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Collectibles and Curiosities For Sale
Style: Neoclassical
Style: Georgian
Sundial with Compass and Case, Bronze, Bion, Nicholas, Paris, 18th Century
By Nicholas Bion
Located in Madrid, ES
Sundial with compass and case. Bronze. BION, Nicholas. Paris, 18th century. Polygonal sundial with a bird-shaped gnomon and engraved triangular piece, which presents, on one side, ...
Category

18th Century French Neoclassical Antique Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Bronze, Other

Antique English Nine Karat Yellow Gold Football or Soccer Medals & Two Plated
Located in Hamilton, Ontario
This group of antique English football medals are sugned by an unknown maker, and date to approximately 1914 and done in the period Georgie V style. The three larger medals are each ...
Category

Early 20th Century English Georgian Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Gold

Mirror with angel heads. Carved and polychrome pine wood. Spanish school, 18th c
Located in Madrid, ES
Mirror with angel heads. Carved and polychrome pine wood. Spanish school, 18th century. Rectangular panel of carved, polychrome and gilded pinto wood that presents two ovals framed ...
Category

18th Century Spanish Neoclassical Antique Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Other

Framed Race Horse Champions Original Chromolithographs Printed in 1882, Set /3
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A set of three framed original Race Horse Chromolithographs originally published in the “Illustrated Stock Doctor and Livestock Encyclopedia” in 1882. In hand-painted wood frames secured with small nails, with metal hanging rings. Captioned as follows: “Black’s Hambletonian” One of the finest and best blooded trotting stallions of the day. Property of S. Baxter Black, Compassville, Pa. Cost when a weanling colt $3500. Sired by “Rysdyk’s Hambletonion”; dam “Long Island Black Hawk” “Maud S." The Queen of the Turf. Record 2.10 1/4. The fastest trotter the world has yet known. Owned by William H. Vanderbilt Esq. who has refused a cash offer of $100.000 for her. Foaled at Woodburn Farm, Ky. March 28, 1874. Trainer and driver W.W. Bair. “Iroquois” Winner of the Derby. (Epsom Derby...
Category

Late 19th Century American American Classical Antique Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Wood, Paper

19th Century Carved Giltwood Reliquary
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Finely carved and detailed with a mix of silver and gold leaf together. Overall width is 18.5" Dated and signed on back side.
Category

19th Century Austrian Neoclassical Antique Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Giltwood

Georgian Pearlware Treaty of Paris Commemorative Pottery Jug 1814
Located in Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire
A rare Georgian pearlware pottery jug commemorating the Treaty of Paris on 30th May, 1814. The Treaty of Paris ended the Napoleonic wars between France and Great Britain, Russia, A...
Category

1810s English George III Antique Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Pearlware

Sadler and Green Creamware Large Masonic Black Printed Jug
By Sadler and Green
Located in Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire
A rare large creamware pottery jug Masonic printed with the London arms of the Antients or the Athol Grand Lodge attributed to Sadler and Green and datin...
Category

1790s English George III Antique Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Creamware

Compass with Pocket Sundial, with Case, Bronze, Butterfield, Michael '1635-1724'
Located in Madrid, ES
Compass with pocket sundial, with case. Bronze. BUTTERFIELD, Michael (1635-1724). Paris, circa 1700. Pocket sundial made of engraved metal, with a gno...
Category

Early 18th Century French Neoclassical Antique Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Metal, Bronze, Other

17th Century Tripod Apothecary Skillet Dated 1698 from The Ward Rvmens Family
Located in Brussels, Brussels
17th century tripod apothecary skillet dated 1698 by Ward Rymens. The skillet is in superb condition and has had a restoration on one of the feet. bronze with a very beautiful patina.
Category

17th Century British Georgian Antique Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Bronze

Fine Antique Brass Clad Mahogany Ship’s Wheel
Located in Bridgeport, CT
An antique solid mahogany Ship’s Wheel with good size and weight. The axle has an iron core and polished brass front cap and both sides of the whee...
Category

19th Century Georgian Antique Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Brass

