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Collectibles and Curiosities For Sale
Period: 1930s
Period: 1940s
Old Map of the American Railroad Network and All Weather Roads on Verso, 1931
Located in Langweer, NL
This is the “New Census Edition” of Clason’s United States Green Guide. It features two large maps of the United States on a single sheet.
The recto map shows the complete road net...
Category
1930s Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Paper
1939 Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats
By T.S. Eliot
Located in Bath, GB
An uncommon, first edition copy of T S Eliot's famous poetry collection regarding feline psychology and sociology. This anthology forms the basis of Andrew L...
Category
1930s British Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Paper
Art Deco Bakelite Cherry Amber Beaded Necklace, 1930
Located in Oostrum-Venray, NL
Beautiful old bakelite cherry bead necklace.
This is an exceptionally large model with beautiful thick beads.
The color is dark red, there i...
Category
1930s Baltic Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Bakelite
Rare Set of Four House, Teddy Bear and Fish Christmas Ornament Vintage, 1930s
Located in Nuernberg, DE
A rare Christmas ornament set of four. Each is made from mouth blown glass, this would be a great addition for your Christmas or feather tree. Size alwa...
Category
1930s German Folk Art Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Wire
Dunhill 1935 Art Deco Triangular Desk Silent Lighter Chrome, Bakelite & Catalin
Located in Miami, FL
Triangular desk silent lighter designed by Irving Florman for Dunhill.
Very rare silent lighter, created in America during the art deco period, back in the 1935. This triangular model was patented by Irving Florman for the Dunhill Company. Crafted with chromed brass parts, with three cylinders mounted in a triangular black bakelite base and a catalin (plaskon) spherical ball on top the torch wand. Embellished with application of black lacquer. This lighter is base in the German version designed in the 1933.
Weight: 118.5 Grams, (10.87 Dwt).
Measurements: 67 mm by 67 mm by 93 mm (2.64 x 2.64 x 3.68 Inches).
Marks: Signed with the maker's mark and inscribed in both pars, "DUNHILL SILENT LIGHTER TABLE LIGHTER U.S. PAT. 2020142 MADE IN U.S.A".
Patent: US Utility Pat. as Electric Cigar lighter...
Category
1930s North American Art Deco Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Brass, Chrome
Dunhill England 1940 Desk Table Unique Lift Arm Petrol Lighter with Shagreen
Located in Miami, FL
Unique petrol lighter designed by Dunhill.
Beautiful and elegant table desk lift arm petrol lighter, designed by the Alfred Dunhill Company during the post war period, circa 1940-...
Category
1940s English Art Deco Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Silver Plate, Steel
A Royal Air Force P10 Aircraft Compass No. 23145 T M
Located in Chillerton, Isle of Wight
A Royal Air Force P10 Aircraft Compass No. 23145 T M
The compass has a brass body finished in black, it comes in its battleship grey painted wooden ...
Category
1930s Industrial Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Brass
Vintage Pre-War Wind-Up Toy "Boy on Motorcycle Delivery Truck" by Marx
Located in Incline Village, NV
This brightly lithographed tin wind-up toy in colors of red, yellow, and blue, with a driver dressed in appropriate motorcycle clothing, depicts a young man driving a delivery cart with "Speed Boy Delivery" printed on each side of the wagon. The manufacturers logo is clearly marked on both sides of the stake wagon and on the right shoulder of the driver "MAR" with a circle around it and "Made in The United States of America, New York, N.Y." around the circumference (see images). The license plate number is "268", which, along with the red painted inside of the drivers arms (as it should be!) indicates this earlier version and authenticity.
Nearly 100 years old, it still operates fine and, upon winding the attached wind-up key a few times and placing the toy on the ground, the motorcycle and driver move across the floor on the way to their deliveries; do not over wind. (see video attached to this listing).
The toy is completely original and in very good condition, with no repairs or restorations of any kind and no touch up or repaint. The arms and steering handle bars are also original (sometimes replaced) and they have the appropriate paint and markings.
This would make a welcome addition to a collection of pre-war Americana.
Dimensions: 9 7/8" long x 5 7/8" wide x 5 3/4" high
After 40 plus years of dealing and collecting toys, I am justly qualified to guarantee and present the authenticity of antique and vintage toys...
Category
1930s Folk Art Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Tin
Ronson 1939 Art Deco Table Touch Tip Octette Lighter Machine Age Bakelite Steel
Located in Miami, FL
An Octette desk lighter designed by Ronson.
