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Collectibles and Curiosities For Sale
Style: Victorian
Style: Eastlake
Antique English Brass reception bell 19th Century
Located in Chonburi, TH
Antique English Bronze reception bell with original patina. The bell still works great!
Category
19th Century English Late Victorian Antique Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Bronze
ANTiQUE CIR 1880 J LEBEGUE & CIE PARIS TERRESTRIAL LITHOGRAPH GLOBE CAST IRON
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
Royal House Antiques
Royal House Antiques is delighted to offer for sale this absolutely exquisite original Circa 1860-1880 Globe Terrestre by J Lebegue & Cie on an ornately cast sw...
Category
1880s European Victorian Antique Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Iron
A Rare 1859 Elkington Silvered Bronze Victorian "Trophy" Centerpiece
Located in New York, NY
A Rare and Historic 1859 Elkington Silvered Bronze Victorian Centerpiece with Cut-Glass Bowl.
Presenting a magnificent Victorian silvered bronze centerpiece of unmatched rarity and importance, crafted by the renowned Elkington Mason & Co., Birmingham, in 1859. This exceptional work, complete with its original cut-glass bowl, epitomizes 19th-century British craftsmanship and artistry. Hallmarked to the base, this centerpiece showcases intricate sculptural details, embodying a high level of technical prowess and aesthetic refinement characteristic of Elkington's celebrated works.
The centerpiece's striking design features three meticulously rendered figures—a young hunter, a friar, and a fishmonger—each embodying elements of Victorian life and industry. At their feet, a loyal spaniel and various game highlight the naturalistic approach to the composition, enhanced by the masterful chasing and dynamic form. This sculptural ensemble rests on an elaborately decorated base, exuding both grandeur and narrative depth.
Adding profound historical value are two engraved plaques. The first, dated “January 28, 1859,” reads: “Presented to William Johnson Esq. as a token of respect & esteem by the workpeople in the employ of Messrs Richard Johnson & Brother, Manchester.” The second, an inscription from 1941, states: “Worshipful Company of Tin Plate Workers, Alias Wire Workers of the City of London, Presented by Arthur Laurence Johnson M.A., Grandson of William Johnson, both Wire Workers, with his Daughter Eleanor Morton Johnson, a Freeman of the Company, to commemorate his Mastership 1941-42.”
These inscriptions chart a rich lineage, connecting the Johnson family to pivotal moments in industrial history. William Johnson, alongside his brother Richard, assumed leadership of a wire-drawing firm in 1838, which would later become Richard Johnson & Nephew Ltd. Their contributions included providing galvanized armored wire for the historic 1857 transatlantic telegraph cable...
Category
19th Century British Victorian Antique Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Metal, Bronze
Toulouse Lautrec, French Book by Gerard Durozoi, 1992
Located in Atlanta, GA
Toulouse-Lautrec, French book by Gerard Dorozoi, 1992.
Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec (1864 - 1901) is almost unique among artists because he became as famous for his appearance and perso...
Category
1990s French Victorian Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Paper
Hand Carved Coquille Nut Egg Box 19th Century Flea Trap Pomander Needle Case
Located in Nuernberg, DE
A beautiful hand carved coquille nut egg box. Beautiful carving, great patina, unscrews at center to open.
The original use was a flea trap, things were d...
Category
1880s English Victorian Antique Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Wood
19th Century Victorian Freight Carriage with Oak Top, circa.1880
Located in Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent
Antique 19th century Victorian freight truck used to transport feed to local dairies, this metal carriage has a solid oak top, original wheels and tilt lever, later sign written for ...
Category
19th Century British Victorian Antique Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Metal
Antique Mirrored Display Dome, English, Exhibition Taxidermy Showcase, Victorian
Located in Hele, Devon, GB
This is an antique mirrored display dome. An English, glass and giltwood exhibition cake or taxidermy showcase, dating to the late Victorian period, cir...
Category
Late 19th Century British Late Victorian Antique Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Glass
Circa 1900 or Earlier Anglo-European Ship's Wheel
Located in Chapel Hill, NC
Circa 1900 or earlier antique ship's wheel, Anglo-European. Teak, iron & brass. Marked by hand: BK 100. Brass plaque on spoke appears to be a later addition: Electr. Model Makerij & ...
Category
Early 1900s English Victorian Antique Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Brass, Iron
Vintage Victorian Wicker Fisherman's Basket Creel
Located in Godshill, Isle of Wight
A vintage Victorian wicker fishing creel
An attractive age darkened wicker square fishing creel, the creel stands on stumpy wooden legs and...
