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Collectibles and Curiosities For Sale
Period: Late 20th Century
Period: 1880s
Blow Fish Taxidermy on Brass Base
Located in Douglas Manor, NY
Blow fish/Puffer fish taxidermy set on a brass custom base.
Category
1970s Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Brass
Italian Telegraph in Solid Brass, 1880
Located in Palermo, Sicily
Italian Telegraph in solid brass, 1880.
Category
1880s Italian Art Nouveau Antique Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Brass
1970 Seiko Blue and Tobacco Retro Vintage Industrial Antique Steel Quartz Clock
By Seiko
Located in Leicester, Leicestershire
Seiko super tanker slave clock original aqua blue finish
A reclaimed and restored maritime slave clock.
These clocks were used in great numbers on super tankers, cargo ships an...
Category
1970s Japanese Industrial Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Steel, Cut Steel
Late Century German Large Copper and Cast Brass Directional Cargo Light Pendant
By Wiska
Located in Leicester, Leicestershire
A reclaimed 1970s vintage industrial large copper and brass German cargo pendant.
Made by Wiska, a German manufacturer of industrial fixtures and fittings. Reclaimed from supertankers and professionally restored in the UK ready for use in modern interiors.
Specifications:
Diameter 45cm
Height 65cm
Bulb E26/E27 Edison Screw
There is a mechanical feature which allows the light to be tilted using the wing nuts and hanging frame...
Category
1970s German Industrial Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Brass, Copper
Roger Capron, Zodiac Charm Taurus, Vallauris 1973
By Roger Capron
Located in St Ouen, FR
Thin sheet of partially glazed stamped porcelain with the motif of a female figure embodying the sign of Taurus.
Rare item from a limited series created by the artist in 1973 around...
Category
1970s French Other Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Porcelain
'Scarface' Original Vintage Australian One Sheet Movie Poster, 1984
Located in Devon, GB
Considered to be one of the best gangster films ever made, 'Scarface' follows the rise and fall of Cuban refugee Tony Montana (Al Pacino) as he becomes the biggest drug lord in 1980s Miami. Directed by Brian De Palma and written by Oliver Stone, the cast also featured Michelle Pfeiffer in her breakthrough role as coke-addict mob wife Elvira Hancock. The film's excessive violence, profanity and scenes of graphic drug usage were met with a negative critical response on initial release, but subsequent reappraisal has established 'Scarface' as a cult classic. A loose remake of the 1932 film of the same name, De Palma dedicated his version to Howards Hawks and Ben Hecht...
Category
1980s Australian Post-Modern Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Paper, Linen
Exhibition Catalog – 25 Originales: Litografías y Aguafuertes by Pablo Picasso
Located in Barcelona, ES
Original Exhibition Catalog – 25 Originales: Litografías y Aguafuertes by Pablo Picasso, Sala Gaspar, 1987
Artist: Pablo Picasso
Exhibition: 25 Originales: Litografías y Aguafuerte...
Category
1980s Spanish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Paper
1970s British Bronze AC.GMT.Co. Industrial Wall Clock Chrome Bezel Black Dial
Located in Leicester, Leicestershire
Rescued from Industrial scrap yards and brought back to life in our UK workshop, our expert process allows us to create a high quality clock of luxury standards.
At A.C GMT Co. we apply new paint finishes or lustrous copper and bronze to the clock case. Our high speed polishing machine restores the chrome bezel, which then frames one of our high definition screen printed dials.
These clocks were originally slave or secondary clocks used on cargo ships and super tankers, they would have been controlled by a master clock...
Category
1970s English International Style Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Bronze, Steel, Chrome
Frank Stella Abstract Artist Metropolitan Museum of Art Book, 1970, New York
By Frank Stella
Located in New York, NY
A hard-cover book with dust-jacket on abstract American artist Frank Stella, Metropolitan Museum of Art, 1970, New York, NY. This book presents a decade of Sella's work from 1959 - 1...
Category
1970s American Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Paper
Vintage 1970s Italian 14 Karat Yellow Gold Big Chain Hollow Link Bracelet
Located in Haarlem, NL
Timeless and classic 14-karat Italian yellow gold flexible bracelet with large hollow links.
The stamp "BREV" on the lock clasp stands for "Brevetto." This is the Italian term fo...
Category
Late 20th Century Italian Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Gold
Exclusive Royal SPOON Sterling Silver Coronation Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II
Located in Wembley, GB
A Rare case of antique valuable royal sterling silver Spoon. An elegant Vintage Sterling Silver Spoon case.
