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Collectibles and Curiosities

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Collectibles and Curiosities For Sale
Period: 1950s
Period: 1940s
Monumental Malachite Obelisks In Malachite Quartz (Rock Crystal) And Gilt Bronze
Located in Madrid, ES
Monumental Malachite Obelisks In Malachite Quartz (Rock Crystal) And Gilt Bronze Italian Monumental Malachite Obelisks SPECTACULAR OBELIKS IN MALACHITE Quartz (rock crystal) AND GILT...
Category

1950s Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Malachite

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

Rebuilt Steinway Model M Grand Piano Black Gloss Cabinet Spade Legs
Located in Leeds, GB
Rebuilt, 1956, Steinway Model M grand piano for sale with a black case and brass fittings. Piano has an eighty-eight note keyboard and a two-pedal lyr...
Category

1950s German Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Brass

Mechanical Bank "Fishing Bears" Battery Operated with Original Box, circa 1950s
Located in Incline Village, NV
This is a later (1950's), albeit often overlooked and important mechanical bank that is quite rare, and highly sought after by collectors. Iconic bank collector F.H. Griffith wrote a...
Category

1950s Japanese Folk Art Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Tin

Albert Einstein Typed Letter, 1951, Signed
Located in Phoenix, AZ
This is a typed letter from Albert Einstein to Mrs. Clotilde Orszag of New York hand signed by the noted physicist. The letter, written in German, is d...
Category

1950s Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Paper

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

Industrial Design large Pulley, Cable Pull by Lyon Lilienfeld, 1950s
Located in Saarburg, RP
Old large Pulley Industrial Design - 1950/60s The old pulley (cable pull) in industrial design is an impressive piece of the past times. It combines the charm and sturdiness of the past industrial era. This iron pulley...
Category

1950s European Industrial Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Metal

Colorful Waldorf School Tractor with Movable Front Axle, 1950s Germany
Located in Nürnberg, Bayern
Old painted Waldorf school wooden toy tractor with movable front axle from Germany. 1950s / 1960s.
Category

1950s German Mid-Century Modern Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Metal

Large Nautical Signal Flag in Frame
Located in Norwell, MA
Framed linen signal flag fitted to a shadow box frame. This nautical flag represents the numeral ZERO. With makers label from Annin Flag Company. Stitched in panels of yellow and red...
Category

1950s North American Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Linen

Large Maritime Signal Flag in Shadow Box Frame
Located in Norwell, MA
Large linen nautical signal flag representing numeral FIVE. Stitched in panels of blue and yellow. White canvas hoist with manila rope and wood toggle. Big dimensions. Circa 1955. W...
Category

1950s North American Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Linen

Vintage Sensenich Wooden Propeller, circa 1945
Located in Colorado Springs, CO
This is a beautiful wooden Sensenich propeller, dating to 1945. The propeller is stamped "H 3668" on the rear of the hub. Given its construction and designation, it is likely this propeller was flown at the very end of WWII. The Sensenich Propeller Company was established in 1932 to manufacture fixed-pitch wood aircraft propellers for the growing aviation market. The company started in Pennsylvania by two brothers. Their first experiments included pushing propeller-driven farm wagons down the narrow dirt roads of Lancaster County and, in the winter, strapping an engine and their wooden propeller to an ice sled, which they tethered by a hundred-foot hawser to a stout stake set...
Category

1940s American Modern Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Wood

Brass Boat Compass in Varnished Wood Box
Located in Norwell, MA
Classic early twentieth century boat compass. The gimballed compass has been meticulously polished and lacquered. This classic marine instrument is fitted to its original hardwood bo...
Category

1950s North American Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Brass

Anemometer 1950 Coal Mining Vintage Science Equipment in Brass and Steel
Located in Miami, FL
Mechanical desk anemometer in brass. Very interesting scientific coal mining anemometer, made up back in the 1950's with brass and blackened steel parts...
Category

1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Brass, Steel, Iron

Vintage Nautical Signal Flag in Frame
Located in Norwell, MA
Framed maritime signal flag representing the number “6” in the international code of signals. This authentic and ocean used pennant is made of individual panels of black and white. F...
Category