The Well-lived Life: One Hundred Years of House & Garden
Located in North Hollywood, CA
The Well-lived Life: One Hundred Years of House & Garden by Dominique Browning. Assouline Publishing, Inc. 2008. Large hardcover coffee table book. Size: 12 1/8" x 9 1/2" x 1" 1/4. House & Home - 238 pages. Few magazines can lay claim to a century of history or to having published work by some extraordinary and distinguished photographers and writers as House & Garden. Now, straight from the pages of this well-loved periodical, The Well-Lived Life presents a lavish chronicle of a country and a culture coming into its own, documenting America's continuing education in matters of house, home and garden over the course of the 20th century. Selecting high points from the magazine, this book surveys the growing confidence and imagination reflected in American interiors and entertaining over the last century -the dinners, picnics and parties of a country dedicated to welcoming others- and the changing definition of home. It also illuminates the joys -sedentary or sporting- Americans have always found in the out-of-doors. The Well-Lived Life surveys the landscape of our lawns and gardens...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary American American Classical Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Paper

19th Century French Turned Wood Crucifix with Porcelain Bisque Figure of Christ
Located in Dublin, Dalkey
19th century French turned wood crucifix with a porcelain bisque figure of Christ and coordinating cream details. The cream carved wood finials on t...
Category

19th Century French Neoclassical Antique Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Porcelain, Wood

Large Carnelian-plated Obelisk by Maison Jansen, France 1970
Located in Brussels, BE
Large brass mounted and carnelian-plated obelisk. In the style of Emilio Terry. By Maison Jansen, France 1970.
Category

1970s French Neoclassical Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Carnelian, Brass

Antique George III Quality Mahogany Banjo Barometer
Located in Suffolk, GB
Antique George III quality mahogany banjo barometer having a quality mahogany shaped case with a swan neck pediment and satinwood stringing, circular silvered engraved dial with orig...
Category

Early 1800s English George III Antique Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Mahogany

Rare Antique English Long Brass and Wood Billiard/Snooker Table Level
Located in Bridgeport, CT
By I. & D. Smallwood Makers Birmingham, major makers for these levels. The long rosewood implement with brass attachments. With both inches, foot and millimeter measurements. Missing...
Category

19th Century English Georgian Antique Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Brass

Antique George III Period Square Piano by Beck
Located in London, GB
Antique George III period square piano by Beck English, 1788 Height 81cm, width 148cm, depth 52cm This elegant instrument is a square piano, a type popul...
Category

Late 18th Century English George III Antique Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Wood

J. Stobart Lithograph "Mystic Seaport. "The Charles L. Morgan" at Chubb's Wharf
Located in Bridgeport, CT
Marked mystic seaport Member's Edition #136/736 on the frame's plaque. Celebrating the 150th anniversary of the ship. Includes a framed swatch of the sh...
Category

20th Century American Classical Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Wood

Antique Bronze Diana of Gabii Sculpture Made & Marked F. Barbedienne & L. Collas
By F. Barbedienne Foundry, A. Collas Brevete
Located in Lisse, NL
Stunning antique bronze of the goddess of hunting, of women and of the moon. She also is a great talking piece. The original Diana of Gabii is a lifesize marble statue...
Category

Mid-19th Century French Neoclassical Antique Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Bronze

Antique George III Quality Mahogany Banjo Barometer
Located in Suffolk, GB
Antique George III quality mahogany banjo barometer having a swan neck pediment, original thermometer and an engraved circular silvered dial with original hands and brass bezel, qual...
Category

1780s English George III Antique Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Mahogany

Georgian Yew Wood Miniature Chest of Drawers
Located in Bedfordshire, GB
A charming and rare 18th century Georgian yew wood miniature chest having four long drawers with original brass knobs raised on original shaped bracket feet. (There is often debate as to whether miniature furniture was made as an apprentice piece, which is when a craftsmen who is looking for a job at a workshop would create something to showcase their talents, or whether it was made as a travelling salesman's sample piece, which is when a few articles were made as scale models in advance of a road trip during which a salesman would travel the country showing prospective clients the kind of items they could produce back at the workshop and take orders from. This particular example doesn't really appear to quite fit either of those briefs however and may well have just been made as an individual, one off piece in a provincial workshop. One of the reasons for this is the construction from solid yewwood which is a rarely used material in items any larger than this as the trunks generally don't grow large enough. The overall quality is  excellent and clearly somebody has spent many, many hours  producing this wonderful piece. A really quite charming piece of antique miniature furniture...
Category

Mid-18th Century English Georgian Antique Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Yew

19th Century Silver and Gold Monstrance with Travel Case
Located in Ross, CA
A silver and gold monstrance with travel case (c. 1890). Also known as an ostensorium, this vessel was used as a reliquary for display in the private r...
Category

Late 19th Century French Neoclassical Antique Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Gold Plate, Silver, Bronze

