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Collectibles and Curiosities For Sale
Period: Late 20th Century
Period: 1930s
Mercury Glass Three Bird Christmas Tree Clip-On Ornament, Vintage German, 1930s
Located in Nuernberg, DE
A rare vintage clip-on bird ornament collection. The size given in the dimensions section refers to the largest item seen in the first picture. These ornaments, were made from ultra-...
Category

1930s German Folk Art Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Mercury Glass

Cotton Nautical Signal Flag for Letter W
Located in Norwell, MA
Framed cotton signal flag for letter W. Nicely framed. Cotton flag with canvas hoist, wood toggle and Manila rope. Nicely framed.
Category

1980s North American Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Cotton

Double Front and Back Lithograph Depicting Portovenere and Pisa in Italy, 1930s
Located in Milan, IT
Double front and back lithograph depicting Portovenere and Piazza dei Miracoli in Pisa, dating back to the thirties. Very good condition. Cm 21.5 x 27.5.  
Category

1930s Italian Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Paper

Antique Vintage Spun Cotton Stork Bird Christmas Ornament Germany 1930s
Located in Nuernberg, DE
A rare Christmas ornament. It was made from wire and cotton, this would be a great antique addition for your Christmas or feather tree. You can also use it just to display it in a de...
Category

1930s German Folk Art Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Wire

16-Inch Terrestrial Globe 1986 National Geographic
Located in Ottawa, Ontario
A 16-INCH TERRESTRIAL GLOBE 1986 NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC Large terrestrial globe with paper gores on a stylish black lucite base scale 1: 31,350,000 18" inches, (45.5cm.) high. 16" in...
Category

Late 20th Century American Modern Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Metal

Natural Round Conch Shell
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Fabulous round natural conch shell for tabletop decor. Great addition to your boho chic inspired interiors and table tops.
Category

1970s Other Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Shell

S.T. DuPont Laque De Chine Lighter with Box and Papers
Located in Palm Springs, CA
A nice DuPont Butane lighter with a laque de chine and gold plate finish. In good condition with the original box and manual and blank guarantee card. The lighter works. I’ve had a n...
Category

1980s French Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Metal, Gold Plate

1920s Bostonian Tailors Paperweight Curiosity Desk Object Architect Sculpture
Located in Hyattsville, MD
Wonderful desk relic from a Bostonian Tailor.
Category

1930s American Industrial Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Metal

French Signed Lalique Crystal Tokyo Table Lighter with Frosted Floral Medallions
Located in Ijzendijke, NL
When it comes to defining elegance and affluence as a lifestyle, Lalique crystal comes to mind for most people. From its earliest days to present times, the Lalique Company has consi...
Category

1930s French Art Deco Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Crystal, Brass

Vintage Set of Poker Chips with Cards and Dice
Located in San Diego, CA
Vintage set of poker chips with two decks of cards and five dice, circa 1980s. The set is in very good condition and contains 300 Bakelite "chips" (150 white, 100 red, 50 blue). The ...
Category

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

Materials

Paper, Acrylic

Royal Doulton Kingsware Lemonade Jug with Golf Scene
Located in Oxfordshire, GB
Royal Doulton Kingsware Lemonade jug. A Royal Doulton "Airbrush Brown" Kingsware lemonade jug with a golf scene by Charles Crombie in relief. ...
Category

1930s English Sporting Art Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Ceramic

Vintage Wood-N-Stuff Handcrafted Nautical Handmade Oak Rowboat Coffee Table 46"
Located in Dayton, OH
Vintage scaled down row boat or dinghy coffee / cocktail Table. Handmade from oak with beautifully stained and painted wood with brass screws, a custom glass top, oars and sturdy wo...
Category

1970s American Bohemian Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Glass, Oak

Table Lighter Bordeaux Ceramic and Brass by Tommaso Barbi, Italy, 1970s
Located in Rome, IT
Table lighter in bordeaux ceramic and brass by the Italian designer Tommaso Barbi. Made in Italy in the 1970s. The lighter is functioning and Barbi's engraved initials...
Category

1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Metal, Brass

Time Zone Pinball Arcade Game, 1972 USA
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Vintage 'TIME ZONE' pinball machine from 1972. Made by Bally Manufacturing Corporation and designed by Jim Patla. In excellent working condition. Great visuals and sounds. Extremely ...
Category