Celebrating the 1977 Coronation Jubilee of Quee...
Category
1970s British Art Deco Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Gold Plate, Silver, Sterling Silver
1970s Astonishing Swift 1778 Model Ship. Handmade. Made in England
Located in Milano, IT
1970s Astonishing Swift 1778 model ship in walnut wood. Handmade. Made in England. This model is amazing and in excellent condition and all handmade. A true piece of history.
Dimensi...
Category
1970s English Mid-Century Modern Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Wood
Napoleon III sword
Located in 'S-HERTOGENBOSCH, NL
A Napoleon III sword in gilt brass. Handle is decorated with 2 mother of pearl plates. Urn shaped pommel. Knuckle guard transitioning into cross guard.
Guard plate with eagle. Black ...
Category
1880s French Napoleon III Antique Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Brass, Steel
Medieval Knights Chess Set Metal Gold & Silver Pewter Crusaders Game Italy
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Medieval Knights Chess Set - Metal Brass & Silver Nickel Plated Crusaders Game.Made in Florence, Italy, this stunning chess set features intricately cast metal pieces in antiqued sil...
Category
Late 20th Century Italian Gothic Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Brass, Nickel, Pewter
Picasso Lithographs, Catalog Raisonnee, 1970
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Picasso Lithographs, Catalog Raisonnee, 1970
Printed By S.P.A.D.E.M, Paris
Translated from French by Jean Didry
Printed In France
"Profuse black & white photos and color illustratio...
Category
1970s French Modern Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Paper
1970's British Ultimate Gray /Monochrome AC GMT Co. Classic Quartz Wall Clock
Located in Leicester, Leicestershire
Quartz sweep seconds / non ticking wall clock finished in Ultimate gray Pantone 17-5104
Rescued from Industrial scrap yards and brought back to life in our UK workshop, our expert...
Category
1970s English Industrial Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Chrome, Steel
Vintage Toot-a-loop Radio by Panasonic, Japan, 1970s
Located in Mexico City, CDMX
Vintage Toot-a-Loop radio (model nr: Panasonic R-72): an emblematic radio, designed and fabricated by Panasonic Japan in the early 1970s. The radio was designed to be wrapped and car...
Category
1970s Japanese Other Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Plastic
Porsche Lighter, 1980s Japan
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This cast metal lighter is the perfect tabletop accessory for any race car lover, Porsche enthusiast or smoker. Relieved lettering on the spoiler reads 'Porsche 935-77 Turbo'. The Po...
Category
1980s Japanese Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Metal
Star Wars
Located in London, GB
Original US International film poster for Star Wars 1977. The film was directed by George Lucas and starred Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford and Carrie Fisher. The artwork on this poster i...
Category
1970s American Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Paper
Helmut Newton, Baby Sumo, Limited Edition
Located in Los Angeles, CA
BABY SUMO, welcome to the world!
The legendary Helmut Newton SUMO in a spectacular new edition
The Helmut Newton SUMO was overwhelming in every respect: a ...
Category
Late 20th Century Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Stainless Steel
Antique Walking Silve Plated Cane Stick 19th Century
Located in London, GB
This is a beautiful antique English silver plated pommel walking stick, circa 1880 in date.
The striking stick features an ornate silver plated ornate tree trunk pommel having on a...
Category
1880s English Antique Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Silver Plate
CARTIER 1970 Paris Guilloché Pocket Butane Gas Lighter In Plaqué d'Argent
By Cartier
Located in Miami, FL
A pocket lighter designed by Cartier.
This is a beautiful butane pocket lighter, created in Paris France by the jewelry house of Cartier, back in the 1970's. The lighter is a classi...
Category
1970s French Modern Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Silver
Flair: Fashion Collected by Tina Chow Book by Richard Martin and Harold Koda
By Rizzoli
Located in Ferndale, MI
The Tina Chow Fashion Couture collection includes some of the finest designers in the industry such as Fortuny, Balenciaga, Chanel, Vionnet, Dior, Lanvin, Poiret, Schiaparelli, Alaia...
Category
1990s North American Post-Modern Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Paper
Dunhill S-Type Gold Plated "Rollagas" Lighter, Circa 1970
By Dunhill
Located in Van Nuys, CA
Original S Type "Rollagas" pocket lighter by Dunhill of England, circa 1970, with a serial number of C80994. The lighter features a 14kt 20 microns gold plate and a mixed surface tex...