Category
Late 19th Century Victorian Antique Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Wicker
Antique Book, The Pilgrim's Progress, John Bunyan, English, Novel, Victorian
Located in Hele, Devon, GB
This is an antique book 'The Pilgrim's Progress' by John Bunyan. An English, bound and illustrated novel, dating to the Victorian period, circa 1860.
A Christian allegory - and never out of print - The Pilgrim's Progress was written in the 17th century and is considered as the first novel written in English. Initially written when John Bunyan (1628 - 1688) was in prison for holding mass outside of the Church of England's purview, it was finished in two volumes and later translated into over 200 languages, including Dutch, German and Swedish.
Victorian period reprint of the original 17th century volumes
Displaying a desirable aged patina and in lightly time-worn, intact order
Tastefully bound in dark green Morocco with gilt lettering and textured fore edge...
Category
Mid-19th Century British Victorian Antique Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Paper
1800s Carved Drapery Trompe l'oeil Panel Wall Relief Sculpture Memento Mori
Located in Hyattsville, MD
Late 19th century decorative wood panel, hand carved curtain relief.
Category
1890s American Late Victorian Antique Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Oak
3 Antique Badminton Library Books, English, Boating, Driving, Cricket, Victorian
Located in Hele, Devon, GB
This is a set of 3 antique Badminton Library Books. An English language, hard bound reference title on sporting topics, dating to the late Victorian ...
Category
Late 19th Century British Late Victorian Antique Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Paper
Tall Antique Taxidermy Specimen Dome, English, Glass Display Showcase, Victorian
Located in Hele, Devon, GB
This is a tall antique taxidermy specimen dome. An English, glass and ebonised base display showcase, dating to the late Victorian period, circa 1880.
Appealing example, with a use...
Category
Late 19th Century British Late Victorian Antique Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Glass, Wood
Stirrup Cup 19thc English Staffordshire Creamware Hound's Head
Located in Savannah, GA
This charming fellow is an English porcelain stirrup cup in the form of a hound's head. He is very detailed including naturalistically modelled fea...
Category
1830s British Early Victorian Antique Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Porcelain
Large Antique Mid 19th Century Mahogany Magnifying Glass
Located in Bishop's Stortford, GB
A rare Large Victorian Magnifying or Looking Glass, Made from Mahogany Wood all in origianal condition.
Known as a gallery glass it allows gentle magnification of items from variable...
Category
Mid-19th Century British Victorian Antique Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Mahogany
Early 20th Century English Gold And Sterling Silver Vesta Case/Keepsake
Located in Guaynabo, PR
This is an Early 20th Century English Gold and Sterling Silver Vesta Case/ Keepsake Pendant. It depicts a rectangular hinged small box engraved with long scrolls of acanthus leaves a...
Category
Early 20th Century English Victorian Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Gold, Sterling Silver
Early 20th c. Silver Equestrian Fox Boots Pulls-Made in England c.1920
Located in San Francisco, CA
ABOUT
A pair of silver fox handled equestrian boot pulls mounted on silver hooks. Stamped "Made in England" on each piece.
CREATOR William Hutton & Sons, Sheffield, England.
...
Category
Early 20th Century British Victorian Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Silver
Billiard Snooker or Life Pool Scoring Board London
By Cox & Yeman
Located in Radstock, GB
A beautiful mahogany framed scoring cabinet by Cox & Yeman circa 1890, featuring hand painted sliding panels ,revolving numbers and a central slate panel....
Category
1890s English Late Victorian Antique Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Mahogany
Huge 19th Century Moose Mount
Located in Lymington, GB
A huge, 19th century taxidermy moose mount, on its original wooden shield.
The moose is in excellent condition and has been professionally and sympathetically restored.
The moose has...
Category
Late 19th Century English Victorian Antique Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Animal Skin
Miniature Cast Bronze Grand Tour Architectural Model and Desk Thermometer
Located in Hamilton, Ontario
This miniature cast bronze architectural desk thermometer sculpture of a European monument dates to the 19th century to commemorate one of the Grand T...
Category
Mid-19th Century French Victorian Antique Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Bronze
Richard Grant White, Mr. William Shakespeare's Comedies, Histories, Tragedies
Located in Bridgeport, CT
Houghton, Mifflin & Co., Boston & New York, The Riverside Shakespeare. Complete 6 vol. edition. Tan leather with burgundy and gilt spines and marbled and leather boards. Marbled end ...