1950s North American Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Cotton

Original vintage scale from the 20th Century 'Designed by Berkel in Belgium'
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

Diamond Smugglers by Ian Fleming, First Edition, in Dust Jacket, 1957
Located in Colorado Springs, CO
Fleming, Ian. The Diamond Smugglers. London: Jonathan Cape, 1957. Octavo. First edition, first impression. In the original dust jacket and original black cloth-textured boards. Prese...
Category

1950s American Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Paper

Vintage Nautical Signal Flag in Frame
Located in Norwell, MA
Framed maritime signal flag representing the number “6”, “SIX” in the international code of signals. This authentic and ocean used pennant is made of individual panels of black and w...
Category

1950s North American Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Cotton

XL Old School Map of Belgium 'Printed by Procure', 1950s
Located in Oostende, BE
XL Old school map of Belgium (Printed by Procure). Presumably from around 1950-1960.
Category

1950s Belgian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Metal

Early 20th Century Anatomical Plaster Medical Torso Figure
Located in London, GB
Early 20th century anatomical plaster medical torso figure This early 20th century life size anatomical medical torso would have originally been used as...
Category

1950s German Mid-Century Modern Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Plaster

Ships Engine Order Telegraph with Polish Commands
Located in Norwell, MA
Solid brass ships engine order bridge telegraph. This is an American ships telegraph that has been fitted with faceplates with ships commands in Polish language for forward and aster...
Category

1950s North American Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Brass

United's "Carnival Gun" Arcade Game, circa 1954 USA
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Vintage circa 1954 “Carnival Gun” arcade rifle game manufactured by United Mfg. Large Dale-style gun game. As the targets are on the move, use the gun to ...
Category

1950s American Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Metal

Yacht Pulley Block by Merriman
Located in Norwell, MA
Nautical pulley block by Merriman of Boston. Meticulously polished and lacquered. Entire unit is brass. Great maritime accent piece. Awesome restoration. Weight: 3 lbs. Overall ...
Category

1950s North American Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Brass

Ceramic and metal smoking set on tripod table. Italy, 1950s/60s
Located in Torino, IT
Ceramic smoking set and metal composed of an ashtray, a small mortar and a container, arranged on tripod table. Italy, 1950s/60s ORIGIN Italy PERIOD 1950s/60s MATERIALS Ceramics a...
Category

1950s Italian Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Metal, Enamel

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

Vintage Sheaffer Fountain Pen, circa 1950
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Sheaffer fountain pen, circa 1950. Manufactured by Sheaffers In original condition, with some visible signs of previous use and age, preserving a beautiful patina. Materials...
Category

1950s Spanish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Metal

Antique Vintage Kodak Wooden Trimming Board by Eastman
Located in San Diego, CA
Antique vintage kodak wooden trimming board by Eastman. The wooden cutting surface measures 6 inches tall by 5 inches wide by 3/4 inches tall. Some of the original writing can be seen on the surface of the board and the ruler on the top is visible. This board was used for trimming photographs. Beautiful and interesting piece for your use or library decor...
Category

1940s American Industrial Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Metal

Metal Virgin Lourdes Memorabilia Figure, circa 1950
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
'Miracle du cierge' Lourde metallic virgin statue. Made France, circa 1950. In original condition, with minor wear consistent with age and use, preserving a beautiful patina. ...
Category

1950s Spanish Modern Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Metal

Vintage Silver Plated Menorah Tray with Handles Made in England
Located in San Diego, CA
Beautiful and rare vintage silver plated tray for menorah or hanukkah. This beautiful tray adds light to your hanukkah ceremonies by holding...
Category

1950s English French Provincial Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Silver Plate

Antique Religious Book Sculptural Artwork, circa 1950
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Antique religious book artwork consisting of two books tied together by a thread. Two volumes of the Roman Missal published in Catalan by an Unknown ed...
Category