1970s American Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Metal

Michael Graves Postmodern Chess and Checkers Set Game
Located in North Miami, FL
This original Postmodern Michael Graves chess set with checkers pieces has been fully restored with the wood which is 2 variants of maple. The wood was redone and new felt was put on the bottom. The resin players are a composition. It has velvet storage compartments inside for the players when you wish to use the checkers game part. Michael Graves was a Memphis Group designer and a member of the New York Five...
Category

1990s American Post-Modern Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Velvet, Wood

Helmut Newton Sumo - Enormous Limited Edition Book with Philippe Starck Stand
Located in Grand Cayman, KY
Experience the unparalleled grandeur of the Helmut Newton Sumo, the biggest and most expensive book production of the 20th century. This limited edition masterpiece, hand signed and numbered by Helmut Newton himself, is a testament to the influential legacy of one of the most intriguing and controversial photographers in history. Accompanying this extraordinary book is a meticulously crafted bookstand designed by Philippe Starck, adding a touch of sophistication to its display. Immerse yourself in the monumental world of SUMO, a titan of a book measuring an impressive 50 x 70 cm (20 x 27.5 in.) and weighing approximately 30 kg (66 lb.). With 464 pages, it breaks all previous records and stands as a truly unique publication. Edited by June Newton...
Category

1990s German Post-Modern Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Steel, Chrome

Rare Art Deco Epiphone Electar Model M Lap Steel Electric Guitar and amp combo
By Epiphone
Located in Buffalo, NY
Epiphone Electar Model M Lap Steel Electric Guitar, with original matching amplifier...black lacquer finish, maple body and etched aluminum top. A very early...
Category

1930s American Art Deco Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Aluminum

Ronson 1936 Pik a Cig Magic Monkey Striker Touch Lighter & Cigarette Dispenser
Located in Miami, FL
Art deco magic monkey mechanical dispenser box designed by Ronson. An extremely rare and very decorative mechanical desk box, created in the city of Newark, New Jersey United States by The Ronson Metal Works Co. during the art deco period, back in the 1936. This is the mechanical Pik-a-Cig Monkey box...
Category

1930s American Art Deco Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Bronze, Enamel, Steel

Poul Hennigsen Grand Piano
Located in Studio City, CA
Original Poul Hennigsen piano, circa 1930. Has been fully remastered and in beautiful condition. In 1930, the Danish creative genius, Poul Henningsen, reimagined what a piano could be when he created the PH Grand Piano...
Category

1930s Danish Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Leather

Vintage German Made Telefunken Kra Red Bakelite Radio, Pop Design, Space Age
Located in Milano, IT
Vintage Space Age / Pop era Telefunken "KRA" radio, made in Germany and crafted in orange bakelite. Its captivating design and bright color make it very contemporary, and will bring ...
Category

1970s German Space Age Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Plastic, Bakelite

Araki's Complete Book Collection 1-20 + Satchin and Mabo
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Works of Nobuyoshi Araki Book Complete Collection 1-20 plus special book Nobuyoshi Araki Book Satchin and His Brother Mabo / 1stn in 1997 The works of Nobuyoshi Araki Book collection complete 1-20 published in Japan in 1996 by Heibonsha Limited, Publisher. 21 books complete collection limited edition. Embark on a visual journey through the prolific artistry of Nobuyoshi Araki with the "Works of Nobuyoshi Araki Book Complete Collection 1-20." This limited edition set, published in Japan in 1996 by Heibonsha Limited, Publisher, comprises 21 books that encapsulate the diverse facets of Araki's creative genius. Nobuyoshi Araki, born on May 25, 1940, is a revered Japanese photographer...
Category

1990s Japanese Mid-Century Modern Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Paper

Paris in the Thirties, French Book by Jacques Lanzmann, 1987
Located in Atlanta, GA
Paris des Années 30, (Paris in The Thirties), French Book by Jacques Lanzmann, 1987. Numerous photographs in black and white from the Keystone pr...
Category

1980s French Modern Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Paper

Bvlgari Bulgari High Jewelry Luxury Coffee Table Book, circa 1990s
Located in New York, NY
This is a beautiful coffee table (or library book for a home) about the history of the iconic Italian luxury jeweler Bvlgari (or Bulgari), circa 1990s, Italy. Book covers Bulgari's history in creating iconic gorgeous jewelry and its connection, globally, to architecture, fashion, entertainment - lifestyle. Gorgeous book. Printed in Italy. First Edition. Book is contained in a well-made decorated slipcase that matches the jacket of the hardcover book. This was the first book ever published on Bulgari, it is a lavishly illustrated exploration of one of Italy's greatest jewelers. With the use of new photographs together with archival pictures the book traces the development of the Bulgari style, which has captivated movie stars and Royalty since its start in Rome in 1884. Title: BVLGARI (BULGARI) Publisher: Leonardo Arte srl, Milan Publish: 1996, First edition Binding: Hard slipcover pocket, perfect-bound, hard cover with four-color process 'dust' jacket. Printing: Printed in Italy. Dimensions: Width: 13.25 in (33.66 cm) x Depth: 12.5 in (31.75 cm) Blue Italian Murano bowl...
Category

