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Collectibles and Curiosities For Sale
Period: 1930s
Period: 1920s
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

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

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

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

Voltaire's Candide, Illustrated by Clara Tice
Located in Middletown, NY
This edition, enriched by Cara Tice's racy and whimsical illustrations, is an "Exact reprint of the earliest English text" and was printed in Holland by the Johann Ecnchedé en Zonen ...
Category

1920s American Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Paper

Ronson USA 1934 Art Deco Black Lacquered Rondette Desk Lighter in Stainless Stee
Located in Miami, FL
A stainless steel lighter designed by Ronson. Very beautiful desk Rondette lighter, created in New Jersey United States by The Ronson Co. during the art deco period, back in the 1934. This is a very unusual lighter designed with wonderful geometric patterns and crafted in solid steel with a central round body set upon two smaller cylindrical feet. Embellished with black lacquer, creating a great contrast with the base polished steel. Extremely well made and solid construction with very nice care and attention to all details. This surely is a very decorative piece and a great conversation item in gorgeous and exceptional preserved condition. Weight: 104.9 Grams, (67.24 Dwt). Measurements: 66 mm by 21 mm by 82 mm (2.59 x 0.83 x 3.23 Inches). Marks: Stamped with the maker's mark and signed, "RONSON US PAT.RE.NO.19023 RONSON RONDETTE ART METAL WKS INC NEWARK NJ US PAT.RE.NO.19023". The Ronson lighter company started as The Art Metal Works in 1897 and was incorporated on July 20, 1898, by Max Hecht, Louis Vincent Aronson and Leopold Herzig, in Newark, New Jersey. Louis V. Aronson was a huge creative driving force for the company; and, with a few business adjustments, including the addition of Alexander...
Category

1930s American Art Deco Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Steel, Stainless Steel

Ship Wheel from a Wheeler Yacht
Located in Norwell, MA
Solid brass ships wheel with the name wheeler cast into one of the spokes. Wheeler was a famous maker of yachts, up to seventy five feet, cabin cruisers, etc. Hemingway wrote his ...
Category

1930s North American Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Brass

Cartier Art Deco, 18 Karat Yellow Gold Powder, Lipstick 4.365 Oz., Rare, Paris
Located in Soquel, CA
Cartier 18 Karat Yellow Gold Powder - Lipstick 4.365 oz., Art Deco, Rare - Paris Rare and Precious Object from Cartier Paris, 1920-1925, .750-18KT yellow gold, carved antique Jade, 30 Ceylon sapphires, enamel. The Jadeite Jade plate comes from the apprêts. The term apprêts referred to a stock of fragments from disassembled jewelry and other objects, including ancient items...
Category

1920s French Art Deco Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Jade, Gold

O. Henry 'William Sydney Porter' Complete Works in 13 Leatherbound Volumes
Located in San Francisco, CA
Henry, O. (William Sydney Porter). Published by Doubleday, Doran & Company, Inc. Thirteen volumes, small octavo, blue three-quarter morocco and cloth boards, raised bands, gilt toole...
Category

1920s American Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Leather, Paper

Novels of Charlotte, Emily, & Anne Bronte - 6 Vols - 1922 - ILLUSTRATED BY DULAC
Located in Hillsborough, NJ
AUTHOR: BRONTE, Charlotte, Emily and Anne. TITLE: The Novels of Charlotte, Emily, & Anne Bronte. PUBLISHER: London: J. M. Dent & Sons, Ltd., 1922. DESCRIPT...
Category

1920s British Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Leather

Petite Vintage Micro Mosaic Pin Brooch Flowers Millefiori, Venice Italy
Located in Nuernberg, DE
A gorgeous petite micro mosaic jewelry. No restoration has been carried out on this charming little piece, which remains in very stabile and funct...
Category

1930s Italian Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Metal

Nautical Pulley Block
Located in Norwell, MA
Antique ships pulley block that has a brass sheave and pins. This has been completely restored. It is now a piece of art for your shelf or table. J...
Category

1920s North American Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Brass

Green and Silver "Column" Petrol Table Chain Lighter by Daltis
Located in Van Nuys, CA
Green and silver column table petrol lighter with chain cap by Daltis New York City. Measures: 5.5" tall x 2.5" base diameter.
Category

