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Collectibles and Curiosities For Sale
Period: 1940s
Period: 1910s
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
Vintage White Beaded Handbag
Located in New York, NY
A beautiful vintage white beaded handbag with brass hardware decorated with Mother-Of-Pearl, pastel enamels and marcasite details, circa early to m...
Category
1940s European Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Brass, Enamel
The Fountainhead by Ayn Rand, First Edition, 1943
By Ayn Rand
Located in Colorado Springs, CO
Rand, Ayn. The Fountainhead. New York: The Bobbs-Merrill Company, 1943. First edition printing. Octavo. Rebound in modern half red Moroccan leather and marbled boards, with gilt tooling and titles to the spine, and the original dust jacket bound-in.
Presented is a first edition printing of The Fountainhead by Ayn Rand...
Category
1940s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Leather, Paper
Set of Vintage Snowshoes, 1943
Located in Eindhoven, NL
Vintage pair of snow shoes. Manufatured in 1943 by Snowcraft Inc. in Norway, Maine, US.
Category
1940s Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Leather, Hardwood
German Medical or Tanning Lamp, Wood and Bakelite, 1940s
Located in Roma, IT
German medical or tanning lamp.
Transport handle and external thermometer.
Three settings of the lamps. Eight porcelain lamp holders and four light bulbs. Current 220 volt
Woo...
Category
1940s German Art Deco Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Porcelain, Bakelite, Wood
Murrle Bennett Silver and Enamel Pendant Necklace c1910
Located in Tunbridge Wells, GB
Heading : Murrle Bennett silver and enamel pendant necklace
Date : c1910
Origin : Probably made in Pforzheim Germany
Decoration : Floral shape with enamelled blue flowers with green ...
Category
1910s German Art Nouveau Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Silver
-EVANS 1940 Spitfire Pocket Lighter With Windshield Chromed Steel And Black Lacq
Located in Miami, FL
Spitfire pocket lighter designed by Evans.
Rare automatic spitfire pocket lighter, created in America by the Evans Company, back in the 1940. This very handsome piece has been craft...
Category
1940s American Art Deco Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Steel, Chrome, Enamel
Marx Toys Key-Wind Tin Lithograph "Jalopy" Toy Car with Box
By Marx Toy Co.
Located in Fulton, CA
A mechanical wind-up tin lithograph toy car by Marx Toys. "Jalopy" Circa. 1940's. Excellent original working condition. Includes original box.
Category
1940s Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Tin
Louis XVI Style GBaby Grand Piano by Gaveau à Paris
By Gaveau
Located in Brighton, West Sussex
A fine Louis XVI style gilt-bronze mounted baby grand Piano by Gaveau à Paris.
Serial number 67874.
This fine baby grand piano has a quarter-veneered top with a stiff leaf cas...
Category
1910s French Louis XVI Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Ormolu
Small Antique English Brass Magnifying Glass c.1910
Located in Bath, GB
A lovely little magnifying glass made from solid brass with a handle; the perfect size to pop in the pocket or bag.
Dating to c.1910, Edwardian in era, the magnifier works well and ...
Category
1910s British Edwardian Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Brass
Ephemeral Decorations in Paris French Book by André Granet Original 1948 Edition
By General Decoration
Located in Atlanta, GA
Décors éphémères: Les Expositions Jeux d'Eau et de Lumière, (Ephemeral decorations: water and light games exhibitions,) French book by André Granet, Original edition 1948, Preface by...
Category
1940s French Art Deco Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Paper
Ceramic Piggy Bank by Eva Jancke Björk, Bo Fajans, 1940s
Located in Grythyttan, SE
A charming piggy bank designed by Eva Jancke Björk for Bo Fajans. While the piggy banks from Bo Fajans may share similar shapes, each one boasts a distinct hand-painted face and atti...
Category
1940s Swedish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Ceramic
Five French Dried, Pressed and Framed Botanical Specimens
Located in New York, NY
A set of dried, pressed and framed botanical specimens, plants and flowers with botanical descriptions Calligraphed in Latin and French. These old pieces are elegantly floated in off...
Category
1940s Belgian Rustic Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Antique German Bisque Doll A & M Armand Marseille, Ric#006
Located in Norton, MA
An original Armand Marseille doll, with a Bisque head and hands. Her feet wear red socks. Beautiful blue glass-fixed eyes and her parted lips show her...
