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Collectibles and Curiosities For Sale
Period: Early 20th Century
Period: 1910s
Rare Set of Six Mercury Glass & Cotton Christmas Ornament Vintage, 1910s
Located in Nuernberg, DE
A rare Christmas ornament set from Germany or Austria. Each is made from mouth blown glass, one of pressed cotton, this would be a great addition for your Christmas or feather tree. ...
Category
1910s German Folk Art Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Wire
The Earthly Paradise: A Poem by William Morris in 4 Leatherbound Volumes
Located in San Francisco, CA
A lovely leatherbound 4 volume work by William Morris( 1834-1896) the famous British designer and poet, entitled "The Earthly Paradise" published in 1905 by Longmans, Green and Co. L...
Category
Early 20th Century English Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Leather, Paper
Large Marble Solitaire Board Game with 33 Early Handmade Clay Marbles
Located in Lincoln, Lincolnshire
This is a complete board game of marble solitaire with a large turned maple board from the 20th century and handmade clay or stone marbles from the mi...
Category
Early 20th Century English Folk Art Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Stone
Madonna de la Media after Rafael Antique Framed Portrait on Porcelain
Located in Hamilton, Ontario
This finely executed portrait is unsigned and presumed to have originated from Italy and date to approximately 1900 and done in a Renaissance style. The portrait is hand-painted on a...
Category
Early 20th Century Italian Renaissance Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Metal
Edwardian Brass and Copper Figural WMF Cigar Cutter Attrib: Ignatius Taschner
Located in Chapel Hill, NC
Arts and Crafts figural metalwork cigar cutter / ashtray. A brass Billy goat cigar cutter, jointed at the hip with integral cutter leaping over a cylindrical copper receptacle mounte...
Category
Early 20th Century German Arts and Crafts Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Brass, Copper
Antique Oak Victor Victor I Victrola Phonograph Talking Machine with Horn
Located in Oakland, CA
Antique Oak Victor Victor I Victrola Phonograph Talking Machine with Horn. Very good working condition with original crank and nameplate: “His Mast...
Category
1910s North American Art Nouveau Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Metal
Antique 14 Karat Yellow Gold & Hand-Carved Jade Chinoiserie Styled Necklace
Located in Hamilton, Ontario
This antique women's necklace is unsigned and unmarked but dates to approximately 1900 and presumed to originate from China and done in a period Chinoiserie style. The necklace is co...
Category
Early 20th Century Chinese Chinoiserie Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Jade, Gold
National Cash Register Co. Brass Cash Register, Model 442, Early 1900s on Plinth
Located in Southampton, NY
National Cash Register Co. Brass Cash Register, Model 442-E-L, Early 1900s, on wooden plinth.
American. Brass. In 1908, National introduced a new numbering system that grouped their ...
Category
Early 20th Century American Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Brass
Antique Austrian French Bulldog or Pug Dog Figural Cigar Cutter, 1920s
Located in Nuernberg, DE
A beautiful cigar cutter Shaped as a standing french bulldog or Pug Dog. Some wear with a nice patina, but this is old-age. Made of bronze and metal. A beautiful nice collectible ite...
Category
1920s Austrian Art Nouveau Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Metal, Bronze
Viennese enamel opera glasses, c. 1900.
Located in Gargrave, North Yorkshire
Viennese enamel opera glasses, c. 1900. The gilt metal opera glasses, having hand painted barrels of a couple wearing 18th Century costume, playing music in garden settings.
The hand...
Category
Early 1900s Austrian Victorian Antique Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Enamel
Novels 'Works' of Jane Austen. Winchester Edition, 10 Vols, 1906 Leather Bound
Located in Hillsborough, NJ
AUTHOR: AUSTEN, Jane.
TITLE: The Novels (Works) of Jane Austen.
PUBLISHER: Edinburgh: John Grant, 1906.
DESCRIPTION: THE WINCHESTER EDITION. 10 vo...
Category
Early 1900s British Antique Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Leather
Art Deco Steelcraft Metal Pull Toy, the 'Little Giant Zeppelin'
By Murray Ohio Manufacturing Company
Located in Hamilton, Ontario
This large antique metal pull toy zeppelin was manufactured by the Murray Ohio manufacturing company during the 1930s in the Art Deco style and marked stee...
Category
Early 20th Century American Art Deco Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Steel
Tiffany Co. Paris 1919 French Table Petrol Lighter In Brass & Carved White Nacre
Located in Miami, FL
Table petrol lighter designed by Tiffany & Co.