1930s Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Chrome

Art Deco Model of a Boeing 314 Clipper Airplane Circa 1938
Located in London, GB
A superb Art Deco Model of a Boeing 314 Clipper Aeroplane Circa 1938. The Boeing Clipper was a long range Flying Boat made by the Boeing Aircraft Company i...
Category

1930s American Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Wood

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

1930s North American Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Brass

Carl Elmberg, Tobacco Jar in Cast Iron, Näfveqvarns Bruk, Swedish Grace, 1920s
Located in Stockholm, SE
Decorative tobacco jar in cast iron with decor of animals and figures. Designed by Carl Elmberg for Näfveqvarns bruk, Swedish Grace, 1920s. Carl Elmberg (1889–1955) sculptor and ...
Category

1920s Swedish Art Deco Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Wrought Iron

Rare Santa, Clown and Lantern 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. Clown Head is approx. 3 1/4" high and 1 3/4" at the widest point, think it is approx. 1940s or older. Lantern is approx. 2 5/8" high (1910s) and the little Santa...
Category

1930s German Folk Art Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Wire

Genito-Urinary Anatomical Chart Fritz Frohse
By Fritz Frohse, Nystrom / Frohse Art
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Genito-Urinary Anatomical Chart by Fritz Frohse. Dated 1922. Paper mounted on canvas. Shows wear but still presents very well!
Category

1920s German American Classical Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Canvas, Paper

Engine Order Telegraph with German Commands
Located in Norwell, MA
Solid brass ships telegraph with German commands. With engraved maker’s plate on top marked: "Lubecker, Maschinenbau - Gesell shaft, or LMG, Ship...
Category

1930s European Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Brass

Early Century Hollywood Mansion Home Movie Screen Director Cinema Prop Curiosity
Located in Hyattsville, MD
Very large roll-up movie screen in a box. Overall W 75 x D 12.5 x H 57.5 in. Screen W 68 x H 53 in.
Category

1920s American Industrial Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Metal

Vintage Pulley by Merriman of Boston
Located in Norwell, MA
Double sheave yacht pulley with ash case and tobin bronze pins, two polished and lacquered pins and steel "Side sister Hooks". Awesome restoration of this ...
Category

1930s North American Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Brass

Hand Polished White Agate and Chrome Table Lighter, circa 1930
Located in Van Nuys, CA
1930s bouquet hand-polished white agate chrome steel table lighter with an auto flip mechanism. Perfect for the home lounge or small bar. 1930, United states.
Category

1930s Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Agate

A. A. Milne, a Fine Letter Signed Mentioning Christopher Robin and Pooh, 1931
Located in Hillsborough, NJ
AUTHOR: MILNE, A. A.. TITLE: A fine ALS mentioning Christopher Robin and Pooh. PUBLISHER: Chelsea, 1931. DESCRIPTION: AUTOGRAPH LETTER SIGN...
Category

1930s British Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Paper

Winston Churchill, Marlborough His Life and Times, All First Editions, 1933/8
Located in Hillsborough, NJ
AUTHOR: CHURCHILL, Winston S. TITLE: Marlborough His Life and Times. PUBLISHER: London: George G. Harrap, 1933, 34, 36, 38. DESCRIPTION: ALL FIRST EDITIONS. 4 vols., 9-1/16...
Category

1930s British Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Leather

Paul Emile Brandt 1928 Paris Art Deco Enameled Cigarette Box with Eggshell
Located in Miami, FL
Enamelled cigarette box designed by Paul Emile Brandt (1883-1952). Extraordinary cigarette case, created in Paris France during the Art Deco ...
Category

1920s French Art Deco Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Silver, Enamel

Ronson 1940 Art Deco Machine Age Geometric Table Touch Tip Octette Lighter
Located in Miami, FL
A 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 Jersey in the United States. This lighter began a very successful era for Ronson Touch Tip series of lighters which pushed out the strike lighters...
Category

1930s North American Art Deco Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Chrome, Enamel, Steel