1950s Spanish Modern Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Paper

The Modulor, Le Corbusier, third printing, 1954
Located in Philadelphia, PA
The Modulor - Le Corbusier - third printing - 1954 In overall good condition. A classic for all designers and lovers of design.
Category

1950s Modern Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Paper

Brass Boat Compass in Varnished Wood Box
Located in Norwell, MA
Classic early twentieth century boat compass by Wilcox Crittenden of Middletown Connecticut. The gimballed compass has been meticulously polished and lacquered. This Classic marine i...
Category

1940s North American Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Brass

One of a Kind Sterling Necklace Designed by the Mexican Artist Alfredo Zalce
Located in Mexico, DF
Very rare one-of-a-kind jewelry piece designed by the famous Mexican artist Alfredo Zalce ( Mexico 1908-2003), and depicts an abstract fish shape hanging from a very special chain ma...
Category

1950s Mexican Organic Modern Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Sterling Silver

Vintage German Patinated Leather Medicine Ball
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Leather medicine ball, circa 1940s, Germany. Perfectly aged patina with natural wear/soiling present, as shown. H: 13" x Diameter: 12.75"
Category

1940s German Art Deco Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Leather

Rope Barometer. French Work by Adrien Audoux & Frida Minet, circa 1950
Located in Marcq-en-Barœul, Hauts-de-France
This very unusual barometer is made of rope. This is a French work by Adrien Audoux & Frida Minet. circa 1950.
Category

1950s French Mid-Century Modern Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Rope

Vintage 1950s Prop-Spinner
Located in San Francisco, CA
A Vintage Prop-Spinner from an early 1950s navy Neptune patrol plane.
Category

1950s American Craftsman Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Steel

Brass Boat Compass in Varnished Wood Box
Located in Norwell, MA
Classic early twentieth century boat compass by Dirigo of Seattle Washington. The entire gimballed compass has been meticulously polished and lacquered. This classic marine instrumen...
Category

1940s North American Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Brass

Vintage Brass Telescope on Walnut Tripod Stand
Located in North York, ON
Vintage brass telescope on walnut tripod stand. Sold as is for decorative purposes. Country of origin and manufacturer unknown. Estimated age c...
Category

1950s Unknown Industrial Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Metal, Brass

Hand Carved Wood and Leather Chess Set
Located in Tarrytown, NY
Intricately hand-carved wooden chess with leather game board. King piece measures 4.25" high.
Category

1940s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Leather, Wood

20th Century Made in Japan Brass Opera Binocular, 1950s
Located in LEGNY, FR
Very nice opera binocular from the 50s in its original fabric pouch and box. Made of brass. Removable handle using a small key. Adjustment of the view thanks to a wheel at the fron...
Category

1950s Japanese Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Brass

Original Ladislav Sutnar Catalog Design Progress
By Ladislav Sutnar
Located in St.Petersburg, FL
Oblong Quarto. Unpaginated. Original spiral-bound cream boards with modern design in color on cover reverse white lettering on red label of spiral, in original tan dustjacket with cu...
Category

1950s Czech Mid-Century Modern Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Paper

1950s Mid-Century Modern Olympia Sm-3 Portable Typewriter with Case
Located in Miami, FL
Vintage Mid-Century Modern Olympia SM3 portable typewriter with the original metal case. Circa 1950s. Features a Qwerty keyboard, a grayish green color body with chrome trims and the original metal case with a galvanized-like finish and the original lock key. Olympia SMs were once considered the Mercedes Benz of typewriters. The Hermes 3000...
Category

1950s German Mid-Century Modern Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Metal

Wurlitzer Jukebox from 1943 Multi Selector Phonograph from the United States
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

Original 1950 Stripped Table Lighter by Hilton
Located in Van Nuys, CA
Original chrome Stripped table lighter by Hilton with push button flint lock. Labeled "Hilton Japan".
Category

1950s Japanese Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Chrome

Vintage 1950s Tommy Gun Movie Prop Theatrical Toy Weapon
Located in Hyattsville, MD
Measures: L 32.5 x W 8 x Thk 6 in.
Category

1950s American Industrial Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Metal