Beautiful and unusual antique table petrol lighter, created in Paris France by the Tiffany & Co., back in the 1919. Crafted after the WWI as a trench-art piece in solid brass with high polished finish and embellished with a round flat holed piece, carved from natural white nacre. It is mounted in a round flat base and is fitted with a thumbwheel and a chained snuffer lid. This antique lighter should be a great conversation piece.
Trench Art
This is a term used to describe objects made from the debris and by-products of modern warfare. Trench Art is usually associated with the First World War, although similar items have been produced in other conflicts too. Most trench art was made by servicemen to pass the time when not in the front line.
Weight: 124.7 Grams, (79.94 Dwt).
Measurements: Diameter of 42 mm and a height of 94 (1.65 x 3.68 Inches).
Hallmarks: Stamped with the maker's mark, attached with the French tax plaque Ministere Des Finances and signed, "TIFFANY & CO. FRANCE".
Ministere Des Finances Lighter Tax 1911-1945
Historic Taxation Data
On 10th December 1910 the French state adopted a new tax regulations on all devices indented to produce spark or fire by friction, or by any other means, and of the combustion of a flammable substance. Since 1st January 1911 every lighter in France that was intended for sale in the French market had to be taxed and adequately marked. To confirm that the excise duty was paid to the Ministry of Finance a special duty metal plate (stamp) was attached (usually welded) to the lighter by the lighter manufacturers. The fees charged by the French state were high but the tax rates levied by the state were varying depending on the type and finish of the lighter. Following tax rates were used: 2 French francs for common pocket lighters, 5 Fr for pocket lighters made of silver, 20 Fr for luxury pocket lighters made in gold, 5 Fr for common table/desk lighters (lower 10 cm), 10 Fr for table/desk lighters (over 10 cm) made of silver, 50 Fr for luxury table/desk lighters (over 10 cm) made of gold or platinum. Between 1911 and 1916 a simple cooper plate was used which had the date 1911 engraved. Later, between 1916 and 1945 a new plate (undated) was introduced with the letters "C" and "I" (stands for indirect taxes) and a profile of Mercury (patron god of financial gain, commerce and messengers) with an inscription "Ministère Des Finances" (Ministry of Finance). Two shapes were used for the plate – oval for table lighters, the other one for pocket lighters. Additional to the two duty plates a marking "BL" (Briquet de Luxe, eng. luxury lighter...
Category
1910s French Art Deco Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Brass, Nickel
The Life of Benvenuto Cellini in 2 volumes. Published: 1906 by Brentanos.
Located in San Francisco, CA
The Life of Benvenuto Cellini in 2 volumes. Published: 1906 by Brentanos. Top edges gilt. Cellini (1500-1571) was an Italian Renaissance goldsmith, sculptor, and author whose most fa...
Category
Early 1900s Antique Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Leather, Paper
Windup Ham and Sam “The Minstrel Team” Tin Litho Toy c.1921, , Piano / banjo
By STRAUSS
Located in Buffalo, NY
Americana Toy
This is a tin, lithographed, windup Ham and Sam “The Minstrel Team” manufactured by the Ferdinand Strauss Company/Strauss Mfg. Co. of New York ...
Category
1920s American Art Deco Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Metal, Steel
Rare Set of Four Mercury Glass & Plastic Christmas Ornament Vintage, 1910s
Located in Nuernberg, DE
A rare Christmas ornament set from Germany or Austria. Each is made from mouth blown glass, the 4 mushrooms with wire are made of plastic and are younger age, this would be a great a...
Category
1910s German Folk Art Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Wire
Antique Brass on Leather Horse Sleigh Bells, Circa 1900's.
Located in New Orleans, LA
Antique Brass on Leather Horse Sleigh Bells, Circa 1900's.
Category
Early 20th Century Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Brass
Alpacca English silver metal toiletry set - circa 1900 - England
Located in Beuzevillette, FR
Very pretty toiletry set in silver metal with chiseled decoration of foliage scrolls with guilloche background including a mirror called "Face à main", and two brushes.
This set is v...
Category
Early 20th Century English Art Nouveau Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Alpaca
Early 20th c. Folk Art Log Cabin Model c.1900-1940 (FREE SHIPPING)
Located in San Francisco, CA
ABOUT
An original handmade folk art log cabin model with a chimney, one door and seven windows. Three windows have glass panes.
CREATOR Unknown.
DATE OF MANUFACTURE c.1900-...
Category
Early 20th Century Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Wood, Glass
Antique Oak Wall Phone by Julius Andrae and Sons
Located in Cincinnati, OH
Antique Oak Wall Phone by Julius Andrae and Sons of Milwaukee WI.
