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Collectibles and Curiosities

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Collectibles and Curiosities For Sale
Period: 20th Century
Period: 1960s
Mid Century Revere S-16 16mm Sound Movie Projector w Case 22"
Located in Dayton, OH
Mid century Revere 16 sound projector with case. Working. Dimensions: 22"x 15.5" x 7.5"
Category

Mid-20th Century Mid-Century Modern Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Metal

The Great Book of Currier & Ives' America
Located in Bradenton, FL
The Great Book of Currier & Ives' America by Walton Rawls. A huge hardcover with dustjacket coffee table book. First edition, published in 1979 by Abbeville Press of New York. Printe...
Category

1970s Japanese Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Paper

Cast Iron Book Press with Brass Handle and Newer Wood Base
Located in Chicago, IL
Cast iron book press with brass handle and newer wood base. Nice pin striping. Great Condition.
Category

Early 1900s Italian Antique Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Brass, Iron

Large Kodak No. 2C Folding Pocket Camera/Leather Case c.1914 (FREE SHIPPING)
Located in San Francisco, CA
ABOUT An original large Eastman Kodak No. 2C folding pocket camera with red bellows. The body is wrapped in leather with chrome and brass accents. The camera folds to 2.25 inches. O...
Category

Early 20th Century Industrial Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Brass, Chrome

Vintage Baines Golf Trade Card, Burhill Golf Club.
Located in Oxfordshire, GB
Baines Golfing Trade Card, Burhill. A rare circular golf trade card in the shape of a bramble golf ball. Made by the toy shop owner from Bradford, John Bai...
Category

1920s British Sporting Art Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Paper

Louis Icart The Complete Etchings, English Book by William Holland, 1990
Located in Atlanta, GA
Louis Icart, The Complete Etchings. English book, by William R. Holland, Clifford P. Catania, and Nathan D. Isen, 1990. 1988 marked the one-hundredth anniversary of Louis Icart's bir...
Category

1990s American Modern Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Paper

Pharmaceutical Presentation Gavel Dated 1941 1942
Located in Fulton, CA
Unusual ceremonial / presentation gavel presented to Angelo Carlo Bosso, president of the California Pharmaceutical Association 1941-1942. Turned wood in the form of medicine bottles...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Wood

Suite of 10 1930s Golf Clubs.
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Suite of 10 1930s Golf Clubs. Suite of 10 vintage golf clubs, wooden handles, from the 1930s, including 8 iron and 2 wood. Dimensions each: h: 105cm, w: 10cm, d: 7cm
Category

20th Century European Art Deco Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Iron

Scandinavian White and Molded Porcelain Madonna on Teak Panel, 1960s
Located in Nürnberg, Bayern
Scandinavian white hand molded porcelain Madonna on teak panel, 1960s. The white porcelain makes a wonderful contrast to the teak. Perfectly formed, very delicate and expressive. ...
Category

1960s Scandinavian Scandinavian Modern Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Porcelain, Teak

Bussola da rilevamento magnetico Medium Landing Compass N 1738 Inghilterra 1940s
Located in Milan, IT
Bussola da rilevamento magnetico, firmata Medium Landing Compass N. 1738 H Inghilterra anni quaranta. Sulla Rosa dei venti, completa di cerchio goniometrico è raffigurato lo stemma ...
Category

1940s Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Brass

Impressionist and Post-Impressionist Paintings in the Metropolitan Museum of Art
Located in Bradenton, FL
Impressionist and Post-Impressionist Paintings in the Metropolitan Museum of Art by Charles S. Moffett. Hardcover book with dustjacket. Published in 1985 by The Metropolitan Museum o...
Category

1980s Swiss Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Paper

Vintage Leather Rawlings Football (FREE SHIPPING)
By Rawlings
Located in San Francisco, CA
ABOUT An original vintage leather Rawlings ST5 football. CREATOR Rawlings. DATE OF MANUFACTURE circa 1960-1980. MATERIALS AND TECHNIQUES Leather. CONDITION Good. Wear co...
Category

Late 20th Century Industrial Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Leather