1990s Italian Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Paper

COLUMBIA 1931 Antique Dirigible Zeppelin Movie Figural Desk Cigarette Holder
Located in Miami, FL
A Columbia production dirigible cigarette desk box. This is a rare desk box of a Dirigible Cigarette Pack Holder created in America during the art deco period. This is a novelty ite...
Category

1930s American Art Deco Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Brass, Zinc

Model of the British Royal Navy Frigate HMS Victory
Located in Norwell, MA
Plank on frame model of the famous English warship HMS Victory. This model is planked in varnished walnut above the waterline and copper sheathed below. Fu...
Category

1990s North American Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Wood

Vintage 1934 Sonora Sonorette Radio, italy, 1934
Located in Roma, IT
Vintage Sonora Sonorette Radio. 1st Series 1934. Fair condition.
Category

1930s Italian Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Resin

Alexander Calder: Crags and Critters of 1974 (Signed)
Located in New York, NY
Catalog of Calder sculptures accompanying an exhibition at New York’s Perls Gallery from Oct. 15-Nov. 16, 1974. Square 8vo (9.25” x 9.25”), 16 unnumbered pages, printed wrappers, col...
Category

1970s American Modern Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Paper

Large, Art Deco, Sterling Silver-Mounted Threaded Crystal Match Striker
Located in New York, NY
Large, Art Deco, sterling silver-mounted threaded crystal match striker, London, 1931, Henry Perkins and Sons - makers. Measures 2 3/4 inches high x 3 1/2 inches in diameter. Dark sp...
Category

1930s English Art Deco Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Crystal, Sterling Silver

Thorens Swiss AD 30 Upright Music Box with Ten Discs, circa 1970
Located in Evergreen, CO
Manufactured by the renowned Thorens Company of Switzerland in the mid-20th century, this delightful music box is comprised of a quality fruitwood case with a glass door that allows ...
Category

1970s Swiss Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Fruitwood

Cartier High Jewelry Exhibition Coffee Table Book, 1997
Located in New York, NY
CARTIER 1900 - 1939 Paris, London, New York. This special hard-cover book was published in honor of the exhibition, 'Cartier 1900 - 1939', held at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, from April 2, 1997, through August 3, 1997, and the British Museum, London, from October 3, 1997, through February 1, 1998. This exhibition was organized jointly by the two museums. Foreword by: Dr. Robert G. W. Anderson, Director, British Museum "The firm of Cartier is widely recognized as one the world's greatest designers and manufacturers of jewellery and objects d'art. This exhibition is timed to coincide with the 150th anniversary of the founding of the company in Paris in 1847." Preface: Judy Rudoe, Department of Medieval and Later Antiquities, British Museum "Previous exhibitions devoted to Cartier have encompassed the entire period of the firm's history, from 1847 to the present. The aim of this exhibition is to take a fresh look at a more closely defined period, from around 1900, when the firm's distinctive style becomes identifiable, to the end of the 1930s, which saw a dramatic change of style that led to a quite different aesthetic." A gorgeous exhibition book highlighting the first four decades of the 20th century when the renowned Paris-based firm known as Cartier expanded to London and New York. Specially taken photographs present a breathtaking array of necklaces, bracelets, brooches, rings, as well as cigarette cases, clocks, and objects d'art. 450+ illustrations, 350 in full color. A great piece to start a collection, add to one, display on a coffee table, library shelf, etc. Author: Judy Rudoe Publisher: Harry N. Abrams Inc., New York, NY, and The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York. Published: 1997 Language: English Printed and bound: Italy Binding: Hard Cover with cloth binding in red burgundy with silver embossing Dust-Jacket: High-gloss, four-color process. Designed by: Harry Green...
Category

Late 20th Century Italian Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Paper

Collection of Vintage 1970s Skateboards
Located in Highland, IN
This colorful collection of twelve vintage skateboards from the 1970s includes examples by GT, the Scamp, the Sizzler, the Free Former and a variety...
Category