Category
1910s German Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Composition
Paul Laszlo Catalog from 1947
By Paul Laszlo
Located in New York, NY
Scarce, self-published, 102-page catalog with laminated boards showcasing Paul Laszlo's work in and around Beverly Hills between 1937-1947. The Hungarian born and Vienna-educated Las...
Category
1940s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Wire
1940s Large Medical School Anatomical Heart Model
Located in Montclair, NY
A circa 1940s to mid 1950s large anatomical model of the human heart used to teach anatomy in medical school. Hand painted in multi color mat enamel with all the chambers and parts o...
Category
1940s North American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Plaster, Wood, Rubber
Polte Magdeburg 1911 WWI Brass Artillery Shell Casing Stool
Located in Hanover, MA
Massive World War I brass artillery shell case marked "Polte Magdeburg Juni 1911" fitted with custom round pillbox cushion upholstered in sea foa...
Category
1910s German Folk Art Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Brass
3" Wide WWII USAAF US Air Force Pilot Wings Sterling Silver Pin Badge
Located in Van Nuys, CA
Original 1940's Sterling Silver USAAF Pilot Wings badge is the official Aircraft Pilot ranking within the United States Air Force, Air Force Reserve, and Air National Guard. The firs...
Category
1940s American Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Sterling Silver
Eames Office radio for Emerson
Located in Toronto, Ontario
A nice radio design by the Eames office. Model 578A.
Mahogany veneer case with plastic face and dials.
Category
1940s American Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Metal
Mid-20th Century Papier Mache German Toy
Located in London, GB
Mid-20th Century Papier Mache German Toy
Every now and again an item comes along that is very special, this is one of those items. Of museum quality this m...
Category
1940s German Mid-Century Modern Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Paper
Vintage "Masuyama" Lehman Wind-Up Toy. German, Circa 1913 Rare
Located in Incline Village, NV
Early 1900's German hand painted and lithographed tin wind-up toy, by premier tin and whimsical toy maker, Ernest Paul Lehman, circa 1913. This charming and unique toy portrays a Ja...
Category
1910s German Folk Art Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Tin
1940s Vintage Modern Ambriz Floral Link Bracelet Sterling Silver Taxco Mexico
Located in Chula Vista, CA
1940s vintage Modern Floral link bracelet sterling silver made in Taxco, Mexico
maker stamped Mexico
Sterling silver large link bracelet a...
Category
1940s Mexican Mid-Century Modern Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Silver, Sterling Silver
French Silvered Bronze Box Line Vautrin
By Line Vautrin
Located in Atlanta, GA
A silvered bronze Poudrier "Le loup et le renard" (The wolf and the fox). by Parisian art jeweler Line Vautrin (1913-1997) circa 1940s. The square box features a relief cast of two s...
Category
1940s French Mid-Century Modern Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Bronze
Rare English Silver & Enamel Picture Frame, Allies of 1914
Located in Bath, GB
A magnificent and rare English sterling silver photograph frame by the top notch silversmith, Goldsmiths and Silversmiths Company L...
Category
1910s European Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Sterling Silver, Enamel
Kenneth Patchen Artist Book with Original Painting
Located in New York, NY
Panels for the Walls of Heaven, a square octavo volume of poems, abstract illustrations (based on paintings by the author) and outre typography, by experimental poet and artist Kenneth Patchen, published by Bern Porter...
Category
1940s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Paper
Solid Brass Porthole from a Yacht
Located in Norwell, MA
Highly polished boat porthole with hinged door with two latches. Great nautical relic. Clear glass.
Weight: 14 LBS
Overall Dimensions: 2” H x 21” L x ...
Category
1940s North American Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Brass
Vintage Virginia Metal Crafters 1948 Brass Butterfly Bush Leaf Dish
Located in San Diego, CA
Beautiful brass butterfly bush leaf dish by Virginia Metal Crafters. It is one of a series of botanical leaf sculptures designed by artist Oskar Hansen....
Category
1940s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Brass
Art Deco Bronze Religious Art Wall Plaque in Relief Depicts Suffering of Christ
Located in Lisse, NL
Impressive bronze plaque with a marvelous patina, by S. Norga.
Most (young) people won't realize, but in order to spiritually and mentally grow in life, some hardship is actually...