1864 U.S. Coast Survey of the Potomac River, from Indian Head to Georgetown
Located in Bridgeport, CT
An antique nautical map with hand-painted color accents entitled "Potomac River (in four sheets): Sheet no. 4, from Indian Head to Georgetown". Created b...
Category

19th Century American Classical Antique Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Paper

New Shipment Of Assorted Leather Bound Books, Priced Per Book. English
Located in Buchanan, MI
Collection of assorted leather bound books. Please note these are priced per book and we have a very large inventory of leather bound books, mostly decorative and in other languages....
Category

Late 19th Century North American Georgian Antique Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Leather, Paper

English Pearlware Pottery Miniature Cottage Moneybox
Located in Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire
A charming and rare antique English, probably Yorkshire, pearlware pottery miniature cottage moneybox dating from the early 19th century. The small cottage stands raised on a stepped...
Category

Early 19th Century English George III Antique Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Pottery

Pair of Hollywood Regency Neoclassical Style Brass Obelisks
Located in Houston, TX
Great pair of Hollywood Regency brass obelisks. These beautiful midcentury neoclassical style brass obelisks have a naturally occurring patina that could be polished if desired. Perf...
Category

1970s Neoclassical Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Brass

Georgian Rare Pair Treacle Glazed Stoneware Cottage Money Boxes
Located in Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire
A rare and large pair Georgian English treacle glazed stoneware cottage money boxes dating from the early 19th century. The large cottage money boxes ar...
Category

Early 19th Century English George III Antique Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Stoneware

Texas a Salute from Above Fehrenbach, T. R 1985
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Texas a Salute from Above Fehrenbach, T. R 1985. Title: Texas: A salute from above Publisher: Brand: Texas Books, World Pub. Services, Inc. Publication Date: 1st Edition 1985 Language ? : ? English Hardcover ? : ? 280 pages Binding: Hardcover large coffee table book. A birds-eye view of the vast state of Texas: Mountains, cities, stadiums, plains, etc. in full color with text by T.R. Fehrenbach. Look with new eyes upon Texas. Its sweeping diversity is seen from another perspective--the view from above. Texas Books, 1985. First Ed.. Hardcover. History; Texas; The Trans-Pecos Region, The Panhandle, West, North, Central and East Texas...
Category

Late 20th Century American Classical Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Paper

Sundial and Compass with Case, Schrettegger, Johan, Augsburg, Germany, Ca 1800
Located in Madrid, ES
Sundial and compass with case. Bronze. SCHRETTEGGER, Johan. Augsburg, Germany, around 1800. Sundial with a polygonal shape made of bronze, engraved with plant elements on the front,...
Category

Late 18th Century German Neoclassical Antique Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Bronze, Other

Georgian Mahogany Miniature Chest
Located in Bedfordshire, GB
A Good Quality And Charming Early 19th Century Mahogany Miniature Chest, Having Well Figured Top Over Three Long Drawers With Original Brass Knobs And Boxwood Inlaid Escutcheons, Over Elegant Shaped Apron With Original Splayed Bracket Feet.  There is regular debate over whether miniature furniture was made as an apprentice piece, which is when a craftsmen who was looking for a job at a workshop would create something to showcase their talents. Or whether it was made as a travelling salesmans sample piece, which is when a few items were produced as scale models but a well established workshop as a form of physical catalogue in advance of a travelling salesman’s road trip around the country, for him to use to try and fill his order book with full size counterparts. We believe that this particular little Georgian Miniature Chest was probably made as an apprentice piece, due to the relative simplicity of it, combined with the exceptional execution, which maybe suggests that somebody was very much trying to impress somebody else. It is also slightly unusual in form, which again suggests it was made more as a one off item with a specific purpose, as opposed to a scale model of other items. It is certainly a charming piece of antique miniature furniture...
Category

Early 19th Century English Georgian Antique Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Mahogany

Antique 1798 James Colnett A Voyage to the South Atlantic & Round Cape Hope Book
Located in Hamilton, Ontario
This antique book titled "A Voyage to the South Atlantic and Round Cape Horn into the Pacific Ocean", and authored by W. Bennett, on the work of James Colnet...
Category

Late 18th Century English Georgian Antique Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Leather, Paper

Fabrics The Decorative Art of Textiles Coffee Table Hardcover Book
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Fabrics The Decorative Art of Textiles Spectacularly illustrated with richly colorful, sumptuously textured photographs, Fabrics is an enthusiastic trip through the history, technol...
Category

