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Collectibles and Curiosities For Sale
Period: Early 20th Century
Period: 1980s
Islamic Persian Iron Shield
Located in Rochester, NY
Persian and iron shield. Engraved with Moresque designs . Woven interior. Early 20th century.
Category

Early 20th Century Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Iron

1980s Citizen Japanese Blue Steel Retro Vintage Industrial Antique Quartz Clock
Located in Leicester, Leicestershire
Citizen super tanker slave clock original blue finish. A reclaimed and restored maritime slave clock also called secondary clock of superior build quality. These clocks were us...
Category

1980s Japanese Industrial Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Steel, Cut Steel, Chrome

Antique Rosewood and Mahogany Putty Knives
Located in San Francisco, CA
ABOUT A set of antique putty knives with Rosewood, Mahogany and brass handles. CREATOR Embee, Red Devil DATE OF MANUFACTURE c.1920-1950. MATERIALS AND TECHNIQUES Steel...
Category

Early 20th Century Industrial Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Steel

1900s Antique Mesh Purse Evening Bag Victorian
Located in Chula Vista, CA
AMBIANIC presents Antique Mesh Purse Handbag Evening Victorian circa 1900s 14 long x 5.5 w x .5 thick, purse only 6 h x 5 w Stamped Original vintage...
Category

Early 20th Century Victorian Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Metal

Rhodes, James Ford, History of the United States, 7 Vols, in a Fine Binding
Located in Hillsborough, NJ
AUTHOR: RHODES, James Ford. TITLE: History Of The United States From The Compromise of 1850 To The Final Restoration Of Home Rule At The South In 1877. PUBLISHER: NY: The Macm...
Category

1910s American Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Leather

"Cavalier Disc" wooden horn gramophone 1900s phonograph for HMV Decca RCA Victor
By Victor Talking Machine Company, HMV
Located in London, GB
THE CAVALIER DISC TALKING MACHINE by B B & CO., London Vintage horn gramophone, early 20th Century. This is a really stunning early 20th Century gramo...
Category

Early 20th Century British Arts and Crafts Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Metal

Fine Brass Cased Pocket Compass by Short & Mason Ltd., London c.1910
Located in Bath, GB
A very fine English brass cased compass, professionally cleaned and polished restoring it to it's former glory. The face signed Short & Mason / London together with the brand name "...
Category

1910s British Edwardian Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Brass

1920s 35 Zeiss-Ikon 35 Cm Cinema Projector
Located in London, GB
A late 1920s 35 mm Zeiss-Ikon cinema projector. Lens: Neokino 52.5/110 by Emil Busch A.-G. Rathenow. Original black paint. Lamp house contain...
Category

Early 20th Century German Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Brass, Steel, Iron

Curiosity Cabinet Collection of Shells, Circa 1900
Located in Beuzevillette, FR
Very interesting set of shells collected by an amateur between the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century. The shells are classified by size and age either in ...
Category

Early 20th Century French Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Shell

Leather Holdall Type Bag
Located in Oxfordshire, GB
Antique Leather Holdall Travel Bag. A good leather travel bag with two strong carry handles and very unusual type of securing the bag closed. The securing mechanism very reminiscence...
Category

Early 20th Century Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Leather

DODGSON / CARROLL. Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. INSCRIBED BY ALICE - 1908
Located in Hillsborough, NJ
AUTHOR: DODGSON, Charles Lutwidge: (Lewis Carroll). TITLE: Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. London: Macmillan and Co., 1908. DESCRIPTION: PRESENTATION COPY. 1 vol., 7-5/8" x 5-1/...
Category

Early 1900s American Antique Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Leather

1920's Antique RCA Radiola Loud Speaker Model 100
By RCA
Located in San Carlos, CA
For Sale: Antique 1920s RCA Radiola Model 100 Speaker – Untested Step back in time with this very cool antique RCA (Radio Corporation of America) Radiola Model 100 Speaker! A true p...
Category

1920s American Art Deco Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Metal

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 da...
Category

Early 20th Century German Black Forest Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Antler, Wood

Ruhlmann Vintage Photograph Album (Book)
Located in North Yorkshire, GB
A unique photograph album in original grey card wrappers with the Ruhlmann name embossed on the front and the name of the client Monsieur Molinie also...
Category

Early 20th Century Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Paper

Antique Hand Carved Gothic Revival Wall Bracket or Shelf for a Saint Statue
Located in Lisse, NL
Good size and great looking Gothic Revival bracket for displaying a statuette. This Gothic console for wall mounting dates from the early 1900s and it has the most timeless design a...
Category