Vintage Golf Book, the Life of Tom Morris
Located in Oxfordshire, GB
The Life Of Tom Morris, With Glimpses Of St Andrews & Its Golfing Celebrities. One of the most collectable golf books on one of golf's most influential figures 'Old Tom'. An original 1908 first edition copy, one for the true connoisseur. This is a hard bound copy with black letter title "The Life of TOM MORRIS, With Glimpses of St Andrews & Its Golfing Celebrities, W.W. Tulloch, Member of the Royal & Ancient Club of St Andrews'. The original green pictorial cloth cover with a scene showing Old Tom Morris and another golfer playing on the links of St Andrews. Gilt title to spine with illustration of crossed clubs and ball, publisher's icon and illustration of crossed clubs and balls on rear cover. The book with all twenty-seven illustrations (Mr George Glennie, page 96 loose as is page 194, monument to 'Young Tom') including frontispiece with tissue guard, 'Tom Driving Off - Fore'. As far as we can ascertain all 334 pages are there, slight foxing to edges, in a few cases creeping onto the pages. Colston & Co. Limited, printers, Edinburgh. One of the true classics of golf literature, Reverend Tulloch wrote this to be presented for Tom Morris's 87th birthday. "To Tom Morris. Dear Old Tom, Will you accept for your eighty-seventh birthday this account of your long and honourable life, and of the many great matches in which you have taken part and been interested? I trust it may recall to you many happy days and many memorable triumphs in the game with which your name and that of your distinguished son will always be associated. It will also, I hope, help to preserve to new generations of golfers the charm of your personality and the memory of the "brave days of old." With all good wishes, Ever yours...
Category

Early 1900s British Sporting Art Antique Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Paper

Antique Schoenhut "Humpty Dumpty Collection" Dark Lion Circus Toy c.1903-1935
Located in San Francisco, CA
ABOUT Jointed wooden lion manufactured in the 1900s by the Schoenhut Piano Company as part of the "Humpty Dumpty Circus" collection. Made from ca...
Category

Early 20th Century American Industrial Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Leather, Wood, Paint

Vintage Native American Navajo Bolo Tie Sterling Turquoise Jewelry Gifts
Located in London, GB
A handsome hand-crafted Navajo design Bolo tie in sterling silver with blue green turquoise circa 1960s. With plaited black leather tie and sterling & turquoise tips. Measures: 2 x ...
Category

20th Century American Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Silver

Catalogue of the Vernay Collection A Special Sale Prior to Retirement, 1st Ed
Located in valatie, NY
Catalogue of the Vernay Collection of Early English Furniture, Porcelains, Old English Silver, Glassware and Other Art Objects, "A Special Sale Prior ...
Category

1940s American Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Paper

Hemingway and His Universe, French Book by A. E. Hotchner, 1990
Located in Atlanta, GA
Hemingway et son Univers (Hemingway and His Universe), French book by A. E. Hotchner, original edition, 1990. A great writer, a force of nature, and a man who faced death. Illustrate...
Category

1990s French Modern Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Paper

Unique and Large Crucifix with Hand Crafted Ceramic Corpus of Christ
Located in Antwerp, BE
Unique and artistic crucifix from the Italian Midcentury Modern era. This ceramic work of religious art also comes with a mild glazing and the unique elongated design makes it even m...
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Brass

Antique Bakelite Nº11 Cubist NYC Art Deco Cherry Red Charm Necklace
Located in Hyattsville, MD
USA c.1930s. Unknown Maker. Celluloid linked chain and Bakelite cube charms. With a good clasp, this necklace is ready to wear. Fair Condition because one smaller cube is chipped a...
Category

1930s American Art Deco Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Bakelite

(KYD) - DICKENS - Silas Wegg (from Our Mutual Friend) - ORIGINAL SKETCH
Located in Hillsborough, NJ
AUTHOR: CLARKE, Joseph Clayton (KYD) (Charles Dickens). TITLE: Silas Wegg (from Our Mutual Friend) PUBLISHER: England, [c. 1920] DESCRIPTION: ORIGINAL INK AND WATERCOLOR SKETCH. ...
Category

1920s British Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Paper

Vintage Automatic Vending Machine With Coin, Italy, 1980s
Located in Palermo, IT
Vintage automatic vending machine with coin, Italy, 1980s in use in a bar in my city. It works with a 1 euro coin. Distributes rubber balls. Intact a...
Category

1980s Italian Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Metal

Impressionists on the Seine
Located in Bradenton, FL
Impressionists on the Seine. Published on the occasion of the exhibition Impressionists on the Seine: A Celebration of Renoir's "Luncheon of the Boating Party...
Category