Category
1910s Belgian Art Deco Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Bronze
Taxidermy Waterbuck, Skull Mount
Located in Oxfordshire, GB
Big Game Taxidermy, Waterbuck.
This prepared big game trophy skull mount is of a Water Buck, it may not be antique but it is very impressive. The taxidermy ...
Category
1940s Ugandan Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Bone
Reliance Post War Lift Arm Chrome Pocket Benzine Lighter
Located in Van Nuys, CA
Post war lift arm chrome pocket benzine lighter by Reliance
Text on bottom of lighter: "Reliance Made in occupied Japan".
Category
1940s Japanese Mid-Century Modern Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Sterling Silver
Reclaimed Early 1940s WW2 42 in. Cast Iron Deck Cleat
Located in New York, NY
Whether displayed as a standalone decorative element or incorporated into a maritime-themed setting, this WW2 deck cleat becomes a unique focal point that captures the spirit of the ...
Category
1940s American Industrial Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Iron
Albert J. BEVERIDGE. The Life Of John Marshall. 4 vols IN A FINE LEATHER BINDING
Located in Hillsborough, NJ
AUTHOR: BEVERIDGE, Albert J.
TITLE: The Life Of John Marshall.
PUBLISHER: Boston: Little, Brown, and Company, 1916.
DESCRIPTION: 4 vol., 8-3/4" x 6-1/8", illustrated, bound in 3/4...
Category
1910s American Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Leather
Antique American Ship Model, circa 1910
Located in Norwell, MA
Antique ship model of an American warship. Scribed deck, cabins, hatches, companion way, etc. The model is rigged with full standing and running ri...
Category
1910s North American Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Wood
"Toby" Jug Still Bank and Biscuit Tin, circa 1910
Located in Incline Village, NV
This is both a still bank and a biscuit tin. It would originally have been sold, filled with biscuits. After all of the cookies would have been consumed, the tin (rather than been thrown away) would have been used as a bank to save money. There is a slot for deposits at the back of the neck at the top (see image). Coins would have been removed by lifting or twisting the snug fitting lid. Toby is nicely hand-painted in pleasing colors of green, blue, gold, and white, with realistic flesh tones to the hands and face. The total height is 6 1/2" while the total width is 6" (includes handle). Diameter at the base is 5".
This Toby figured tin was manufactured circa 1911 by the biscuit tin company of Hudson Scott located in Carlisle, England.
It is marked at the bottom "Hudson Scott & Sons Ltd. Carlisle, England."
It has crossover appeal into three categories of collectors. It would be a welcome addition to both the still bank collector and the biscuit tin collector...
Category
1910s English Folk Art Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Tin
Luc Lanel & Christofle for Compagnie Générale Transatlantique a Set of Six Cups
By Christofle
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Orfèvrerie Christofle for "Ile de France" 1949 Compagnie Générale Transatlantique Paquebot
A set of six silvered metal cups
Monogr...
Category
1940s French Art Deco Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Metal
Colonial Elegance and Exotic Charm: A Visual & Poetic Journey through 1910 Burma
Located in Langweer, NL
Title: Pictures from Lotus Land
Authors: Photographs by Mrs. Ernest Muriel (Frances Matilda Muriel); Verses described by R.C.J. Swinhoe (Rodway Charles John Swinhoe)
Publisher: Row...
Category
1910s Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Paper
Rene Lalique Amber Glass 'Serpent' Brooch
By René Lalique
Located in Chelmsford, Essex
Rene Lalique amber glass 'Serpent' brooch, inset into a brass mount. Features a coiled snake. The brass mount has a stamped makers mark, 'LALIQUE FRANCE'...
Category
1910s European Art Deco Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Glass
"Air Mail" Coin Bank, Rare, World War II-Era Metal Bank, British Art Deco
Located in Philadelphia, PA
This extremely rare example of World War II-era Art Deco/Moderne design, produced by the Chad Valley Company in England, served as a coin bank, with a slot on one side to accept coins by young men and women motivated to save their pennies. The painted metal bank...
Category
1940s British Art Deco Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Metal
Wall-Mounted Weather Station in Art Nouveau Style Carved Oak By Grand Bazar
Located in Verviers, BE
Wall-Mounted Weather Station in Art Nouveau Style Carved Oak By Grand Bazar 1910s Liege Belgium
High quality mechanism with jeweled movement barometer and thermometer (in centigrade...