Category
19th Century American Victorian Antique Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Leather, Paper
ANTIQUE ViCTORIAN STAUNTON CHESS SET IN HARDWOOD BOX WALNUT HARDWOOD CHESSBOARD
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
Royal House Antiques
Royal House Antiques is delighted to offer for sale this absolutely stunning Victorian 1880 Chessboard set complete with chess pieces, boxed checkers pieces, br...
Category
Early 1900s English Victorian Antique Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Hardwood, Walnut, Oak
Victorian "9-Spot" Dominoe Game 55 Piece Set in Jointed Hardwood Box, 19th C.
Located in Lincoln, Lincolnshire
This is a rare and original '9 Spot' Dominoe game of 55 individual dominoes, coming complete with its jointed wooden box or case.
Dominoe sets are normally six-spot sets giving a to...
Category
Late 19th Century English Late Victorian Antique Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Bone, Wood
Collection of Three Antique Scottish Carpet Rug Balls, Late 19th Century
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
Set of three scottish stoneware carpet rug balls.
Carpet balls in reds and green. A storied game dating back Centuries, Carpet Ball is similar to Bocci...
Category
Late 19th Century Scottish Victorian Antique Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Stoneware
Antique Box Field Camera and Tripod, English, Accessories, Ornamental, Victorian
Located in Hele, Devon, GB
This is an antique Field Camera and tripod. An English, mahogany and brass plate camera with accessories and lens, dating to the late Victorian p...
Category
Late 19th Century British Late Victorian Antique Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Brass
Hand Carved Coquille Nut Egg Box 19th Century Flea Trap Pomander Needle Case
Located in Nuernberg, DE
A beautiful hand carved coquille nut egg box. Beautiful carving, great patina, unscrews at center to open.
The original use was a flea trap, things were d...
Category
1880s English Victorian Antique Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Wood
Jaques London Victorian Faux Book Chessboard Staunton Pieces & Hardwood Clock
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
We are delighted to offer for sale this stunning original Victorian Antique Jaques of London faux leather folding book chessboard with the original Staunton Chess set dating to circa 1880, a travel chess set in the form of checkers pieces and lastly a Jacques of London Rosewood Chess clock...
Category
1880s English High Victorian Antique Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Leather, Hardwood, Boxwood
Large Antique Carriage Clock Dome, English, Glass, Display, Showcase, Victorian
Located in Hele, Devon, GB
Our Stock # 24378
This is a large antique carriage clock dome. An English, glass and oak display showcase, dating to the Victorian period, cir...
Category
Late 19th Century British Victorian Antique Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Glass, Oak
Early American Cast Iron and Maple Bible / Dictionary Stand Adjustable
Located in Germantown, MD
Early American Adjustable Cast Iron and Maple Bible / Dictionary Stand. Measures 16" in width, 16" in depth and stands 40" tall. (Highest height)
Category
19th Century American Victorian Antique Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Iron
Vintage Oversized New York City Lower Manhattan 1840s Map Print
Located in Dayton, OH
Vintage late 20th century reproduction print of New York City featuring lower Manhattan in 1840.
Category
Late 20th Century Victorian Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Paper
Antique Set Imperial Russian Silver Gilt Cloisonne Spoons Feodosii Pekin Moscow
By Feodosii Ivanovich Pekin
Located in Portland, OR
A very good set of five antique Imperial Russian silver-gilt & cloisonne spoons, Moscow, circa 1899.
The spoons having silver-gilt to the interior of ...
Category
1890s Russian Late Victorian Antique Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Silver, Enamel
Antique billiard snooker pool table in stock inlaid marquetry
By Cox & Yeman
Located in Radstock, GB
A fabulous full size 12ft x 6ft mahogany and ebony marquetry billiard table, English circa 1875.
The side frame is embellished with decorative marquetry roundels and flowing symmetrical fauna of Boxwood and Amboyna, the cushions sides follow this repeating marquetry pattern on a smaller scale with further ebony roundels.
The bold gadrooned legs are complimented with scroll brackets and fitted with a vine leaf marquetry motif within a diamond of walnut and Amboyna.
Made by Cox & Yeman of London.
The table has been tastefully restored by hand with English handmade cotton nets, cushion rubbers, leathers and cloth.
Mr Henry Cox and Mr Edward Yeman joined forces at some time in the 1850s to form their own billiard table company, It would appear that Mr Cox was already building tables but needed the expertise of Mr Yeman and his sister who were trained by Burroughes and Watts stuffing cushions and making Holland covers respectively.