Ship's Engine Order Telegraph by Charles Cory and Son of New York
Located in Norwell, MA
Solid brass ship's engine order telegraph with faceplates from Charles Cory and Son Patentees, New York. Smaller size than most, meticulously polished and lacquered. Overall Dime...
Category

1920s American Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Brass

Pair of Paintings by Charles Ambrose of Two Runners, the First to Finish
Located in Oxfordshire, GB
Athelitics Watercolour Paintings By Charles Ambrose. Original watercolor en grisaille on board of two athletic runners by Charles Ambrose. A rare subject 'Track & Field', a very di...
Category

1920s Sporting Art Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Paper, Paint

Yacht Pulley of Rosewood and Brass
Located in Norwell, MA
Nautical pulley block by Merriman from the early twentieth century. Brass badges with trident symbols. This relic has been meticulously restored. The r...
Category

1920s North American Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Brass

Charming Miniature Seating Group in Bauhaus Style from the 1930s-1940s
Located in Knivsta, SE
Charming miniature seating group in aluminium and with a table top in teak. Manufactured during the 1930s-1940s in period-typical Bauhaus style. Measure: The whole group, arranged l...
Category

1930s European Bauhaus Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Aluminum

"Penthouse, " Perfume Group by Lelong in Art Deco Box, Unusually Fine Condition
By Lucien Lelong
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Although the perfume industry in France and America embraced the new streamlined and geometric styles of the 1920s and 30s -- which we would call Art Deco tod...
Category

1930s French Art Deco Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Glass

Thick Walking Stick with a Large Silver Handle, Stamped 800
Located in Berlin, DE
large walking stick with thick silver handle. From Germany around 1930 ebonized wood.
Category

1930s Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Silver

Solid Brass Ships Porthole
Located in Norwell, MA
Highly polished ships porthole with hinged door and four dog bolts. Meticulously polished and lacquered. The tempered glass has some imperfections from y...
Category

1930s European Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Brass

R. E. Lee: a Biography by Douglas Southhall Freeman, Four Volume Set, 1936
Located in Colorado Springs, CO
Freeman, Douglas Southall. R. E. Lee: A Biography. New York: Charles Scribner’s Sons, 1936. Four volumes, Octavo. Early edition. Rebound in ¼ leather and cloth, with raised bands, gilt titles and tooling to spine, new endpapers, and a matching archival slipcase to house all four volumes. Presented is a beautiful, four volume set of R. E. Lee: A Biography, by author and historian Douglas Southall Freeman...
Category

1930s American Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Paper

Early 20th Century Keystone Pressed Steel Toy Steam Shovel
Located in Port Jervis, NY
Fabulous and a survivor of almost 100 years old. A very decorative piece to lighten a room and inject some fun. Very chic. In excellent antique condition with lots of patina. Door fo...
Category

1920s American Industrial Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Steel

Ulysses by James Joyce, First Authorized American Edition, 1934
By James Joyce
Located in Colorado Springs, CO
Joyce, James. Ulysses. New York: Random House, 1934. First Authorized American Edition. Octavo. In publisher’s original red and black stamped cream cloth boards, original first issue printed dust jacket, and a custom folding slipcase. Presented is a first authorized American edition of Ulysses, a modernist novel by James Joyce. The book was published in New York by Random House, in 1934. It is presented in its original red and black stamped cream cloth boards, original first issue printed dust jacket, and a custom folding slipcase. James Joyce originally conceived of Ulysses as a short story to be included in Dubliners, but decided to publish it as a long novel instead. Ulysses takes place on a single day, June 16, 1904, in Dublin, and follows three main characters: Stephen Dedalus, Leopold Bloom and his wife Molly Bloom. Divided into 18 episodes, Joyce drastically shifts narrative style with each new episode, completely abandoning the previously accepted notions of plot, setting, and characters. It is considered by many to be the paramount in Modernist literature. Ulysses has a very interesting publishing history, with at least 18 editions and numerous variations of each edition. It was first serialized in the American journal The Little Review...
Category

1930s American Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Paper

Antique Jugend, Art Nouveau Pendant Necklace in Silver by F. Bang Denmark
Located in Esbjerg, DK
A 1920s handmade silver pendant with original 60 cm handmade chain in an unusual pattern. Made by the Danish Silversmith F. Bang circa 1920 in a style reminiscent of Georg Jensen. Th...
Category