Early 1900s European Gothic Revival Antique Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Metal

Rare over sized early 20th Century hand crafted architectural stair case model
Located in London, GB
Rare over sized early 20th Century hand crafted architectural stair case model Without doubt the most impressive example we have uncovered and the attention to detail is exceptional....
Category

1920s British Victorian Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Pine

Fine Pair Golden Guilloche Enamel and Mother of Pearl Opera Glasses, c.1910
Located in Bath, GB
Pretty as a picture and in outstanding condition, this lovely pair of early twentieth century opera glasses come complete with their original case (wear commensurate with age). Th...
Category

1910s French Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Brass, Enamel

Metropolitan Museum of Art: the Renaissance in Italy and Spain, 1st Ed
Located in valatie, NY
The Metropolitan Museum of Art: The Renaissance in Italy and Spain. Published by The Metropolitan Museum of Art, NY, 1987. 1st Ed hardcover with dust j...
Category

1980s American Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Paper

Walking stick, rock crystal, by Leopold van Strydonk, Brussels, Belgium 1900.
By L. Van Strydonck
Located in Milan, IT
Walking stick: jewel walking stick, rock crystal knob, spherical in shape, caged by intertwined bands made of gilded silver with garnet cabochons. Snakewood shaft. Metal and iron fe...
Category

Early 20th Century Belgian Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Rock Crystal, Metal, Silver, Iron

Grandfather Clock Radio by Silvertone, Circa 1931
Located in Fulton, CA
Scarce, Silvertone clock radio. Made by the Colonial Radio Company in 1931 and retailed under the Silvertone name by Sears Roebuck Company. Exceptional con...
Category

Early 20th Century American Art Deco Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Steel

Scandinavian Antique Leather-Bound Books, 2000 Books in Brown And Red Available
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
A large collection of Scandinavian decorative antique library leather-bound books Please note that the pictures listed are a sample of the books available and not the exact 50 books available. We will send pictures of the actual books before shipping them out. An attractive collection of 2000 mid-size antique leather-bound books. This lot of books on literature from Sweden are wrapped in leather-bound covers, comprised of varying rich, warm tones and gold leaf print embossing. The books seated side-by-side measures 2,5 meters, approximate 8´2 foot run. This collection of antique Swedish books are ready to ship and take their place, handsomely adorning your bookcase or library shelves...
Category

Early 20th Century Swedish British Colonial Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Leather, Paper

RONSON 1925 Art & Craft Mechanical Desk Cigarettes Dispenser In Filigree Gilt
Located in Miami, FL
Mechanical desk cigarette dispenser designed by Ronson. This is a beautiful and very rare desk cigarettes dispenser, created in New Jersey United States by The Ronson Lighter Co. during the art deco period, back in the 1925. The antique humidor box has been crafted with art & craft patterns in a square shape in solid gilt bronze, steel and wood. This desk-piece is very decorative and will be a great conversation item. It is in gorgeous and exceptional preserved condition. Period: Art-Deco. Date: United States, 1925. Materials: Gilt bronze, brass, zinc coated steel, green felt, cedar wood and synthetic gemstones. Weight: About 1 pound (624.87wt). Measurements: 165 mm by 160 mm by 64 mm (4.5 x 5.14 x 5.20 Inches). Marks: Attached with an early sticker reading as follows, "FASHIONED BY RONSON". The Ronson lighter company The company started as The Art Metal Works in 1897 and was incorporated on July 20, 1898, by Max Hecht, Louis Vincent Aronson and Leopold Herzig, in Newark, New Jersey. Louis V. Aronson was a huge creative driving force for the company; and, with a few business adjustments, including the addition of Alexander Harris (1910–11) as Business Manager, the company soon became World Famous. In the 1910s The Art Metal Works were producing very good quality Hood Ornaments and gained a reputation as a dependable supplier of same. All accounts state that Louis Aronson was a gifted man, who at 16 years old set up a money-making shop in his parent's home - before receiving a U.S. patent for a commercially valuable metal-plating process he developed when he was 24 years old, and he sold half the rights while retaining the Right to Use. "His experiments, which he has been conducting since his early youth, resulted in 1893 in the discovery of a process for electrically producing tinplate. Much money was expended upon improving the process... and has been of great practical value to the whole industry. Retaining its rights, he sold half the patent rights, and later used part of the proceeds to open the Art Metal Works in Newark, N.J. Soon the company was producing a variety of high-quality Lamps, Book ends, Art Statues and other decorative items, prized today for their detail in the collector marketplace. Condition: The overall condition of this Ronson cigarette...
Category