Category
1910s Belgian Art Nouveau Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Oak
Windmill Wood Architectural Model
Located in Douglas Manor, NY
3-449 hand crafted wood architectural model of a windmill.
Detail of grinding stone on lower level and stairs to each level.
Missing 2 of the...
Category
1940s Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Softwood
Solid Brass Captains Telescope
Located in Norwell, MA
Ships spyglass telescope appropriate for use on a yacht, ship, or anywhere with a view. This has been meticulously polished and lacquered. We just restored a great collection of thes...
Category
1910s European Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Brass
Vintage Bavarian Wood Carving of the Infant Bacchus
Located in Vero Beach, FL
Vintage Bavarian wood carving of the infant bacchus
Oberammergau is a world-famous wood carver town in Bavaria, Germany. Nikolaus Lang, a known art...
Category
1910s German Renaissance Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Fruitwood
Teak and Brass Ships Binnacle by Kelvin White of New York
Located in Norwell, MA
Five brasses have been meticulously polished and lacquered. Warm Lighting has been installed inside. A lantern housing is fitted to the hood. Brass bolts a...
Category
1940s North American Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Brass
Raw Deal
Located in London, GB
Original US film poster for The 1948 Film Noir Raw Deal.
This film was directed by Anthony Mann and starred Dennis O'Keefe and Claire Trevor.
This poster is conservation linen backed...
Category
1940s American Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Paper
Zeiss German Jumelles World `War 2, 12 x 60 Binoculars. Exceptional Optics.
By ZEISS
Located in Canterbury, England
Zeiss German Jumelles WW2 12 x 60 Binoculars .
These Zeiss Binoculars were primarily used by Luftwaffe Flak Artillery ground crews for spotting and identifying enemy aircraft and directing the crew served Rangefinders, Searchlights and Flak Cannons of the Anti-Aircraft batteries based around many German and occupied ports, cities and industrial centres. Due to their superb optics they naturally also proved useful on the battlefield for tactical observation and from the outset of 1939 were used in many theatres of war by the German Army.
Presented here are a very high quality set of binoculars, manufactured by Zeiss bearing the marker of 'Jumelles 12 x 60' , indicating that they would have been made between 1942 and 1944 in occupied France. This set are unpolished in original dark grey with red stripe and are fitted to a polished cradle. They are fitted with adjustable and variable light shades (marked farbglasser) for use in all daytime and darker light conditions and have the later war style rain shield...
Category
1940s Other Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Aluminum
Antique Malloch Side Casting Fishing Reel, Scottish Salmon Fishing Reel
Located in Oxfordshire, GB
A rare sized (2.5') Malloch of Perth side casting fishing reel of fine quality and in excellent condition. The reel is all brass, with optional check, exc...
Category
1910s Scottish Sporting Art Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Brass
AUSTRIAN 1910-1915 Sculptural Enameled Racehorse With Jockey Desk Touch Striker
Located in Miami, FL
Austrian desk striker of a race horse with a jockey.
Fabulous art deco desk smoker's touch-tip striker, created in Vienna Austria during the Edwardian period, back in the 1915. The ...
Category
1910s Austrian Art Deco Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Enamel, Bronze, Spelter
JERRICAN Paris 1946 Licensed By Clodion Petrol-Can Pocket Lighter
Located in Miami, FL
Jerrican petrol pocket lighter.
This is a very unusual novelty Jerrican petrol pocket lighter created in Paris France and licensed by the brand of Clodion. The pocket lighter has be...
Category
1940s French Mid-Century Modern Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Brass, Zinc
Lil Abner Dogpatch Band Tin Litho Windup Unique Art Co.
By Unique Art Manufacturing Co.
Located in Highland, IN
This terrific wind-up toy is called "The Dog Patch 4" and features Lil' Abner and the gang playing music and dancing. Made in the mid-1940s by the Unique Art Manufacturing Company In...
Category
1940s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Steel
Edwardian Period Sterling Silver-Mounted Threaded Crystal Match Striker
By Salmon & Gluckstein Ltd
Located in New York, NY
Edwardian Period, sterling silver-mounted threaded crystal match striker, Birmingham, England, Ca. 1910 (year mark is rubbed), Salmon and Gluckstein, Ltd.- makers. Measures 2 1/2 inc...