Phone found as is, probably some refinishing.
Very good condition for age.
...
Category
Early 20th Century American Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Metal
Elementary playful atlas composed of a puzzle, by D. Locchi, Paravia, Italy 1920
Located in Milan, IT
Elementary playful atlas composed of a puzzle made up of eighty fruit wood cubes sandwiched in paper faces. Each of the faces of each die participates in a geographical table, or ele...
Category
Early 20th Century Italian Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Fruitwood, Paper
Dunhil's 'Tinder Pistol': 20th C. English Oak Wood/Bronzed Brass Table Lighter
By Dunhill
Located in North Miami, FL
Dunhil's 'Tinder Pistol': early 20th century oak wood and bronzed brass table lighter made in England
By: Dunhill
Material: brass, bronze, copper, metal, oak, wood
Technique: cast, forged, bronzed, hammered, hand-carved, hand-crafted, molded, metalwork
Dimensions: 4 in x 2.5 in x 6 in
Date: early 20th century, circa 1920
Style: Arts and Crafts
Place of origin: England
This 1920s english oak, copper and bronzed brass Dunhill table lighter neatly evokes an 18th century flintlock pistol...
Category
Early 20th Century English Arts and Crafts Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Metal, Brass, Bronze, Copper
Antique Book, Old English Furniture, Illustrated, Reference, Edwardian, C.1910
Located in Hele, Devon, GB
This is an antique book 'Old English Furniture' by W E Mallett. An English language, illustrated reference guide, dating to the Edwardian period, circa 1910.
Full Title: An Introduc...
Category
Early 20th Century British Edwardian Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Paper
Viennese enamel miniature screen, c. 1900.
Located in Gargrave, North Yorkshire
Viennese enamel miniature screen, Austria, c. 1900. Hand painted with panels after Francois Boucher, of courting couples wearing 18th Century costume, and sat in idyllic rural settin...
Category
Early 1900s Austrian Victorian Antique Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Enamel
Japanese Unique Old Owl Face Cigar Stogie Tray
Located in South Burlington, VT
Even if you dont smoke cigars- delightful to display
Japanese Unique Old Owl Face Cigar Stogie Tray
This handsome Japanese quality over sized iron "Owl" faced cigar tray...
Category
Early 20th Century Japanese Taisho Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Iron
Antique Extension Ruler Wood Folding Measuring Tape
By Stanley
Located in Chula Vista, CA
AMBIANIC presents
Extension Ruler Rustic Wood Folding Tape Decorative Item
Attributed to Lufkin or Stanley
Closed .75 h x 1.75 d x 8 w, fully extended 55 fully extended
Antique vinta...
Category
Early 20th Century Industrial Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Wood
"Kadi" Pre-war Wind-Up Toy by Lehman Company. Germany Circa 1905
Located in Incline Village, NV
"Kadi" is the name of this rare Chinese themed vintage German made mechanical toy; depicting two turn of the century Chinese men with pigtails walking along, while carrying a large t...
Category
Early 1900s German Folk Art Antique Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Tin
Chromatic Double Harp, Pleyel, Lyon & Cie, Paris, circa 1900
Located in Greding, DE
Large double harp with gold-patinated head and neck and carved paw feet on the base. The harp is marked on the neck "Pleyel, Lyion & Cie (Paris). Harp, sysle. Gve Lyon. Brevete. No. ...
Category
Early 1900s French Antique Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Mahogany
Antique Art Deco Hayne Watch Co Ladies 18K 17J Platinum Trim Wrist Watch
Located in Dayton, OH
Circa 1920's ladies' art deco wrist watch by Hayne Watch Company, 17 jewels, Swiss works. Platinum Trim / 18K white gold case. Squared oval shape with intricate art deco styling - et...
Category
1920s Art Deco Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Gold, Platinum
Pair of Italian Armillary Spheres Vane began 20th Century H: 80cm
Located in Madrid, ES
Pair of Italian Armillary Spheres Vane began 20th Century
material: iron and stone
HEIGHT 80 cm
DIAMETER 60 cm
WIDTH 60 cm
DEPTH 85 cm
good conditions
Category
Early 20th Century Italian Modern Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Stone, Iron
Antique Deer Horn Carving Set, Sheffield ca. 1900s
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Antique Deer Horn Carving Set, Sheffield ca. 1900s
A rustic carving set consisting of fork and knife. The handles are made of genuine deer horn and feature a silver knob on their en...
Category
Early 20th Century German Black Forest Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Metal
Antique Book, Birds Of The British Isles, English, Ornithology Reference, C.1920
Located in Hele, Devon, GB
This is an antique illustrated book of The Birds of the British Isles. An English, bound ornithology reference title, dating to the early 20th century, published 1920.