1920s Danish Jugendstil Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Silver

1930s Wrist Military Compass in the Shape of a Watch Antique Surveyor Instrument
Located in Milan, IT
Wrist military compass in the shape of a watch in brass, bakelite and leather strap. English manufacture from the 1930s used by English army officers...
Category

1930s Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Bakelite

Vintage Anti Shank Golf Club
Located in Oxfordshire, GB
Mashie-Niblick golf club by Gibson of Kinghorn. A good Mashie-Niblick iron (Smith's model) made by Gibson of Kinghorn with a hickory shaft and suede leather grip. The head with hand...
Category

1930s British Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Steel

Circa 1930s French Silk Brocade Clutch
Located in Chapel Hill, NC
circa 1930s French silk brocade clutch with gilt brass & carved carnelian in woven brass clasp. Back with hand grip. Some losses near the top on both sides...
Category

1930s European Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Silk, Brocade

Arts Decoratifs Et Industriels Modernes Encyclopedie, 12 Books, 1925 Art Deco
Located in Oakland, CA
‘Encyclopedie des Arts Decoratifs et Industriels Modernes’ (Encyclopedia of Modern Decorative and Industrial Arts in the twentieth century) complete set of 12 original books...
Category

1920s French Art Deco Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Paper

chinoiserie Decorated Circular Barometer, circa 1930s
By Acme Photo
Located in Dereham, GB
Chinoiserie decorated circular barometer, circa 1930s. Black background with gold decoration,  Depicting, houses, temple, figures, trees & foliage, Brass face, Badge on back, re...
Category

1930s European Chinoiserie Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Lacquer

Large Original Vintage Map of Persia / Iran, circa 1920
Located in St Annes, Lancashire
Great maps of Persia. Unframed. Original color. By John Bartholomew and Co. Edinburgh Geographical Institute. Published, circa 1920. Free shipping.  
Category

1920s British Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Paper

King Edward VIII Coronation Flag 1937
Located in Hastings, GB
British Royal Family A Rare And Historical Royal Coronation Flag from The Coronation Of HRH King Edward VIII, this flag was produced to commemorate th...
Category

1930s English Empire Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Cotton

The Works of William Shakespeare, Mayfair Edition Bound in English Niger Leather
By Albert Maurin
Located in Morristown, NJ
The Works of William Shakespeare - The Definitive Text, With Notes and Glossary, The Mayfair Edition, New York Three small octavo volu...
Category

1920s American Art Nouveau Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Gold

Large Original Vintage Map of the South Pole, circa 1920
Located in St Annes, Lancashire
Great map of the South pole. Unframed. Original color. By John Bartholomew and Co. Edinburgh Geographical Institute. Published, circa 1920.   
Category

1920s British Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Paper

Early 20th Century Folk Art Votive Ship Model
Located in London, GB
Early 20th century Folk Art Votive Ship Model An early 20th century Folk Art votive ship model. Scratch built using wood and metal. It sits firmly on a bespoke display stand. We believe this example to be French in origin due to it having red, white, and blue beads wrapped around the base of each mast pole. A votive ship, sometimes called a church ship, is a ship model displayed in a church. As a rule, votive ships are constructed and given as gifts to the church by seamen and ship builders. Dimensions in inches: H 12 x D 17 x W 6 Origin: France circa: Early 20th century Condition: Aged Completely solid in structure and form, aged surface as shown with a deep natural patina across all areas. The ship is secured to the base. With some loss and obvious age, this item is still very charming. The House of Antiques...
Category

1920s Folk Art Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Wood

Early 20th C Cast Iron Toy Sedan by A C Williams Original Red with Nickel Wheels
By A. C. Williams Company
Located in Port Jervis, NY
Fabulous and classic cast iron toy from the early thirties. In what looks like to the original Red with Nickel Wheels and the right amount of wear to th...
Category

1930s American Industrial Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Iron, Nickel