This Ronson Touch-Tip Octette table lighter was made between 1935 and 1951 by the Ronson Art Metal Works Inc. located in Newark, New Jers...
Category
1930s American Art Deco Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Steel, Chrome
Little Bighorn Survivors Photograph by Bill Groethe American Indians
Located in Atlanta, GA
Gelatin silver photograph of “The Battle of the Little Bighorn Survivors”, by Bill Groethe, American, circa 1948. Recently professionally framed in a vintage clean lined Mission oak ...
Category
1940s American Native American Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Glass, Wood, Oak, Paper
Mexico Taxco 1940 Unique Lift Arm Petrol Lighter in Solid .925 Sterling Silver
By Taxco
Located in Miami, FL
Lift arm petrol lighter made in Mexico
Beautiful lift arm petrol lighter, created in the city of Taxco in Mexico during the late Art Deco period, circa 1940. It was crafted in sol...
Category
1940s Mexican Art Deco Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Silver, Sterling Silver
Ronson 1935 Buffalo Touch Tip Striker Lighter In Black Cast Steel & Chrome
Located in Miami, FL
Desk buffalo touch tip Striker designed by Ronson.
The striker lighters made by Ronson are famous under collectors. This extremely rare desk Striker L...
Category
1930s North American Art Deco Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Chrome, Steel
Golf, Amateur Gold Medal 1934 Belgium Open Championship
Located in Oxfordshire, GB
1934 Amateur Belgium Golf Open Championship Gold Winners Medal.
The medal was awarded to Francis Ricardo (Addington Golf Club) author-golfer and the winner o...
Category
1930s Belgian Sporting Art Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Gold
Vintage Toy by Lindstrom Dancing Dutch Boy Playing Accordion American Circa 1930
Located in Incline Village, NV
Very difficult antique toy to come by, especially to find with the original box, as this example. In excellent and all original condition and paint in bright blue, white, and yellow paint and lithography with no touch up; there is zero restoration, and the toy is in outstanding operating condition; just wind up the attached wind up key on the back of the boy and the he dances around in a circular motion for quite some time while seemingly playing his accordion (see the video attached). "Dancing Dutch Boy" is an all tin wind up toy...
Category
1930s American Folk Art Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Tin
Rare Mushroom, Clown and Boy Head Christmas Ornament Vintage, 1930s
Located in Nuernberg, DE
A rare Christmas ornament set of three. Each is made from mouth blown glass, this would be a great addition for your Christmas or feather tree. Size alw...
Category
1930s German Folk Art Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Wire
Dressmaker’s Hem Height Skirt Marker Beech Skirt Marker
Located in Chillerton, Isle of Wight
Dressmaker’s Hem Height Skirt Marker
Beech Skirt Marker for measuring the height of a skirt from the floor up . This would have been used in a shop to make alterations to the length...
Category
1930s Industrial Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Beech
Very Large Bronze Bell from Synchronome made in 1948
Located in Chillerton, Isle of Wight
Very Large Bronze Bell from Synchronome made in 1948
Synchronome was established in 1895 by Frank Hope Jones, they started making electric clock systems for British industry in the ...
Category
1940s Industrial Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Bronze
Map of Philadelphia with a Historical Tribute to its Volunteer Fire Companies
Located in Langweer, NL
This elaborate map of Philadelphia in Pennsylvania served as a historical tribute to the city's first volunteer fire departments. It was drawn by J...
Category
1930s Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Paper
Eight Antique Blacksmith's Hammers Made in Italy, 1930s
Located in Palermo, IT
Eight antique blacksmith's hammers, Italy, 1930
Found in a bed base factory that belonged to my great-grandfather. The wooden handles need to be added.
Category
1930s Italian Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Iron
Ships Binnacle from US Navy
Located in Norwell, MA
Small boat binnacle with wood base, brass compass ring and hood. Compass is engraved "US Navy Bureau of ships, 4 Inch Boat Compass Mark1 1942 The Lionel C...
Category
1940s North American Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Brass
Rare, Petite Vintage French Geometric School House Molds
Located in Houston, TX
Circa 1930s. Zinc molds from French school house. Set of six molds. These are rare and unusually petite versions of school house shape molds. The rectangular mold featured in this pi...
Category
1930s French Arts and Crafts Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Zinc
Set of Three Curling Stone Desk Pieces, Paper Weight, Pen Holder
Located in Oxfordshire, GB
Three Piece Curling Desk Set.