1920s American Art Deco Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Brass, Bronze, Gold

Stunning Design Glass Art Madonna and Child Jesus Sculpture w. Stand and Light
Located in Lisse, NL
Beautiful and inspiring Mother Mary statuette by Steph Uiterwaal. If you are a collector of stylish and meaningful religious art then this serene and divine sculpture of Mary holdin...
Category

Early 20th Century Dutch Art Deco Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Brass

Original Antique Map of the American State of Indiana, 1903
Located in St Annes, Lancashire
Antique map of Indiana Published By A & C Black. 1903 Original colour Good condition Unframed. Free shipping
Category

Early 1900s English Antique Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Paper

John Keats – Lamia, Isabella, The Eve of Saint Agners & Other Poems
Located in Middletown, NY
GOLDEN COCKEREL PRESS / Keats, John Lamia, Isabella, The Eve of Saint Agners & Other Poems; with Engravings by Robert Gibbins Waltham St.Lawrence: Golden Cockerel Press, 1928. Limited Edition. Quarto, 12 x 7 1/2 inches (305 x 190mm); pp. 104; with nineteen wood-engravings by Robert Gibbings (1889-1958); copy 178 of 345 copies printed Batchelor hand-made paper, special Cockerel watermark; red ink on title page, red and blue ink for incidental initials by Eric Gill and David Jones's colophon device; 1/4 brown sharkskin and green cloth by Sangorski & Sutcliffe, London; gilt titling; top edge gilt, others uncut; slight staining to head of spine, clean, fresh, and bright inside and out. [Chanticleer 62; Ransom p. 298, no. 60]. An elegant and beautifully proportioned and illustrated version of John Keat's (1795-1825) famous poems, which constitute the final volume Keats lived to see, published in July 1820. From the Oxford text edited by H. Buxton Forman. Robert Gibbings (1889-1958) was and Irish wood...
Category

Early 20th Century English Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Gold Leaf

Early Eye Glass Trade Stimulator - Test Your Own Eyes Optometer
Located in Peekskill, NY
This is an early eyeglass trade stimulator... TEST YOUR OWN EYES. Its an Optometer that has a dial on the right of the device. Turn the dial and there is a double geared carousel wit...
Category

Early 20th Century American Industrial Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Steel

Chinese Bamboo Opium Pipe with Red Clay Bowl
Located in Chicago, IL
This long bamboo pipe dates to the late 19th century and was originally used for smoking opium. Unlike a tobacco pipe, the opium pipe was designed especially to allow resinous opium ...
Category

Early 20th Century Chinese Qing Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Brass

Lot of two Deer Antler Mount Trophy Black Forest Wood Plaque Austria Folk Art
Located in Nuernberg, DE
A set of 3 vintage deer antler trophies on hand carved, Black Forest wooden plaques. Most of them are dated on the backside, it tells they are from the 1920s or older. Measurement's ...
Category

1920s Austrian Folk Art Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Antler, Wood

Chrome-plated brass and leather round section telescope England early 1900s
Located in Milan, IT
Chrome-plated brass round section telescope with leather-covered handle. Focus at a stretch. English manufacture of the early 1900s. Complete with base for support made of custom w...
Category

Early 20th Century Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Brass

Unique Small Size & Quality Hand Carved Tiger Oak Gothic Revival Chest, 1920
Located in Lisse, NL
Stunning and practical size, multi purpose Gothic chest / box from a monastery. This here Gothic chest is one of the smallest yet most stylish we ever had the pleasure of offering. ...
Category

Early 20th Century French Gothic Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Wrought Iron

Gothic Revival Oak Fireplace Mantel with Carved Church Window Panels & Guards
Located in Lisse, NL
Wonderful Gothic Revival fire-place mantle surround with an amazing presence and patina. If you like Gothic Revival furniture then we are certain you will like this quality made and quality carved, antique Gothic mantle...
Category

Early 20th Century European Gothic Revival Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Wood, Oak

1930s bronze steering helm by the Benson Electric Co of Wisconsin
Located in London, GB
Bronze ship's steering helm with wheel by the Benson Electric Company, Superior, Wisconsin. Dated: JAN 1930 The helm indicates rudder angles with the moving pointer, lit with two ...
Category

Early 20th Century American Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Brass, Bronze