Category
1970s English Modern Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Metal, Gold
Vintage Leather Gymnasium Dummies
Located in Hanover, MA
Two leather wrestling dummies marked Ivan’s Wrestling Products around the five Olympic rings embossed logo.
Large 65 inches tall by 43 inches wide arm to arm. Weight approximately 13...
Category
Late 20th Century Romanian Art Deco Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Leather
Antique Helixophile's Novelty Walking Stick Corkscrew Cane 19th Century
Located in London, GB
This is a beautiful antique English brass helixophile's novelty system gadget walking stick, circa 1880 in date.
The striking walking stick features an L-shaped stag antler handle ...
Category
1880s English Antique Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Brass
1970s British Classic Blue & Chrome AC.GMT.Co. Industrial Wall Clock Black Dial
By Industrial Production
Located in Leicester, Leicestershire
Rescued from Industrial scrap yards and brought back to life in our UK workshop, our expert process allows us to create a high quality clock of luxury standards.
At A.C GMT Co. we ...
Category
1970s English Industrial Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Steel, Chrome
Late Century Aluminium Flame Proof Isolator Strip light, Cage, Glass Tube, Led
By Industrial Production
Located in Leicester, Leicestershire
Original item salvaged from super tankers and military vessels, stripped and refinished in the UK.
The original wiring is replaced with our Loom light wiring system which exceeds the original specification and also conforms to British standards.
All of our tube lights are supplied with a 12 month warranty as standard.
All German flame proof...
Category
Late 20th Century German Industrial Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Steel, Aluminum
Vintage 1970s Paolo Soleri Bronze Bells Wind Chime Cosanti Originals Iconic MCM
By Paolo Soleri
Located in Hyattsville, MD
Wonderful and rare variation of a large Paolo Soleri wind chime, with a wind span of 17 inches. No breaks, no loose welds, each bell is signed...
Category
1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Bronze
Laura Ashley Guide to Country Decorating Hardcover Book
By Laura Ashley
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Laura Ashley guide to country decorating. Hardcover book.
The timeless appeal of rustic living, with its emphasis on comfort, function, and simplicity, gets a crisp, contemporary interpretation--in classic Laura Ashley style--now available in trade paperback. An exquisite sourcebook for decorating with the distinctive Laura Ashley touch. 300 full-color illustrations.
Creativity and practicality merge in a step-by-step guide featuring the distinctive Laura Ashley country style, giving a fresh, innovative look to the comfort and simplicity of rustic living. Country Homes & Gardens Main.
Title: Laura Ashley Guide to Country Decorating
Publisher: Weidenfeld and Nicolson
Publication Date: 1992
Binding: Hardcover
Book Condition: Used
Edition: 1st.
Language ? : ? English
Hardcover ? : ? 208 pages
The late Laura Ashley, who popularized the English country look of cabbage roses and overstuffed chairs...
Category
Late 20th Century English Country Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Paper
Jazz Mania and Collection, French Book by Frédéric Marchand, 1997
Located in Atlanta, GA
Jazz Manies et Collections (Jazz Mania and Collections), French Book by Frédéric Marchand, 1997.
Preface by Francis Hofstein and Bernard Lion.
The author has collected 180 objects re...
Category
1990s French Modern Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Paper
Brutalist Mixed Metal Artisan Handbag ca 1970s
Located in Mexico City, CDMX
Circa 1970. We offer this Brutalist Mixed Metal Artisan Handbag. This unique handmade bag is adorned with sinuous three dimensional mixed metal work designs.
Category
1970s Mexican Brutalist Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Brass, Copper
1970s British Yellow Illumination AC GMT Co. Classic Quartz Wall Clock
Located in Leicester, Leicestershire
Quartz sweep seconds / non ticking wall clock finished in Yellow Pantone 13-0647 Illuminating.
Rescued from Industrial scrap yards and brought back t...
Category
1970s English Industrial Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Steel, Chrome
Collecting Clarice Cliff Book by Howard Watson
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Collecting Clarice Cliff Book by Howard Watson.
The bold, bright hand-painted designs and extraordinary shapes of Clarice Cliff ceramics have attracted collectors for decades.
Now, there is a convenient handbook with pricing, pattern identification, and a detailed history of Clarice Cliff and her work, a unique find in the small selection of books on the popular pottery.
Readers will find over 500 price listings for teaware, plates, pots, vases, novelties and more.
Nearly 200 detailed, full-color photos of the most common pattern styles, along with a convenient shape guide, aid in identification.