Havana Brown Smocking Kit. Saddle Leather & Earthenware, Longchamp 50s, France
Located in Beuzevillette, FR
Smoker kit from the famous and luxurious Maison Longchamp. Beautiful tan, camel, havana, brown color. Comprising 4 pieces: an ashtray, a quadruple pipe holder, a tobacco jar and ma...
Category

1950s French Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Ceramic, Leather

Brass Boat Compass in Varnished Wood Box
Located in Norwell, MA
Classic early twentieth century boat compass by Wilcox Crittenden of Middletown Connecticut. The gimballed compass has been meticulously polished and lacquered. This classic marine i...
Category

1940s North American Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Brass

Giovanni Bellini by Philip Hendy and Ludwig Goldscheider, 1st Ed
Located in valatie, NY
Giovanni Bellini by Philip Hendy and Ludwig Goldscheider. ?Publisher Phaidon; 1945. 1st Ed hardcover with dust jacket. With 6 tipped in color plates and 122 b&w plates. Giovanni Bell...
Category

1940s English Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Paper

Antique Vintage Kodak Glass Beaker
Located in San Diego, CA
Vintage 1940s glass Kodak developer beaker. This amazing piece is minimal and cool, and features a large 32 ounce capacity for holding and measuring liquids. Used primarily in dark rooms for photo developer solution, this beaker would be a great gift for that avid photographer, or use as a very unique flower vase...
Category

1940s American Industrial Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Glass

Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Flag 1953
Located in Hastings, GB
British Royal Family A Rare And Historical Royal Coronation Flag from The Coronation Of HRH Queen Elizabeth 2nd, June 2nd 1953. Due To The Size T...
Category

1950s English Empire Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Cotton

City Lights
Located in London, GB
Original British trade advertisement for the 1931 silent Charlie Chaplin comedy romance City Lights. This trade advertisement was used for the films 1951 rerelease. The piece is co...
Category

1950s British Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Paper

Mechanical Bank "Child's Clock Bank" Japan, circa 1950s
By Marusan
Located in Incline Village, NV
A unique and quite scarce bank, made in Japan by the Marusan Company for the American market in the 1950's; this all tin bank is known as (according to the gr...
Category

1950s Japanese Folk Art Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Tin

Brass Boat Compass in Varnished Wood Box
Located in Norwell, MA
Classic early twentieth century boat compass by Star Compass of Boston. The gimballed yacht compass has been meticulously polished and lacquered. This Classic marine instrument is fi...
Category

1940s North American Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Brass

Mid-20th Century Baby Jesus Figure in the Cradle
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Mid-20th century hand painted baby Jesus figure made of plaster in the cradle. Made in Barcelona, Spain. In original condition, with minor wear consistent with age and use, pre...
Category

1950s Spanish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Plaster, Wood

Antique Religious Book Sculptural Artwork, circa 1950
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Antique religious book artwork consisting of two books tied together by a thread. Two volumes of the Roman Missal published in Catalan by an Unknown ed...
Category

1950s Spanish Modern Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Paper

1950s Belgian Transportation Sign
Located in High Point, NC
A vintage Belgian wooden sign made circa 1950. This retired transportation sign used to hang over a Brussels tram stop, printed neatly in French an...
Category

1950s Belgian Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Metal

Mid Century Japanese Tin Litho Toy Car Replicas Fords 1908 & 1925 Touring Cars
Located in Port Jervis, NY
Japanese tin toy touring cars from the late 50s. In excellent antique condition, these toys were never played with. Friction cars, Near mint condition...
Category

1950s Japanese Industrial Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Metal

Brass Boat Compass in Varnished Wood Box
Located in Norwell, MA
Classic early 20th century boat compass by American Maker. The gimballed compass has been meticulously polished and lacquered. This classic marine instrument is fitted to its origina...
Category

1940s North American Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Brass

Brass Boat Compass in Varnished Wood Box
Located in Norwell, MA
Classic early twentieth century boat compass by Star Compass of Boston. The gimballed compass has been meticulously polished and lacquered. This classic marine instrument is fitted t...
Category

1940s North American Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Brass

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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