Full Title - ...
Category
Early 20th Century European Mid-Century Modern Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Leather, Paper
Carbide Coal Miners Lamp with Coal Oil Can and tin funnel by Justrite Areamlined
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Antique collectible circa 1900s Justrite Carbide Coal Miners Lamp, designed to be worn on a helmet, with a Coal Oil Can and a Tin Funnel. Hand Crafted by the renowned Justrite Manufa...
Category
Early 20th Century American Rustic Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Metal, Brass
Fine Pair French Abalone & Mother of Pearl Opera Glasses
Located in Bath, GB
A stunning pair of French Opera glasses made from gilded brass, all intact and original. The glasses are clad in alternating Mother of Pearl or Nacre shell...
Category
1920s French Art Deco Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Brass
Wavy Glass Bowl Carnival from Dugan - Marigold "Brooklyn Bridge" - 1907 USA
Located in Beuzevillette, FR
Very beautiful wavy bowl from the Dugan Glass Company in the United States, first quarter of the 20th century, in iridescent molded glass, called carnival ...
Category
Early 20th Century American American Craftsman Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Glass
Industrial Hand Truck
Located in Fulton, CA
Industrial workshop hand truck with original red painted oak. Punched into back plate "Boiler Shop". Period pulleys, chain and rope a bonus. Great use as a man cave, vintage auto or ...
Category
Early 20th Century American Industrial Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Iron
Abnorm White Tailed Deer Trophy Mount on Wooden Plaque ca. 1900s
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Abnorm White Tailed Deer Trophy Mount on Wooden Plaque ca. 1900s
A large abnorme white tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) trophy on a wooden plaque with black finish. The trophy w...
Category
Early 20th Century German Black Forest Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Antler, Wood
White Tailed Deer Trophy Mount on Wooden Plaque ca. 1900s
Located in Berghuelen, DE
White Tailed Deer Trophy Mount on Wooden Plaque ca. 1900s
A large antique white tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) trophy on a wooden plaque with black finish. The trophy was shot...
Category
Early 20th Century German Black Forest Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Antler, Wood
Theodore Roosevelt Signed Letter Collage
Located in Colorado Springs, CO
Presented is a Theodore Roosevelt signed letter to Colonel C. D. MacDougall, dated August 16, 1910. In the letter, Roosevelt politely declines MacDougall’s invitation to speak, as he...
Category
1910s American Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Paper
Vintage "Winona Savings Bank" of Minnesota Money Box by W.F. Burns & Co.
Located in San Diego, CA
Vintage Winona Savings Bank of Minnesota money box with key, circa 1930s. The box is in good vintage condition and measures 4.5"W x 2.25"D x 3.25"H. The locking mechanism works (jus...
Category
Early 20th Century American Art Deco Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Steel
Antique Art Deco 14K White Gold Filigree Uranium Glass Cocktail Ring Size 5
Located in Dayton, OH
Circa 1920's art deco 14K white gold filigree cocktail ring featuring an emerald cut piece of light yellow uranium glass. Fluoresces green under UV / blacklight.
Dimensions:
0.625" ...
Category
1920s Art Deco Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Gold
Antique Akha Hill Tribe Silver Cuff Bracelet, 517grams
Located in Jimbaran, Bali
An exceptionally large Akha Tribe woven silver bracelet with spiral design. This Tribal bracelet encompasses tradition Hill tribe silversmithing techniques ...
Category
Early 20th Century Thai Tribal Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Silver
47 Volumes. Alexandre Dumas, The Complete Works.
Located in New York, NY
47 Volumes. Alexandre Dumas, The Complete Works. Edition de Médicis. Bound in 3/4 green morocco and marbled boards with the raised band spines decorated in gilt-tooling and faded to ...
Category
Early 20th Century American Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Leather
Early 1900s Gothic Revival Brass and Bronze Church Candle Chandelier / Pendant
Located in Lisse, NL
Practical size and great looking church sanctuary light.
The amount of work that went into creating this striking and practical size chandelier is a...
Category
Early 20th Century French Gothic Revival Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Brass, Bronze
Rare Antique Art Deco Hafis Incabloc 18K Gold Mechanical Wrist Watch
Located in Dayton, OH
Rare early to mid 20th century Hafis art deco mechanical wrist watch with Incabloc shock protection system. 18K yellow gold case, 0,0750 fineness, serial number 202743. Hammer head s...
