheel features the original metal numbers as well...
Category
Mid-20th Century French Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Chrome
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.
Read More
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.
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.
Tauba Auerbach’s Geometric Pop-Up Book Is Mighty Rare, Thanks to a Hurricane
This sculptural art book has an epic backstory of its own.