Clarice Cliff remains one of the most revered and respected ceramic artists of the 20th century. Clarice Cliff comprehensively records her life and work, celebrating it with excellently reproduced images of her major pieces from her collections all around the world.
Very good paperback copy; edges slightly dust-dulled and nicked. Remains particularly well-preserved overall. Physical description: 128 pages : illustrations ; 24 cm. Subjects: Cliff, Clarice 1899-1972. Bizarre ware. Art deco England. Pottery Design. Genre: Decorative arts. Language: English.
Title: Collecting Clarice Cliff.
Publisher: London : Kevin Francis...
Category
Late 20th Century English Folk Art Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Paper
Late 19th Century Italian Wood Mannequin, circa 1880
Located in Milano, IT
Atelier mannequin
graven and carved stone pine wood
Italy, late 19th century
Measures: H 102 cm x 25 cm x 14 cm
H 40.15 in x 9.84 in x 5.51 in
Weight: circa kg 4
State of conse...
Category
1880s Italian Other Antique Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Wood
20th Century Sterling Silver Miniature Motorcycle Harley Davidson, Made in Italy
Located in VALENZA, IT
Vintage Harley Davidson motorcycle in sterling silver with very accurate detail reproduction.
The first is a Harley Davidson FXSB l...
Category
1990s Italian Other Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Sterling Silver
Cigarette Case light blue cabochon sapphire and hand-engraved finishing Salimben
Located in Firenze, FI
Handbag cigarette case in 925/1000 sterling silver with black fire enamel. Opening with spring button. Size cm. 6.3 x 9.7 x 1.5. Weight gr. 215. Created in Art Deco style for Cartie...
Category
1970s Italian Art Nouveau Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Sterling Silver, Enamel
Masterpieces of Impressionism & Post-Impressionism - The Annenberg Collection
Located in Bradenton, FL
Masterpieces of Impressionism & Post-Impressionism - The Annenberg Collection. Softcover book, published in 1989 in conjunction with the exhibition at The Philadelphia Museum of Art....
Category
1980s Italian Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Paper
Complete Works Of Benjamin Franklin. LETTER-PRESS EDITION. 10 VOLUMES - 1887
Located in Hillsborough, NJ
AUTHOR: FRANKLIN, Benjamin (John Bigelow - editor).
TITLE: The Complete Works Of Benjamin Franklin.
PUBLISHER: NY: G. P. Putnam's Sons, 1887.
DESCRIPTION: LETTER-PRESS EDITION. 1...
Category
1880s American Antique Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Leather
Beacon Lights of History by John Lord in 5 volumes
Located in San Francisco, CA
A five volume leather bound set titled "Beacon Lights of History" by John Lord
published in New York in 1884 by Fords, Howard and Hulbert profiling various historical luminaries from...
Category
1880s American Antique Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Leather, Paper
Theodore Alexander 16th Century Style German Hammered Bronze Suit Armour Knight
Located in Dayton, OH
Theodore Alexander Medieval Suit of Armour. Styled after an original 16th Century German suit that sold at auction for well over $50,000. Retai...
Category
Late 20th Century Renaissance Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Bronze
Cigarette Case black lines Art Deco style Salimbeni
Located in Firenze, FI
Handbag cigarette case in 925/1000 sterling silver with black fire enamel. Opening with spring button. Size cm. 6.3 x 9.7 x 1.5. Weight gr. 215. Created in Art Deco style for Cartier...
Category
1980s Italian Art Deco Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Sterling Silver, Enamel
Miniature Painted Union Jack Leather Chesterfield Sofa – Vintage British Style
Located in Morristown, NJ
Late 20th/Early 21st c. a striking handcrafted miniature Chesterfield sofa, meticulously designed with a distressed dark navy leather exterior and a hand-painted Union Jack motif. Me...
Category
1990s English Chesterfield Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Brass
Sinar P Expert Kit Large Format 4X5
Located in valatie, NY
Sinar p 4x5 expert kit containing:
Sinar copal f5.6 auto aperture shutter & release cable
Sinar p 4x5 camera
Regular bellows
Wide angle bellows
4x5 g...
Category
1980s Swiss Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Aluminum
Antique Brass Club Fender
Located in Oxfordshire, GB
Vintage Brass Club Fender.
A wonderful club fender with an open front, brass uprights and a shaped brass base. The upholstered seat is 20 cm wide with the measurements inside the sea...