1936s Italian Savoia Marchetti SM 85 Walnut Lamellar Propeller Antique Aviation
Located in Milan, IT
The first and only example of a walnut lamellar propeller of the Savoia Marchetti SM 85 prototype flown for the first time on 19 December 1936 by Adriano Bacula, the company's test pilot. During the tests some modifications were made, including the change of the propeller from wooden two-blade to metal three-blade. On the prop it reads: SAVOIA MARCHETTI 85 B.G. PIAGGIO VII DIAM: 2:70 PASS 170 – 2.84 DIS 0599 MN 029252 The S.M. 85 was developed by the Italian company Savoia Marchetti in the 1930s as a dive bomber based on a project by Eng. Alessandro Marchetti for the Regia Aeronautica...
Category

1930s Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Wood

Antique Danish Silver Charm Bracelet with 5 Charms
Located in Esbjerg, DK
Charming charm bracelet in adult size (19 cm). Easily adjustable to a smaller size due to the old lock mechanism. It is made from 826/1000 silver and is...
Category

1920s Danish Art Deco Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Silver

Zenith 6-S-78 Tombstone Restored Bluetooth Radio '1936'
Located in Oakland, CA
1936 Zenith tombstone model 6-S-27. The radio is a spectacular combination of angles and veneers, with the iconic multi-colored and oversized dial. This radio is one of the large tombstone cabinets offering a full range 8-inch speaker and a tremendous quality sound. This model offers both Broadcast and Shortwave reception. The cabinet has been restored and all electronic elements have been checked or replaced so it operates without any issues. It has 1/8th jack input to use with a Bluetooth transmitter or any device you would like to hook up directly. This will allow you an unlimited choice of content which will allow you to use this with your iPhone, smartphone, iPods, or record player. Access your old vinyl, or log on to Pandora, Apple Music, or the playlist on your computer to provide the tunes and use the Bluetooth connection to bring the warm, bright, analog sound of a tube amplifier...
Category

1930s Art Deco Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Wood

Antique Hand Carved Turkish Wood Camel Rocker with Leather Cushion Seat
Located in Chicago, IL
Antique Hand Carved Turkish Wood Camel Rocker with Leather Cushion Seat One of a kind and unique carved wood rocking camel. It’s a child’s size, hand made and very cool and very o...
Category

1930s Turkish Islamic Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Leather, Wood

Now We Are Six, by A. A. Milne
Located in Middletown, NY
Milne, A.A. (Alan Alexander: 1882–1956). NOW WE ARE SIX. London: Methuen & Co. Ltd., 1927. First Edition. Crown 8vo, 7 1/2 x 5 in (191 x 125 mm), pp. xi + 103 + colophon. With its...
Category

1920s English Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Paper

Bronze Jewelry Box Ancient Sarcophagus Reliefs Greek Roman Caesar Gladiator
Located in Hyattsville, MD
A wonderful heavy cast bronze, hinged/lidded box, lightly polished, and glowing. Depicting ancient relief scenes / characters of Ancient Roman or Greek...
Category

1920s Italian Greek Revival Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Bronze

Dorothy M.T. Colles Anthology Manuscript in Painted Binding
Located in Middletown, NY
This elegantly decorated Florentine album belonged to the young Dorothy Colles, who received it as a present in 1931 when she was 14 years of age. On the cover Colles notes "This boo...
Category

1930s European Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Leather, Paper

Half Model
Located in Norwell, MA
Exceptional half model of an American sailing yacht. Beautifully carved hull with a rich dark patina. Large scale, quite beamy but still sleek. Mounted to an original backboard. This...
Category

1930s North American Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Wood

Calcolatrice Addizionatrice Merchant, Anni 20
Located in Felino, IT
calcolatrice addizionatrice. Marchant mod hs8-36961 del 1920 c.a in ottimo stato di conservazione. pare funzionare, ma non ne garantisco l'utilizzabilita' totale. i meccanismi comunq...
Category

1920s European Industrial Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Bakelite

Art Deco Wooden Airplane Aviation Model, France 1930s
Located in Atlanta, GA
Stylish Art Deco wooden airplane model mounted on a geometric wood and metal display. This Art Deco model airplane is in solid wood with a lovely warm patina. It has one large Lucite...
Category

1930s French Art Deco Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Metal, Copper

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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