1990s Italian Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Paper

Carrara Ivory 1949 Emerson Model 581 Plaskon AM Vacuum Tube Radio Golden Age
By Emerson Electric
Located in Van Nuys, CA
Ivory 1949 Emerson Model 581 Plaskon AM Tube Radio Golden Age Beauty This radio was initially crafted using plaskon plastic, an enduring precursor to contemporary polycarbonate and styrene-based plastics. Manufactured by Emerson in the late 1940s, this exquisite AM tabletop tube clock...
Category

1940s Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Bakelite

Vintage 1946 Wurlitzer Model 1015 Bubbler Phonograph Original Rare
Located in Oakland, CA
Vintage Original 1946 Wurlitzer Model 1015 Bubbler Collector Multi-Selector Phonograph. This Jukebox is in exceptional condition, fully restored, and with a full set of 78s. The sound is amazing, the amp was rebuilt, and the original 15″ speaker. Special electronics allow you to surpass mechanical coin operations to make as many selections as you like. Contact us by message and I can send you a video with sound of it playing. This posting is for the Wurlitzer JukeBox...
Category

1940s American Art Deco Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Chrome, Nickel

Swiss Brass Lift Arm Tabletop Lighter By Brilux for Dunhill
Located in Van Nuys, CA
Circa 1950 Made in Switzerland made by Brilux and distributed by Dunhill. Beautifully made brass lighter with spring lift arm flint mechanism where the spring is contained in a shaft...
Category

1950s Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Brass

Vintage Tin Wind-up Toy "Doughboy" by J.Chein Company. American Circa 1930
Located in Incline Village, NV
Of American manufacture, by the J. Chein Toy Company in New York City; this early 1930's vintage tin toy depicts a World War I "Doughboy" or American infantryman wearing his back pack and green "fatigues", and when wound up and released on the floor, he walks along (more like waddles along) in a "happy go lucky" manner ------works great! (see attached video). The toy is in excellent and completely all original condition with no restoration and no touch up paint. The lithography and paint is bright and shows little wear except for a couple of superficial scratches on the back (see images). Dimensions: 6" high x 2 3/4" wide x 2 3/4" deep. Provenance: From a recently acquired prominent collection of vintage tin...
Category

1930s American Folk Art Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Tin

Handmade Miniature Travelling Chess Set Game walnut Inlaid box, circa 1920
Located in Lincoln, Lincolnshire
This is a good quality handmade Miniature or travelling wood chess set game of 32 pieces in its own inlaid hardwood box, which we date to the early 20th century, circa 1920. This piece is all handmade. The chess set is complete with 32 wood pieces having pegged bases. The jointed box is handmade of hardwood, possibly walnut with line inlays of a lighter wood to the top and the base. The lid is a good fit to the base and the box has brass hinges and a brass fastener to keep the lid securely closed. The inside of the lid has a fabric pad to keep the chess pieces in position when the lid is closed. Overall a quality handmade, complete, travelling chess set...
Category

Early 20th Century British Folk Art Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Brass

Bakelite Jewelry, Good, Better, Best, English Book by Donna Wassertrom, 1997
Located in Atlanta, GA
Bakelite Jewelry, Good - Better - Best, English book by Donna Wassertrom and Leslie Pina, 1997. Bakelite jewelry was popular during The Depression bec...
Category

1990s American Modern Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Paper

Spitz Pomeranian Salon Dog dolls for Jumeau Doll, Kestner Doll
Located in Antwerp, BE
Spitz Pomeranian salon dog dolls. Set of 2 miniature salon dog dolls - antique salon dog dolls in two different sizes . Made of paper mache with very soft fluffy fur, pointed snout, open mouth, glass eyes, felt red tongue, bow, felt covered wooden legs. They will keep your antique dolls company - so great companian dogs for Jumeau doll - Kestner Doll...
Category

Early 20th Century German Art Nouveau Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Felt, Glass, Wood, Paper

Pair Antique British Leather and Brass Marine Field Binoculars, Circa 1900-1910.
Located in New Orleans, LA
Pair Antique British Leather and Brass Marine Field Binoculars, Circa 1900-1910.
Category

Early 20th Century English Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Brass

Toothpick Stand Paris Eiffel Tower French Souvenir Building, Vintage 1930s
Located in Nuernberg, DE
A 1920s souvenir building architectural model as a toothpick holder stand. Some wear with a nice patina, but this is old-age. Made of metal and glass. A beautiful nice item for your ...
Category

1920s French Art Nouveau Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Metal