1990s Italian American Classical Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Paper

Group of Three Early 20th C. French Tabletop Globes on Stands, Including G. Thom
Located in Bridgeport, CT
A very fine group of World Globes on pedestal mounts. All printed paper globes. A large Globe Metrique by G. Thomas, Paris. Mounted on metal on an ebonized wood base. Measures: Height 19", diameter 10" another large sized one Globe Terrestre...
Category

Early 20th Century French Georgian Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Paper, Wood

Rare George III Celestial Pocket Globe by Cary, London
By Cary
Located in Oxfordshire, United Kingdom
A fine and rare 3" celestial pocket globe by G & W Cary, Strand, London circa 1791, housed in its original sharkskin case. A companion globe to terrestrial globes of this type we...
Category

Late 18th Century English George III Antique Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Plaster

Antique George III Quality Mahogany Banjo Barometer
Located in Suffolk, GB
Antique George III quality mahogany banjo barometer having a quality mahogany shaped case with a swan neck pediment and satinwood stringing, circular silvered engraved dial with orig...
Category

Early 1800s English George III Antique Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Mahogany

George III Pocket Globe After Herman Moll
Located in Lymington, Hampshire
A 3 inch George III pocket globe after Herman Moll, the terrestrial globe inscribed in a cartouche ‘A correct globe with the new discoveries’ and fitted within a hinged black shagreen case, the concave interior of the case applied with the engraved celestial charts...
Category

1770s English George III Antique Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Wood

French Neoclassical Clarinet Wood Brass & Metal Table Lamp Black Gold Drum Shade
Located in Miami, FL
Neoclassical rosewood & brass clarinet table lamp mounted on a round metal base made in France. Comes with harp and carved gilt wood finial an...
Category

1950s French Neoclassical Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Metal, Brass

Antique 19th Century Miniature French Edition Globe by C. Abel-Klinger
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A fine antique French Edition miniature globe. By C. Abel-Klinger. On a turned wooden stand with an uncalibrated brass half meridian. The globe is marked with an integral l...
Category

19th Century German Neoclassical Antique Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Paper

Swiss Gold and Enamel Musical Vinaigrette
Located in New Orleans, LA
A musical movement distinguishes this wonderful early 19th-century gold vinaigrette box. The vessel is covered in delicate engraving highlighted by bl...
Category

19th Century Swiss Neoclassical Antique Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Metal

Five Silhouette Miniatures All Hand Painted & Monogramed by Dorothy Turton RMS
Located in Lincoln, Lincolnshire
A fine collection of Five original silhouette portrait miniatures by the Miniaturist painter Dorothy Turton ( 1900 to 1990s). These are all hand painted...
Category

20th Century English Georgian Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Brass

19th Century English Georgian Unicorn and Lion Coat of Arms
Located in New York, NY
English Georgian style (19th century) large iron coat of arms with unicorn and lion.
Category

19th Century Georgian Antique Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Iron, Wrought Iron

19th C American Marbleized Slate Chess Board
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
19th C American marbleized slate chess board, resembling fine marble inlay., in the neoclassical style. With a two inch geometric border, and a ten inch...
Category

Mid-19th Century North American Neoclassical Antique Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Slate

Rare Patinated Bronze Sculpture of Benjamin Franklin, by A. Carrier-Belleuse
Located in New York, NY
Albert-Ernest Carrier-Belleuse (France, 1824-1887) A rare seated bronze statue of Benjamin Franklin holding his walking stick and hat, with a book in his ri...
Category

19th Century French American Classical Antique Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Bronze

Antique Articulating Teddy Bear Driving Wagon Platform Pull Toy Americana
Located in Dayton, OH
Antique wheeled platform articulating pull toy featuring a teddy bear stuffed animal seated in a red white and blue wagon with arms that move up and down a...
Category

Early 20th Century American Classical Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Mohair, Hardwood

Antique Shadowbox Diorama of Ship Models
Located in Bridgeport, CT
An impressive and unusual 19th century cased ship diorama displaying four ships at sea. A four masted schooner sets the background with a tug boat, two masted vessel and a steamship ...
Category

19th Century American Classical Antique Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Wood

Large Scale Antique Scroll Map of Lincolnshire, England, Dated 1778
Located in St Annes, Lancashire
Wonderful scroll map of Lincolnshire By Captain Armstrong, 1778 Copper plate engraving on paper laid on canvas Original ebonized wood frame with lo...
Category

1770s English Georgian Antique Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Wood, Paper