Category
Late 20th Century British Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Brass
Nautical Spotlight on Tripod
Located in Norwell, MA
Early 20th century ship's spotlight. Ship's spotlight with polished steel head, adjusting handle, 10 inch diameter lens, mounted to a wood tripod. Overall height: 76". Fitted with an...
Category
1970s North American Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Metal
Lithograph Depicting the Horse Winner of the 1993 Italian Derby
Located in Milan, IT
Lithograph on paper made in the 1990s by the Ludovici typography in Rome from a painting depicting White Muzzle winner of the 1993 Italian Derby ridden by John Reid. With frame 66.5x...
Category
1990s Italian Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Wood, Paper
Vintage Blue Pop Art APC Pouring Paint Can Bank
Located in Brooklyn, NY
A perfectly Pop Art 1980s pouring paint can piggy bank/sculpture. Metal paint can with a quarter-sized coin slot in its bottom appears to be defying gravity by resting on a pouring ...
Category
Late 20th Century Post-Modern Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Metal
1970s Vintage Lightning Bolt Surfboard shaped by Rory Russell
Located in Haleiwa, HI
1970s Vintage Lightning Bolt surfboard shaped by Rory Russel. Features sleek black tint with white lightning bolt and complimentary rail bolts. Winged pintail shape design. Signed on...
Category
1970s American Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Fiberglass, Foam, Softwood
Pinball Rolling Stones Collector 1980s Completely Revised
Located in Paris, FR
Collector pinball, first rolling stones pinball 1980s,
functioning completely revised, in excellent condition.
Exceptional collector piece.
Category
Late 20th Century American Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Steel
Modernist Stainless Steel & Brass Menorah by Shelly Turner for Alef Judaica
Located in San Diego, CA
Modernist chrome & brass menorah by Shelly Turner for Alef Judaica, circa 1990s. The menorah measures 9"W x 2"D x 4.5"H and is signed on the front side. I cannot make out the name; i...
Category
Late 20th Century American Modern Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Stainless Steel, Brass
The Paris Review No. 114 Spring 1990
Located in Brooklyn, NY
The Paris Review No. 114 Spring 1990
Publication features Robie Macauley "Silence, Exile, and Cunning"
Artwork reproduction after Jean Michel Basquiat (Cover) and Meyer Vaisman
Stori...
Category
1990s Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Paper
Vintage Large Canadian Moose Rack Shed Antlers Skull Taxidermy Wall Decor
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Vintage Large Canadian Moose Rack Shed Antlers Skull Taxidermy Wall Decor. Circa Late 20th Century. Measurements (Overall): 38.5" H x 55.5" W (at widest point) x 17" D. Each antler a...
Category
Late 20th Century Unknown Rustic Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Horn
Modern Bird Motif Sterling Silver Necklace and Earrings Set Graziella Laffi
Located in Atlanta, GA
A highly sculptural sterling silver jewelry suite consisting of a necklace with bird motif and a matching pair of earrings. The three-piece set was crafted by Peruvian silversmith an...
Category
Late 20th Century Peruvian Modern Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Sterling Silver
Vintage Yves Saint Laurent Opium Parfum Made in France Collectible Bottle 1980's
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Vintage Yves Saint Laurent Opium Parfum made in France Collectible Bottle 1980's
This is vintage, hard to find, discontinued, collectible per...
Category
1980s French Chinoiserie Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Bakelite
Fine Victorian Walking Stick; Bone Carved Dog Head Handle; Cherrywood Circa 1880
Located in Incline Village, NV
Fine quality cherry wood 19th century rare bone carved dog head handle walking stick from the fabulous collection of Prince Moritz (1926-2013) who was well known for his extensive co...
Category
1880s Unknown Victorian Antique Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Bone, Cherry
Complete Works Of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. 11 vols. LARGE PAPER EDITION 1886
Located in Hillsborough, NJ
AUTHOR: LONGFELLOW, Henry Wadsworth.
TITLE: The Complete Works Of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow.
PUBLISHER: Cambridge: The Riverside Press, 1886.
DESCRIPTION: LARGE PAPER EDITION. 1...
Category
1880s American Antique Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Leather
Ejection Seat from Percival Aircraft Jet Provost by Martin Baker
Located in Paris, FR
A Martin Baker ejection seat from a Percival aircraft BAC jet provost,
royal air force trainer aircraft used from 1955 to 1993.
Exceptional piece.
Category
1970s English Mid-Century Modern Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Aluminum, Stainless Steel, 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.
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.