Category
1910s English Edwardian Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Crystal, Sterling Silver
Antique English Onyx, Lapis Lazuli, Silver Gilt Table Vesta by George Betjemann
Located in Bath, GB
A very smart antique English table vesta beautifully executed from white onyx inlaid with Lapis Lazuli.
The fittings are made from silver-gilt (gold on sterling silver) by the top...
Category
1910s English Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Lapis Lazuli, Onyx, Sterling Silver
Monumental Parisian Bird Cage Mansion
Located in Staffordshire, GB
Circa 1920
Monumental Parisian bird cage mansion
Architectural bird house based on a famous Paris Brothel
Sourced in Belgium
Measures: W117 x D51 x H90 cm.
Category
1910s French Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Pine
"Lady Seated in Chair Reading" Money Box/ Still Bank by A. Biagioni, Circa 1925
Located in Incline Village, NV
Penny bank made by Italian Angelo Biagioni for the French market (see image with marking on the back of the chair), circa 1910. Biagioni, born in 1870, was a well known sculptor who crafted objects for resale to the European market. Money boxes (or still banks as they are called in America) were one of the more unique and more difficult items to find by this artist as most objects were basic uni-dimensional sculptered pieces. What makes it more rare is the unfortunate requirement to break and smash the bank open to get the coins out, as there was no mechanism to remove the money. The subject matter of the bank is that of a nicely dressed older lady seated in a chair reading a book.
The bank is in all original condition and paint with no restoration or touch-up of any kind.
This is a nice addition to any bank or toy collection, or simply to have as a "stand alone" unique item.
Dimensions : 4 1/4" deep x 3 3/8" wide x 8 5/8" high.
Note: After 40 plus years of dealing and collecting toys and banks, I am justly qualified to guarantee and present the authenticity of antique and vintage still banks...
Category
1910s French Folk Art Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Pottery
MALORY, (Arthur Rackham). The Romance Of King Arthur - SIGNED LIMITED EDITION
Located in Hillsborough, NJ
AUTHOR: MALORY, Thomas, (Arthur Rackham).
TITLE: The Romance Of King Arthur And His Knights Of The Round Table.
PUBLISHER: London: Macmillan and Co., Ltd., 1917.
DESCRIPTION: SIG...
Category
1910s British Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Leather
Walt Disney Presents the World's Greatest Shorts
Located in London, GB
This rare original British animation poster was designed to advertise Walt Disney shorts. In England posters were not produced for every short cartoon, ...
Category
1940s English Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Paper
Large Gilt Bronze Feuille Box by Line Vautrin
By Line Vautrin
Located in Atlanta, GA
A large cast bronze powder box (poudrier) by French Parisian art jeweler Line Vautrin (1913-1997) circa 1945-1950. The box called "Feuille" (Leaf) features an irregular leaf form wit...
Category
1940s French Mid-Century Modern Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Bronze
Huge Red Coral Necklace
Located in Madrid, ES
Huge Red Coral Necklace
Huge polished red coral beads complete this fascinating 67cm long necklace. The largest red coral bead is: 35 x 34 mm .436 grams in weight
Category
1940s Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Coral
"Lady and Baby by The Wishing Well" Still Bank, German, circa 1910
Located in Incline Village, NV
Very interesting wooden still bank with lots going on. All hand-carved of wood with four small circular risers elevating the base. There is a water pump with a bucket hanging from it and a metal pumper attached to the top. A hand-carved and painted brown pine tree is attached at the opposite corner with a large water well to the other corner. A lady with outstretched arms and a "King Cole" type headdress seems to be reaching out to her baby dressed in green who is lying down on top of the well, next to the coin slot. Perhaps she is about to bathe her. A bird looks on from atop the perch protruding from the pump. Dominant hand painted colors are different shades of brown and all original with no repaint. Very nice all original paint and condition with a small chip missing here and there to this handmade, kind of "folksy", and very well done bank (see images). A round circular key lock trap for releasing the coins is on the underneath, along with "Wishing Well German" handwritten on the opposite corner (see image). Whether written by an earlier collector or maker is not known.
Dimensions: 4" square x 3 5/8" high.
A unique one of a kind piece to add to a collection of still banks and a nice addition to a Folk Art collection (from my own collection).
I am a leading specialist in the field of antique coin...
Category
1910s German Folk Art Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Wood
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
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