A nice collection of three miniature desk top granite curling stones. Two are paperweights complete with handles and the third is a pen holder. A great ...
Category
1940s British Sporting Art Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Granite
Framed Nautical Flag by Dettra
Located in Norwell, MA
Linen maritime flag with sturdy canvas hoist and stitched panels of yellow and blue. The hoist is stamped Dettra Flag Company Incorporated. This is a US Navy signal for number EIGHT,...
Category
1940s North American Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Linen
Mills Novelty Art Deco Green Porcelain Penny Scale
Located in Ferndale, MI
Art Deco period penny scale by Mills Novelty co. Period green porcelain pedestal with cream colored foot hold.
Category
1940s American Art Deco Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Iron
Alexandre Noll Exotic Wood Cigar Ashtray Bowl / Dish Signed, France, circa 1950
Located in Buenos Aires, Olivos
Lovely Alexandre Noll cigar ashtray / bowl / Dish. Carved in exotic wood.
Alexandre Noll hand carved Cigar Ashtray.
Mid-century.
France, c. 1950
Hand carved signature to undersi...
Category
1940s French Mid-Century Modern Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Wood
Framed Nautical Flag by Dettra
Located in Norwell, MA
Linen maritime flag with sturdy canvas hoist and stitched panels of red and white. The hoist is stamped Dettra Flag Company Incorporated. This is a US Navy signal for number SEVEN, s...
Category
1940s North American Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Cotton
"Komikal Kop" Tin Wind-Up Toy by Louis Marx Co., circa 1930
Located in Incline Village, NV
This is the more rare and desirable variation of this toy, with the dog riding "shotgun", sitting on the running board of the auto. The tin lithographed and hand painted wind-up toy by the Louis Marx Company of New York City, circa 1930, was undoubtedly influenced by Mack Sennett's Keystone Kops series featured in silent films.
The toy portrays a New York City policeman, seated behind the steering wheel of a car with his dog by his side on the running board; driving erratically; forward and backwards, left and right; doing "popping wheelies", while spinning his head around in utter confusion attempting to negotiate traffic.
The toy works great; just as it did when new, (see the attached 40 second movie with the listing). Simply wind up the fixed clockwork key in place a few times (do not over-wind) and watch the action described above.
This "Komikal Kop...
Category
1930s Folk Art Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Tin
Vintage Italian Carrara Marble Sculpture of David
By Michelangelo
Located in Houston, TX
Stunning vintage Italian carved carrara marble sculpture or statue of David.
Offered is a good sized well executed marble figure of David as a youth, copied from the original by Mic...
Category
1940s Italian Grand Tour Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Carrara Marble
Framed Nautical Flag by Dettra
Located in Norwell, MA
Linen maritime flag with sturdy canvas hoist and stitched panels of yellow and red. The hoist is stamped Dettra Flag Company Incorporated. This is a US Navy signal for number ONE, si...
Category
1940s North American Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Cotton
Antique Polar Bear Cub in Silver Plate on Quartz Rock
Located in Oxfordshire, GB
Vintage Polar Bear Sculpture.
An arctic sculpture of a polar bear on an iceberg. The polar bear is well made, silver plated and the iceberg is made of...
Category
1930s British Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Quartz, Silver Plate
Early Vintage Chein Company All Tin Toy Wind-Up Limousine, American, Circa 1930
Located in Incline Village, NV
This is one of the earlier, New York City based, J. Chein Company, tin toy pieces. They started doing lithography in 1930.
This toy wind-up sedan was made circa 1930 and is brightly ...
Category
1930s American Folk Art Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Tin
Early 20th century clockwork Automaton Diorama
Located in London, GB
Early 20th century clockwork Automaton Diorama
A truly wonderful example of an early 20th Century Dutch clockwork automaton diorama. The animation takes place after both clockwork me...
Category
1930s Dutch Victorian Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Wood
Oeuvres Completes De Colette. Complete Works of Colette - FIRST COLLECTED EDITON
Located in Hillsborough, NJ
AUTHOR: COLETTE, Sidonie-Gabrielle.
TITLE: Oeuvres Completes De Colette. (The Complete Works of Colette).
PUBLISHER: Paris: Flammarion, Le Fleuron, 1948-1950,
DESCRIPTION: THE FI...