Large Original Antique Folding Map of Manchester, England, Dated 1793
Located in St Annes, Lancashire
Superb map of Manchester and Salford Folding map. Printed on paper laid on to the original canvas Unframed. Published by C. Laurent, 1793. ...
Category

1790s English Georgian Antique Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Canvas, Paper

Silver Mass Cruet Set, Estrada, Zaragoza, Spain, 18th Century
Located in Madrid, ES
Pair of cruets with tray. Silver. Estrada, Saragossa, 18th century. With contrast markings. Set made of silver in its color composed of two cruets with a circular foot, an oval body narrowing towards the top, a stepped lid towards the center (topped by a circle with a V for the wine container...
Category

18th Century Spanish Neoclassical Antique Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Silver

English Antique Pearlware Pottery Castle Spill Holder
Located in Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire
An unusual and rare antique English pearlware pottery model of a castle spill holder dating from the early 19th century. The castle stands on a shaped mou...
Category

Early 19th Century English George III Antique Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Pottery

Late Georgian English Gilt Bronze Travelling Candlestick & Match holder
Located in Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire
A rare and unusual antique Late Georgian or Regency gilt bronze travelling candle stick with match holder/striker and with a snuffer dating from ...
Category

Early 19th Century English George III Antique Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Bronze

Virgin with Child, Devotional Medal or Pendant. Spain, 18th Century
Located in Madrid, ES
Medal. Spain, 18th century. Devotional medal made of gilded metal that shows an image of the Virgin Mary, placed on a pedestal and surrounded by a r...
Category

18th Century Spanish Neoclassical Antique Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Metal

Large and Rare Patinated Bronze Bust of George Washington, by F. Barbedienne
Located in New York, NY
A Large and Rare Patinated Bronze Bust of George Washington, after Houdon by F. Barbedienne Foundry, circa 1870. Very nice quality green patinated bronze bust of President...
Category

19th Century French American Classical Antique Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Bronze

Georgian Oak Childs Chest of Drawers
Located in Bedfordshire, GB
A very attractive George III period oak childs chest having well Figured and crossbanded top above two short and three long Drawers flanked by curved corners raised on replaced bracket Feet (This charming little childs chest is the perfect size to use as a coffee table, or to Stand a lamp on and has a large amount of character and  charm. It is a good weight which highlights the solid construction from high grade oak and is certainly robust. It has various minor old marks, scuffs and scratches but these all add to the character of the piece.  Children’s furniture...
Category

Late 18th Century English Georgian Antique Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Oak

Montereau Creil French Creamware Faïence d’Aix en Provence Architecture Plate
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A French Neoclassical faïence transfer printed creamware plate produced by Montereau, Creil, circa 1824-1836. A black transfer of an architectural im...
Category

Early 19th Century French Neoclassical Antique Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Creamware

18th Century English Mahogany Cased Stick Barometer by Dolland of London
Located in Dublin, IE
An exceptional late 18th century mahogany cased stick barometer by Dolland of London, The mahogany case of a very solid construction and with a superbly made turned mahogany cistern ...
Category

1790s English Georgian Antique Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Steel

Boy With Thorn "Spinaro" Sculpture Alabaster 19th Century
Located in Beuzevillette, FR
Pretty alabaster sculpture of a young man removing a thorn from his foot. Theme taken up many times in the sculpture, the oldest known example of the boy with thorn...
Category

19th Century Neoclassical Antique Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Alabaster

Early 19th Century Italian Majolica Holy Water Font
Located in Milan, IT
Small and lovely Italian Holy Water font from Italy, a shaped polychrome ceramic artwork dating back to Neoclassical period, early 19th century. This rare religious work is finely ...
Category

Early 19th Century Italian Neoclassical Antique Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Maiolica, Majolica

Golden Moments: a Collection of United States 1984 Commemorative Olympic Issues
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Golden Moments: A Collection of United States 1984 Commemorative Olympic Issues MICHENER, James A. (foreword) Published by United States Postal Service, Washington, DC, 1984 Numerous color illustrations. A superb, tight first edition of what's really a study of "Paintings and 1984 Olympic postal designs by Robert Peak...
Category

20th Century American American Classical Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Paper

19th Century Mahogany Tilt-Top Tripod Table, Mini, Salesman or Example Sample
Located in New York, NY
An early 19th century mahogany tilt-top tripod table Mini, salesman or example sample. With tilt-top, tripod base.
Category

Early 19th Century American American Classical Antique Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Mahogany

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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