Tiffany Studios New York Zodiac Bronze Match Box Holder
Located in South Bend, IN
A gorgeous antique bronze match box holder featuring symbols of the Zodiac By Tiffany Studios (signed to the underside) New York, USA, Early 20th Century Measures: 4.5"W x 4.5"D x...
Category

Early 20th Century American Arts and Crafts Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Bronze

Mid-Century Modern Hand Carved Pink Rock Crystal Catchall Bowl Vide Poche, 1970
Located in Miami, FL
Mid-Century Modern pink and white Mineral Rock ashtray, catchall, vide poche or bowl made in Italy. Raw Rock Crystal hand carved in a geometric shape. Great as Ring Dish or Key Bowl...
Category

1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Rock Crystal

Memphis, Barbara Radice 1984 First Edition
Located in London, GB
First edition, published by Rizzoli, 1984 ‘Research, Experiences, Result, Failures and Successes of New Design’ Founded in 1981 by designer Ettore Sottsass, the Italy-based Mem...
Category

1980s American Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Paper

20th Century Czech Wooden Racing Kayak
Located in High Point, NC
A keepsake from a rowing club in Hradec Králové, Czechia, this remarkable boat was crafted in Czenia during the 20th century. Its sleek and streamlined design showcases a graceful, e...
Category

20th Century Czech Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Wood

Vintage Live Edge Burl Wood Coffee Table c.1950
Located in San Francisco, CA
ABOUT A mid-century live edge burl wood coffee table with black hairpin legs and high lacquered finish. Its rustic design adds a touc...
Category

Mid-20th Century Rustic Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Wood, Burl

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

The Doris Duke Collection & Brooke Astor Estate (Book)
Located in North Yorkshire, GB
Here we have for sale 2 catalogues "The Doris Duke Collection - Sold for the benefit of the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation" (Christies) Thursday 3 - Saturday 5 June 2004 New York. ...
Category

20th Century Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Paper

The Miniature in Europe, 4 volumes - Leo R. Schidlof - Akademische Druck, 1964
Located in London, GB
First English Edition, limited to 1000 numbered copies published in 4 volumes by Akademische Druck - und Verlagsanstalt, Graz, 1964. Across the four volumes of this comprehensive wo...
Category

1960s Austrian Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Paper

Art Deco Dunhill of London Engine Turned "Square Boy" Model Petrol Lighter 1937
Located in High Wycombe, GB
Art Deco Dunhill of London Diamond Engine Turned "Square boy" Model Petrol Lighter 1937 Silver plated Dunhill London lighter Made in Switzerland UK Patent Number 477768 USA Patent...
Category

1930s Swiss Art Deco Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Silver Plate

John Bucci Dodecahedron House Model
Located in Savannah, GA
Giovanni 'John' Bucci (Italian-American, 1935-2019) A futuristic dodecahedron house model. fiberglass, acrylic, steel and various media The house measures 25 inches wide and deep...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Futurist Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Steel

1900s Brass Bell With Silver Pleated Bear
Located in Vienna, AT
Beautiful and special brass bell with the handle shaped as a bear with stone eyes. Made in Vienna, Austria in the 1900s.
Category

20th Century Austrian Art Nouveau Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Stone, Silver, Brass

1975 Vintage Skip Frye Surfboard
By Skip Frye
Located in Haleiwa, HI
1975 Vintage Skip Frye shaped surfboard. Features beautiful light blue deck with navy blue bottom and complimentary pinstriping. Wooden fin with blue see-through window. A gorgeous example of a full restored vintage 1970s Skip Frye surfboard.
Category

1970s American Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Fiberglass, Foam, Softwood

William BLAKE's Pencil Drawings - Nonesuch Press, limited edition
Located in Middletown, NY
This is the sequel to The Nonesuch Press' first book of Blake's Pencil Drawings, published in 1927. The Max Reinhardt / Nonesuch list 1956 remarked: ‘Du...
Category

Mid-20th Century Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Paper

(KYD) - DICKENS - Will Fern (from The Chimes) - ORIGINAL SKETCH
Located in Hillsborough, NJ
AUTHOR: CLARKE, Joseph Clayton (KYD) (Charles Dickens). TITLE: Will Fern (from The Chimes) PUBLISHER: England, [c. 1920] DESCRIPTION: ORIGINAL INK AND WATERCOLOR SKETCH. 1 leaf, ...
Category