Category
1940s French Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Leather
Vintage Style Photography, Framed Alpine Ski Photograph, Three Peaks
Located in Oxfordshire, GB
'THREE PEAKS', a modern framed and mounted black and white photograph after an original 1930's skiing photograph. The frame is black with a burgundy undercoat, the glazing is clarity...
Category
1930s English Sporting Art Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Paper, Wood
Vintage Style Ski Photography, Framed Alpine Ski Photograph, Panoramic View
Located in Oxfordshire, GB
'PANORAMIC VIEW', a modern framed and mounted black and white photograph after an original 1930's skiing photograph. The frame is black with burgundy undercoat, the glazing is clarit...
Category
1930s English Sporting Art Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Paper, Wood
Ships Wheel by John Hastie of Greenock
Located in Norwell, MA
Very nice antique solid brass ships wheel that has been highly polished and lacquered. The hub has deeply engraved makers name "John Hastie & Co...
Category
1930s North American Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Brass
Yacht Pulley Block by Merriman
Located in Norwell, MA
Nautical pulley block by Merriman of Boston. Brass badge with trident and M.B. Hardwood housing is pinned together and holds the polished brass sheave. Awesome restoration. Great Nau...
Category
1930s North American Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Brass
Ronson USA 1938 Art Deco Touch Tip Lighter Junior Bar In Steel & Lacquer
Located in Miami, FL
Junior barman with touch tip lighter designed by Ronson.
An exceptional and very beautiful desk piece, created in New Jersey United States by The ...
Category
1930s American Art Deco Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Steel
1940s Classics Club Books, Set of 10
Located in Bradenton, FL
A collection of ten Classics Club books from the 1940s. Published between 1942-1948, printed in the United States of America. Hardcovers.
Category
1940s Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Paper
Antique Salter Family Scales No 50 a Well Loved and Used Family Scales
Located in Chillerton, Isle of Wight
Antique Salter Family Scales No 50
A well loved and used Family Scales, made by Salter, the cast iron body is in Dark green with Gold highlights, it has...
Category
1940s Industrial Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Iron
Art Deco Stylized Cat Door Stop in the Style of Walter Von Neesen
Located in Port Jervis, NY
Fabulous screeching black cat door stop in iron & steel. Stylized in the manner of Walter Von Neesen for Chase. In excellent vintage condition with minimal wear.
Category
1940s American Art Deco Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Steel, Iron
Moby Dick by Herman Melville, First Edition, Illustrated by Rockwell Kent, 1930
Located in Colorado Springs, CO
Melville, Herman. Illustrated by Rockwell Kent. Moby Dick. New York: Random House, 1930. First Trade Edition with Kent Illustrations. Rebound in full leather. Housed in a matching cu...
Category
1930s American Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Paper
Ships Binnacle from US Navy
Located in Norwell, MA
Small boat binnacle with wood base, brass compass ring and hood. Compass is engraved "US Navy Bureau of ships, 4 Inch Boat Compass Mark1 1942 The Lionel C...
Category
1940s North American Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Brass
Framed Nautical Flag by Dettra
Located in Norwell, MA
Linen maritime flag with sturdy canvas hoist and stitched panels of yellow and blue. The hoist is stamped Dettra Flag Company Incorporated. This is a US Navy signal for number FIVE, ...
Category
1940s North American Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Cotton
Polaire Paris 1935 Art Deco Bauhaus Table Desk Lift Arm Tower Lighter
Located in Miami, FL
Table desk tower lighter designed by Polaire Paris.
An sleek and elegant table lighter, created in Paris France by the Polaire company, back in the 1935. It was crafted with pure ...
Category
1930s French Art Deco Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Steel, Chrome
Chase Usa Co. 1930 Art Deco Geometric Steel Box with Bakelite and Wood
Located in Miami, FL
Geometric Art Deco box designed by Chase Usa Co.
Beautiful Streamline geometric box, created during the Art Deco period by the Chase USA Co., back in the 1930. This trinket box ha...
Category
1930s American Art Deco Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Steel
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 Medical Device Wooden Case for Bleeding Needle and Loop Kit with Tin Can
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Vintage Medical Device Wooden Case for Bleeding Needle and Loop Kit with Tin Can. 0Original paperwork, solid wood case, 2 swing doors, tin metal...
Category
1930s Jacobean Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Tin
Alfred Dunhill 1949 Standard Aquarium Lift Arm Petrol Lighter In Perspex Lucite
Located in Miami, FL
Standard Aquarium desk lighter designed by Dunhill.