Category
Early 20th Century Art Deco Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Gold
Confessions of Saint Augustine. 1909 - IN A DECORATED VELLUM BINDING !
Located in Hillsborough, NJ
AUTHOR: Saint Augustine.
TITLE: The Confessions of Saint Augustine.
PUBLISHER: London: Seeley & Co., Ltd., 1909.
DESCRIPTION: 1 vol., 7-7/8" x 5-1/2", color frontis, title-page, ...
Category
Early 1900s British Antique Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Leather
Pair of Gilt Bronze Gothic Revival Altar Pricket Candlesticks w. Lion Sculptures
Located in Lisse, NL
Rare and stunning pair of Flemish, Medieval Style candlesticks with crouching lions.
If you are looking for the best quality and best condition antiques only then this rare pair cou...
Category
Early 20th Century European Gothic Revival Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Bronze
All The Year Round by James Riley Woodcuts by Gustave Baumann
Located in San Francisco, CA
All the Year Round by James Whitcomb Riley with Woodcuts by Gustave Baumann. Published by Bobbs-Merrill, Indianapolis 1912. Nice copy including 12 lovely woodcuts by American painter...
Category
Early 20th Century American Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Paper
Detailed Model of Dutch Sailing Ship Circa 1930s-1940s
Located in Opole, PL
Detailed Model of Dutch Sailing Ship Circa 1930s-1940s
A faithfully reproduced model of a vessel dating back to the Interwar Period of the 20th century. In particularly good condition.
Category
Early 20th Century Dutch Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Wood
Large Antique Komai Style Japanese Damascene Cigarillo, Cigar or Cigarette Case
Located in Hamilton, Ontario
This large antique damascene styled tobacco case is unsigned, but presumed to have originated from Japan and dating to approximately 1920 and done in a Anglo-Japanese style. The case...
Category
Early 20th Century Japanese Japonisme Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Metal
1930's Marx Marcrest Pressed Steel Pure Milk Dairy Toy Truck
Located in Van Nuys, CA
We have A white Marx Marcrest Pure Milk Dairy Truck modeled truck produced by Marx Toys, a prominent American toy company known for manufacturing a wide range of toys in the 1920s. T...
Category
1920s Mid-Century Modern Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Steel
Wall-Mounted Weather Station in Art Nouveau Style Carved Oak 1910s
Located in Verviers, BE
Wall-Mounted Weather Station in Art Nouveau Style Carved Oak 1910s Belgium
High quality mechanism with jeweled movement barometer and thermometer (in centigrade)
Unusual design wit...
Category
1910s Belgian Art Nouveau Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Oak
Christianity Monastery Work Arch Angel in Glass Display Case Antique German
Located in Nuernberg, DE
Here I have to offer a fine antique classic early 20th century Glass Display Case with a beautiful Monastery Work inside. A wonderful decorative item, in very nice as is condition.
T...
Category
Early 20th Century German Folk Art Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Glass, Wood, Paper
Floor Standing Ash Tray, Hunting & Shooting
Located in Chillerton, Isle of Wight
Floor Standing Ash Tray, Hunting & Shooting
A great piece made by a blacksmith on a wrought iron stand, it has a Horseshoe shaped base and the upright has an imitation Flint Lock, ...
Category
1920s Folk Art Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Iron
Guinco 1923 Large Table Desk Semi Automatic lighter In Solid Polished Brass
Located in Miami, FL
Desk table lighter designed by Samuel E. Ghinn.
This is a superb and very rare table desk semi automatic petrol lighter, created in Cincinnati Ohio by Samuel E. Ghinn, back in 1923....
Category
1920s American Art Deco Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Brass, Steel
Vintage Illustrated Book, Yorkshire By George Home, English, County Travel Guide
Located in Hele, Devon, GB
This is a vintage copy of Yorkshire - Painted and Described by George Home. An English, illustrated county travel guide, this 3rd edition published in 1925.
Born in London, Gordon H...
Category
Early 20th Century European Edwardian Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Paper
Vintage Children's Toy Savings Bank "U.S. Mail". American, Circa 1920
Located in Incline Village, NV
Children's Savings Coin Bank "U.S. Mail" bank , also known as a "still bank"; was American made, circa 1920. This is well made, sturdy, and all original. It is made of cast iron and ...
Category
Early 20th Century American Folk Art Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Iron
Brass and copper nautical compass on cardan joint signed DIRIGO from 1920s
Located in Milan, IT
Brass and copper nautical compass on gimbals and housed in its original wooden box with brass lid closing hooks, signed Eugene M. Sherman Seattle U.S.A.Trade Dirigo Mark of the 1920...
Category
1920s Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Brass
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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