By 1864 they were fully fledged manufacturers of billiard tables and supplied specially made competition tables for the 1866 Oxford vs Cambridge match, Dufton’s ‘Great Handicap’ and the hotly contested Roberts and Cook championships. By 1873 the company was located at 184 Brompton Road and listed over fifty titled gentleman as customers including: The Duke of Richmond, The Duke of Wellington, the Earl of Jersey, the Nwab Nizam of Bengal, H.M. the King of Siam...
Category
19th Century English Late Victorian Antique Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Boxwood, Ebony, Mahogany, Amboyna
19th C. English Carved Mahogany Jewelry Box in the Form of a Miniature Dresser
Located in New Orleans, LA
A very unusual and handsome English carved mahogany Gentlemens jewelry box in the form of a miniature dresser, the upper section with an upward slidi...
Category
1870s English Late Victorian Antique Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Brass
Victorian Rose Cut Garnets Bohemian Bangle Bracelet 19th Century
Located in Wommelgem, VAN
Collectors item an antique Bohemian garnets bangel bracelet.
Daisy cluster and in its original case.
With loads of hand rose cut garnets, none is missing
The rose cut creates glitter...
Category
19th Century European Victorian Antique Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Multi-gemstone, Silver
Antique Treasure Island Book, Robert Louis Stevenson, English, Late Victorian
Located in Hele, Devon, GB
This is an antique copy of Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson. An English, professionally bound literary classic, dating to the Victorian period, circa 1895 and later.
Origin...
Category
1890s British Late Victorian Antique Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Paper
Exquisite Wall-Mounted Indian Blue Peacock Taxidermy: Feathers in Full Splendor
Located in New York, NY
Indian Blue Peacock taxidermy, showcasing this magnificent bird in all its glory, with its resplendent feathers artfully fanned to captivate onlookers. Elevate your décor with this i...
Category
20th Century American Victorian Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Feathers, Wood
Victorian Bronze Imperial Standard Bushel Measure
Located in Essex, MA
Impressively large bushel measure for the County Of Gloucester, England. Inscribed
"Imperial Standard Bushel". "County Of Gloucester". Made by Bate of London. Dated 1853 and 1834. ...
Category
1850s English Victorian Antique Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Bronze
American Victorian Scale and Height Measure
Located in Queens, NY
American Victorian standing scale with mahogany center post and brass weight and height measure with platform base on wheels (signed FAIRBANKS)
Category
Late 19th Century American Victorian Antique Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Brass
Taxidermy Melanistic Mutant Pheasant
Located in New York, NY
This taxidermy specimen of a pure-breed melanistic mutant pheasant showcases the stunning beauty of its iridescent greenish-black plumage. Known for their remarkable ability to survi...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary American Victorian Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Feathers
Silvered Sea Shell Strombus Pugilis
Located in New York, NY
Strombus pugilis fully silvered shell. Creel and Gow has been working with the same atelier in Rome, Italy for over 20 years to make our signature silvered shells. Our workshop has b...
Category
2010s Italian Victorian Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Sterling Silver
19th Century Anthropomorphic Taxidermy Boxing Squirrels by Edward Hart
Located in Lowestoft, GB
A very rare anthropomorphic taxidermy scene of two red squirrels boxing, housed in its original pine and glazed case with hand painted backdrop.
The...
Category
Late 19th Century English Victorian Antique Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Natural Fiber, Glass, Pine
English Victorian Inlaid Music Box
Located in Queens, NY
English Victorian rectangular inlaid music box.
Category
Late 19th Century British Victorian Antique Collectibles and Curiosities
Antique Novel, A Legend of Montrose, Sir Walter Scott, English, Victorian Book
Located in Hele, Devon, GB
This is an antique novel, A Legend of Montrose by Sir Walter Scott. An English, bound book of Scottish interest, dating to the Victorian period, published 1896.
A prominent Scottish author, Sir Walter Scott (1771 - 1832) is well known for the novels Rob Roy, Ivanhoe and The Heart of Midlothian, as well as narrative poems including The Lady of the Lake. A Legend of Montrose is set in 17th century...
Category
Late 19th Century British Victorian Antique Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Paper
Small Antique Opera Monocular, German, Brass, Leather, Viewing Scope, Victorian
Located in Hele, Devon, GB
This is a small antique opera monocular. A German, brass and leather cased viewing scope, dating to the late Victorian period, circa 1900.
Charming and petite, with a useful origina...