Very rare standard size Aquarium desk petrol lighter, designed by Dunhill back in the 1949. This mechanical lift arm lighter has been designed in England after the world war II. Has been individually crafted as a one of a kind piece by recycling the perspex lucite from the destroyed war airplanes. Composed by four carved pieces and polished steel parts. This example is virtually in mint condition and barely used, showing absolutely no traces of any wear.
Weight: 460 Grams, (168.34 Dwt).
Measures: 101 mm by 78 mm by 51 mm ( 3.98 x 3.11 x 2.0 Inches).
Hallmarks: Stamped with the maker's mark and signed, "DUNHILL LIGHTER MADE ENGLAND".
Alfred Dunhill inherited his father’s London saddlery in 1893. Following the increase in motor car ownership, Alfred developed the business to include motoring accessories, which he called ‘Dunhill’s Motorities’. This included goggles, timepieces, picnic sets, and leather coats, and it wasn’t long before the brand became associated with men’s general motoring attire. They opened two shops in Mayfair and had a catalogue of over 1300 items. Between the 1904 and 1905, Dunhill introduced their ‘Windshield Pipe’, to help drivers combat the effect of wind and travel on their ability to smoke. This marked both the end of the ‘motorities’ focus and their entry into the world of smoking ephemera, and they shortly opened their first tobacconist in 1907 on Duke Street. The proximity to several esteemed Private Members Clubs around the Mayfair, St James’ area ensured that the venture was a success. (From Nicholas Wells With Thanks).
Literature: Blei-Bottoni Ref-418 Pp-220-225 for similar examples of the technique Illustrated.
Collateral: It is accompanied by a presentation green pouch...
Category
1940s English Mid-Century Modern Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Enamel, Steel
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
Alpine Ski Photograph 'Matterhorn & Skiers', Taken from Original 1930s Photo
Located in Oxfordshire, GB
Vintage, antique alpine ski photograph.
'Matterhorn & Skiers', a new mounted black and white photographic image after an original 1930s skiing photograph. Black abd white alpine photos are the perfect addition to any home or ski lodge, so please do check out our other ski photos...
Category
1930s English Sporting Art Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Paper
Antique Vintage Scale Weight, circa 1930
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Antique scale weight made in Spain by unknown manufacturer, circa 1930.
In original condition, with minor wear consistent with age and use, pre...
Category
1930s Spanish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Metal
Polished Oak Barograph and Barometer by Negretti & Zambra, London
Located in Norwich, GB
Edwardian polished oak cased barograph with bevelled glass panels.
Brass base plate stamped ‘Regent, Jewelled movement supporting the ten vacuum chambers linking the ink pen pointer ...
Category
1930s English Edwardian Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Brass
Ronson 1938 Art Deco Machine Age Geometric Deluxe Classic Desk Touch Tip Lighter
Located in Miami, FL
A Deluxe desk lighter designed by Ronson.
This extremely rare Ronson Deluxe Classic Touch-Tip lighter was made in 1938 by the Ronson Art Metal Works Inc. located in Newark, New Jersey in the United States. This lighter began a very successful era for Ronson Touch Tip...
Category
1930s North American Art Deco Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Enamel, Steel, Chrome
Rare Yankee One Design Class Blueprint
Located in Norwell, MA
Incredibly rare original blueprint for the "Yankee One Design Class". This is the sail plan drawn at the one half inch equals to one foot. The plan s...
Category
1930s North American Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Paper
Original vintage scale from the 20th Century 'Designed by Berkel in Belgium'
By Berkel 2
Located in Udenhout, NL
Original personal scale from 1946 designed by Berkel in Belgium.
(Made in Brussels.)
Very nice Industrial decorative object.
Category
1940s Belgian Industrial Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Metal, Enamel
Wurlitzer Jukebox from 1943 Multi Selector Phonograph from the United States
By Wurlitzer
Located in Ulm, DE
Original Wurlitzer Jukebox
Multi Selector Phonograph
USA 1943, professional restored
Dimensions:
Width: 85 cm
Height: 153 cm
Depth: 65 cm.
Category
1940s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Metal
Typical Handmade Military Vehicle from the 2nd World War, 1940s / 1950s.
Located in Nürnberg, Bayern
Typical handmade military vehicle from the 2nd World War. Approx. 1940s / 1950s.
Category
1940s German Art Deco Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Metal
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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