Lindbergh, Charles a., "We", 1927, First Edition, with the Dj & Signed
Located in Hillsborough, NJ
AUTHOR: LINDBERGH, Charles A. TITLE: "WE". PUBLISHER: NY: G.P. Putnam's Sons, 1927. DESCRIPTION: SIGNED FIRST EDITION. 1 vol., signed by Lindbergh on the title-page, illustr...
Category

1920s American Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Fabric

Limited Edition Elton John Signature Series Red Piano Yamaha
Located in London, GB
Limited Edition Elton John Signature Series Red Piano Yamaha Japanese, 2005 Piano: Height 102cm, width 155cm, depth 213cm Stool: Height 52cm, width 61cm, depth 41cm A striking ...
Category

Early 20th Century Japanese Modern Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Metal

Antique Gothic Revival Silvered Bronze Crucifix with a Gilt Bronze Corpus Christ
Located in Lisse, NL
Good size and impressive make, Gothic church altar crucifix. This ornate and all hand-crafted, bronze table crucifix comes with a good quality made a...
Category

Early 20th Century French Gothic Revival Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Brass, Bronze

Curiosity Cabinet Naturalism Collection of Shell circa 1900
Located in Beuzevillette, FR
Very interesting set of shells collected by an amateur between the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century. The shells are classified by size and age either in ...
Category

Early 20th Century French Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Shell

Curiosity Cabinet Naturalism Collection of Shells, Circa 1900
Located in Beuzevillette, FR
Very interesting set of shells collected by an amateur between the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century. The shells are classified by size and age either in ...
Category

Early 20th Century French Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Shell

SARASTRO 1930 Pforzheim Enameled Deco Diksi Petrol Lighter In Silver on Brass
Located in Miami, FL
A petrol pocket lighter designed by Sarastro This is a beautiful petrol desk lighter created in Pforzheim Germany by the Sarastro Industries Company, back in the late 1925. This lif...
Category

1920s German Art Deco Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Silver, Brass, Enamel, Sterling Silver

The Paris Review No. 87 Spring 1983
Located in Brooklyn, NY
The Paris Review No. 87 Spring 1983 Stories by James Baker Hall, Joyce Carol Oates, and Paul West. Poems by Stanislaw Baranczak, Czeslaw Milosz, and C. K. Williams. Feature include Timothy Tung "Literary Happenings: China: An Interview with Dong Leshan, Part Two." Artwork reproductions after Jean Michel Basquiat...
Category

1980s Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Paper

Disston and Sons Brass Back Saws c.1940s-Price per item
Located in San Francisco, CA
ABOUT Price per item. Vintage saws with hand carved wood handles, brass labels, brass screws and steel blades. Two have brass backs. CREATOR Diss...
Category

Early 20th Century Industrial Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Steel

B&O Cona Passive Subwoofer (in MOMA) and Speakers
Located in Los Angeles, CA
The Beovox Cona, designed in beautifully austere fashion by David Lewis and now permanently in the MOMA collection, was the first B&O subwoofer loudspeaker. It was specifically inten...
Category

1980s Danish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Metal

A 1980s Mappin and Webb Akoya pearl necklace with 18 carat gold clasp
Located in London, GB
A lovley late 1980s Mappin and Webb Akoya pearl necklace with 18 carat gold clasp in orignal box. There are 56 pearls and each pearl is 6.5-7mm diameter with a high polished lustre a...
Category

1980s English Hollywood Regency Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Gold

Antique The Standard Computing Scale Co Dry Goods General Store Countertop Scale
By Standard Computing Scale Co.
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Antique The Standard Computing Scale Co. Porcelain Enamel Dry Goods General Store Scale with Beveled Glass Mirrors. Circa Early 20th Century. Measurements: 30" H x 18" W x 20" D.
Category

Early 20th Century Unknown Art Deco Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Metal

Curiosity Cabinet Naturalism Collection of Shell circa 1900
Located in Beuzevillette, FR
Very interesting set of shells collected by an amateur between the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century. The shells are classified by size and age either in ...
Category

Early 20th Century French Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Shell

Rare Pierre Cardin Pop Art Futuristic Ambiance Phone
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Rare and highly collectable Pop Art futuristic Ambiance phone.
Category

1980s Taiwanese Futurist Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Plastic

Vintage Mexican Foosball Table with Metal Players, circa 1940-1970
Located in San Francisco, CA
ABOUT An early 20th c. wooden foosball table top with distressed, painted metal Mexican soccer players, rubber handles and metal "Gebar" branded ashtrays on each end. Original paint...
Category

Early 20th Century Mexican Industrial Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Metal