Category
20th Century German Victorian Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Brass
19thc English Walnut Table Top Retractable Book Lectern
Located in Savannah, GA
This unusual retractable lectern or book stand is a must for the well appointed library or even for cookbooks in your kitchen. Featuring intricately carved walnut with nine notches f...
Category
Late 19th Century English Late Victorian Antique Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Walnut
Rare Victorian Firescreen with Taxidermy Hummingbirds by Henry Ward
By Henry Ward
Located in Amsterdam, NL
England, third quarter of the 19th century
On two scrolling foliate feet with casters, above which a rectangular two-side glazed frame, with on top a two-sided shield with initial...
Category
Mid-19th Century English High Victorian Antique Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Other
Giant Victorian Taxidermy Loggerhead Sea Turtle
Located in Amsterdam, NL
An extremely rare giant Victorian taxidermy Loggerhead sea turtle
England, 19th century
The extremely large animal with a nice patina, with some parts professionally restored and...
Category
19th Century British Victorian Antique Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Tortoise Shell, Animal Skin, Epoxy Resin, Paint
Egyptian Revival Beetle Brooch, circa 1900
Located in Van Nuys, CA
Sterling silver brooch with real beetle bug shell.
Measures: 1 1/2" long x 1/2" wide.
Category
Early 1900s American Late Victorian Antique Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Silver
4 Vols Antique Folio, Imperial Gallery of British Art, Engravings, Victorian
Located in Hele, Devon, GB
This is 4 antique volumes of The Imperial Gallery of British Art. An English, illustrated folio of steel engravings, dating to the Victorian period, published by Cassell & Company in...
Category
Late 19th Century European Victorian Antique Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Paper
Pair of Victorian Cabinets with Taxidermy Quetzal by Henry Ward
By Henry Ward
Located in Amsterdam, NL
A pair of extremely rare Victorian display cabinets with taxidermy resplendent quetzal (PHAROMACHRUS MOCINNO), cotinga and hummingbirds, attribute...
Category
Early 19th Century English High Victorian Antique Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Other
19th c. Bock-Steger Anatomical Brain Model, Germany
Located in San Francisco, CA
ABOUT
A hand crafted and painted plaster anatomical model of the human brain. Franz Josef Steger and pathological anatomist Carl Ernst Bock collaborated a...
Category
19th Century German Victorian Antique Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Plaster
Large Antique Taxidermy Dome, English, Display Showcase, Late Victorian, C.1880
Located in Hele, Devon, GB
This is an antique taxidermy dome. An English, glass collectible display showcase, dating to the late Victorian period, circa 1880.
Quality and generously sized display dome
Display...
Category
Late 19th Century British Late Victorian Antique Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Glass
English Victorian Blue & Brass Telescope
Located in Queens, NY
English Victorian brass and blue telescope on adjustable mahogany tripod base.
Category
19th Century English Victorian Antique Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Brass
ViNTAGE ENGLISH HARDWOOD WALL MOUNTER SNOOKER POOL BILLIARDS CUE HOLDERS
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
Royal House Antiques
Royal House Antiques is delighted to offer for sale this lovely Vintage Mahogany snooker or pool cue wall mounted holder
Please note the delivery fee listed i...
Category
20th Century English Victorian Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Hardwood
Antique Novel, The Snow Ship, Percy St John, English, Fiction, Victorian, C.1880
Located in Hele, Devon, GB
This is an antique novel The Snow Ship by Percy St. John. An English language fiction book with secondary title Merchant of Yakoutsk, dating to the Vict...
Category
Late 19th Century British Victorian Antique Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Paper
19th Century Circa 1860 Victorian Miniature English White Terrier Taxidermy
Located in Lowestoft, GB
A very rare Victorian taxidermy dog, often scaled down by the best naturalist of the period. Also could be the extinct English White Terrier circa 1860
...
Category
Mid-19th Century English Victorian Antique Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Natural Fiber, Glass, Pine
Life on the Mississippi by Mark Twain, First UK Edition, Original Boards, 1883
By Mark Twain
Located in Colorado Springs, CO
Twain, Mark. Life on the Mississippi. With over 300 illustrations. London: Chatto & Windus, 1883. First UK Edition. 8vo. Original red pictorial cloth boards, embossed in black and le...
Category
1880s English High Victorian Antique Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Fabric, Paper
19th Century English Polychrome Carved Ship Figurehead of Lord Nelson
Located in Queens, NY
19th century English carved wooden polychrome large ship figurehead of Lord Nelson.
Category
19th Century English Victorian Antique Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Wood, Paint
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.