1920s British Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Paper

Decorative Brass Courtesy Counter Top Bell Made in a floral style in solid bras
Located in Chillerton, Isle of Wight
Decorative Brass Courtesy Counter Top Bell Made in a floral style in solid brass, good and ready to use with a high pitched ding, the bell is 3” in diameter and 5” high TVY146
Category

1960s Arts and Crafts Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Brass

Cinderella, Edited by C.S. Evans, Signed by Arthur Rackham, Edition de Lux, 1919
Located in Colorado Springs, CO
Evans, C.S. (editor). Rackham, Arthur (illustrator). Cinderella. London & Philadelphia: William Heinemann and J.B. Lippincott Co., 1919. Numbered #53/325 copies of the Edition de Lux...
Category

1910s American Art Deco Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Paper

THE JAM: A Beat Concerto - Paolo Hewitt
Located in London, GB
Published by William Clowes Limited, 1st edition, London, 1983. Soft cover, English text. The Jam is a rock trio who were known for their mod image, quintessential English flavour and the distinct stylistic mixture of psychedelic rock and 1960s beat music...
Category

1980s Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Paper

French Chess Theme of Ancient Egypt Plaster & Wood Restored, circa 1920
Located in Labrit, Landes
French chess game in the thematic of Ancient Egypt. The chess pieces are in painted and waxed plaster, the board is in wood and the is also a display shel...
Category

1920s French Egyptian Revival Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Plaster, Wood

(KYD) - DICKENS - Mr. Snawley (from Nicholas Nickleby) - ORIGINAL SKETCH
Located in Hillsborough, NJ
AUTHOR: CLARKE, Joseph Clayton (KYD) (Charles Dickens). TITLE: Mr. Snawley (from Nicholas Nickleby) PUBLISHER: England, [c. 1920] DESCRIPTION: ORIGINAL INK AND WATERCOLOR SKETCH....
Category

1920s British Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Paper

Vintage Blue Sail Pond Yacht - H
Located in Port Chester, NY
A charming vintage model yacht with sails made from old blue sail cloth and original brass accents. Stand is recent to hold the ship upright and stabile. Measurements include the s...
Category

Early 20th Century English Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Wood

Fantastic quality antique Edwardian oak smokers cabinet
Located in Ipswich, GB
Fantastic quality antique Edwardian oak smokers cabinet having a fantastic quality oak smokers cabinet, with two glass doors to the front opening to reveal compartments for cigars, m...
Category

Early 20th Century Edwardian Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Oak

Set of 4 snuff bottles, filigree glass 1920s tobacco bohemian forest, Germany
Located in Wien, AT
Set of four early glass snuff bottles, very rare from the 1920s, made of one of the glassworks in the Bohemian Forest, Germany. These are collection items that were made to a master...
Category

1920s German Folk Art Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Blown Glass

English Country Houses Georgian series, set of three volumes
Located in London, GB
A three-volume series, housed in its original slipcase. Reprinted by the Antique Collectors’ Club in 1984, first published by Country Life magazine in 1955. Softback. A rare colle...
Category

1980s Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Paper

EARLY 20th CENTURY SAILING SHIP MODEL
Located in Firenze, FI
Small model of a sailing ship depicting the famous English merchant ship HMS Bounty. The model and its details are handmade, with great care and refinement (lifeboat, ropes, sails, a...
Category

Early 20th Century English Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Wood

11 Vintage Ladies Wrist Watches Clip on LeCoultre Bulova Seiko ЧАЙКА
Located in Dayton, OH
Lot of 11 vintage ladies watches, ten standard wrist watches and one clip on watch. Lot includes Bijou Terner, K-2853L; Anne Klein, 10/4737; Carlo Rossi; Ci...
Category

Late 20th Century Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Metal

Vintage Wilson Leather Boxing Gloves c.1950 (FREE SHIPPING)
Located in San Francisco, CA
ABOUT Original leather boxing gloves filled with horse hair. The leather is very soft and in good condition. . CREATOR Wilson Sporting Goods. DATE OF MANUFACTURE c.1950-1...
Category

Early 20th Century American Industrial Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Leather, Natural Fiber

Paul Frankl Style Salesman Sample Miniature Rattan Livingroom Set, 1950
Located in Van Nuys, CA
Living set of Paul Frankl-style miniature rattan Salesman sample dollhouse furniture from 1950. These were designed to help salesman sell furniture to potential buyers both at home and in the boardroom. This set includes a 3-seat section sofa with two side...
Category

1950s American Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Rattan

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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