Antique Wooden Shoe Forms c.1920-Multiple Sets Available
Located in San Francisco, CA
ABOUT Price is per collection. 4 collections available. (1st set, image #1 has sold) Please specify which set to purchase. Decorative only. Original cobbler's wooden shoe forms. S...
Category

Early 20th Century Industrial Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Maple

Curiosity Cabinet Naturalism Collection of Shell circa 1900
Located in Beuzevillette, FR
Very interesting set of shells collected by an amateur between the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century. The shells are classified by size and age either in ...
Category

Early 20th Century French Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Shell

Curiosity Cabinet Collection of Shells, Circa 1900
Located in Beuzevillette, FR
Very interesting set of shells collected by an amateur between the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century. The shells are classified by size and age either in ...
Category

Early 20th Century French Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Shell

Bisque doll by Simon & Halbig for Kämmer Reinhardt, Germany, ca 1900
Located in Delft, NL
Bisque doll by Simon & Halbig for Kämmer Reinhardt, Germany, ca 1900 A lovely bisque doll of 60 cm long with moving eyes, giving her a flirty look. She wears an antique European lac...
Category

Early 20th Century German Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Porcelain

Cigarette Case black and red lines Art Deco style Salimbeni
Located in Firenze, FI
Rectangular pocket cigarette case with long rounded sides in 925/1000 sterling silver with red and black fire-enamelled stripes. With button and spring opening. Measurements cm. 10.3...
Category

1980s Italian Art Deco Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Sterling Silver, Enamel

Spage Age Model "Discoverer" Television Designed by Philips, Netherlands, 1980's
Located in Antwerp, BE
Space Age vintage model "Discoverer" television 14 GR 1220 GB manufactured by Philips, Netherlands, 1980s. The space age design outstanding shape tv makes this design piece so fascin...
Category

1980s Dutch Mid-Century Modern Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Glass, Acrylic, Plexiglass

Model of a Royal Carriage
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Model of a Royal Carriage, realistically detailed with a carved wood and gilt decorated coach with one working door. Resting on a metal suspension under...
Category

Early 20th Century European Late Victorian Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Metal

Model of a Royal Carriage
Model of a Royal Carriage
$1,516 Sale Price
20% Off
Coronation Record of King George V by The Illustrated London News , London 1911
Located in Lincoln, Lincolnshire
This is an original 1911 edition of the Illustrated London News Coronation Record celebrating the coronation of King George V and Queen Mary. This Royal Memorabilia magazine publica...
Category

Early 20th Century British Edwardian Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Paper

Antique Eastman Kodak "No. 2 Folding Pocket Brownie" Camera c.1909
Located in San Francisco, CA
ABOUT An original "No. 2 Folding Pocket Brownie" camera with leather wrapped body, brass and chrome accents. Autographic film window in back with iron stylus for writing notes dir...
Category

Early 20th Century Art Deco Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Metal, Brass, Chrome

Antique, Early 1900 Large Hand Carved Alabaster Sculpture / Bust of Jesus Christ
Located in Lisse, NL
Unique and antique alabaster sculpture of our Lord Jesus. This gorgeous and large size work of religious art from a church or monastery is...
Category

Early 20th Century Italian Arts and Crafts Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Alabaster

Stunning Art Deco Bronze Religious Plaque of Christ on Crucifix by Sylvain Norga
Located in Lisse, NL
Perfectly stylized work of religious art by S. Norga. This practical size and very good condition bronze plaque depicts Christ on the cross with Mary and Saint John mourning on eith...
Category

1910s Belgian Art Deco Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Bronze

"Kodak Special Model A" Sealskin Folding Camera c.1915-1920
Located in San Francisco, CA
ABOUT The body of the Kodak Special, Model A incorporates several unusual design features. The most immediately obvious of these is the Bakelite panel on either side of the lens a...
Category

Early 20th Century Art Deco Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Metal, Chrome

AUSTRIA 1915 Bergman Style Viennese Art Deco Desk-Striker In Enameled Bronze
Located in Miami, FL
An art deco desk striker made in Austria, attributed to Franz Xaver Bergman. This is a gorgeous original early Art Deco sculptural desk-striker lighter, depicting two Arabian mooris...
Category

1910s Austrian Art Deco Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Bronze, Enamel, Spelter

Curiosity Cabinet Naturalism Collection of Shells, Circa 1900
Located in Beuzevillette, FR
Very interesting set of shells collected by an amateur between the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century. The shells are classified by size and age either in ...
Category

Early 20th Century French Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Shell

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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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.

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