1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Plastic

1930s English Antique Hand Painted Wooden Toy Solider Castle Fort
Located in Stamford, CT
1930s English hand painted wooden toy fort. Made as a toy fort for lead soldiers, the fort included a working draw bridge and moveable ramp. The towers are also removable to assist w...
Category

1930s British Medieval Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Wood

Santa Claus Belsnickle Christmas Chocolate Mold Antique 1930s, German
Located in Nuernberg, DE
A gorgeous chocolate mold. Made of metal, not marked. Beautiful and ready to use or display, with nice patina. The 1890s to 1920s were the golden age of Chocolate production and cons...
Category

1930s German Folk Art Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Metal

Basilique Bonsebours Souvenir Building Architectural Model vintage France 1930s
Located in Nuernberg, DE
A decorative building sculpture as a souvenir. Some wear with a nice patina, but this is due to age. Made of metal. This item was purchased as a souvenir in Paris, France and was pro...
Category

1930s French Art Nouveau Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Metal

Vintage Decorative Halved Ammonite, African, Fossil, Display Plinth, Cretaceous
Located in Hele, Devon, GB
This is a vintage decorative halved ammonite. An African, opalized fossil on display plinth, dating to Cretaceous period millions of years ago, polished and presented circa 1970. Delightful example with a dual view of the fascinating fossil data Displaying a desirable aged patina and in good original order Lightly polished shell...
Category

Late 20th Century African Modern Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Natural Fiber, Wood

English Art Deco Sterling Silver Cigarette Holder Case
Located in New York, NY
A beautiful English Art Deco period sterling silver tobacco cigarette holder case, circa early-20th century, England. Marked 'Sterling' on inside...
Category

1930s English Art Deco Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Sterling Silver

Franklin MInt Miniature Clocks Collection, 1980s
Located in Den Haag, NL
Beautiful collection of 12 miniature clocks in Mahogany cabinet, produced by Franklin Mint in 1980. In very good condition considering its age of 37 years old, some minor traces of ...
Category

1980s North American Victorian Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Brass

Brutalist Brass Necklace
Located in Oklahoma City, OK
Category

1970s American Brutalist Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Brass

Vintage Concorde Air France Oversized Envelope
Located in San Francisco, CA
ABOUT Concorde Air France oversized cardboard envelope used as a promotional packaging item to send travel posters to travel agencies. Shown with life size hand model for scale. ...
Category

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

Materials

Paper

Brutalist 14K Gold Chai Pendant- Handcrafted, Israel 1970s
Located in New York, NY
This exceptional 14K gold Chai pendant, handcrafted in Israel during the 1970s, is a striking representation of Brutalist jewelry design. The pendant is large and solid, weighing an ...
Category

1970s Israeli Brutalist Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Gold

Vintage Style Ski Photography, Framed Alpine Ski Photograph, Matterhorn & Skiers
Located in Oxfordshire, GB
Vintage style ski photography, framed Alpine ski photograph, Matterhorn & Skiers. 'MATTERHORN & SKIERS', a modern framed and mounted bla...
Category

1930s English Sporting Art Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Paper, Wood

Christie's New York, Important American Furniture Catalog 1999
Located in Bradenton, FL
Christie's New York Catalog - Important American Furniture, Silver, Prints, Folk Art and Decorative Arts, from the auction on Friday 15th and Saturday 16th of January 1999.
Category

1990s American Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Paper

T. E. LAWRENCE - Seven Pillars Of Wisdom - 1935 - FIRST TRADE EDITION
Located in Hillsborough, NJ
AUTHOR: LAWRENCE, T. E. TITLE: Seven Pillars Of Wisdom. A Triumph. PUBLISHER: London: Jonathan Cape, 1935. DESCRIPTION: FIRST TRADE EDITION. 1 vol., 4to., 10" x 8", Illustrated throughout with a photogravure portrait frontispiece of Lawrence from the plaster bust, 47 plates, 4 folding maps, and several in-text line drawings; the majority by Eric Kennington...
Category

1930s British Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Leather

Vintage Beam Compass, German, Cartography, Architect Drawing Instrument, Riefler
Located in Hele, Devon, GB
This is a vintage beam compass. A German, silver nickel cartographer's or architect's drawing instrument by Riefler, dating to the late 20th cent...
Category

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

Materials

Nickel

Vintage Clear Glass Sculpture of a Classic Porsche 911, Racing Car Memorabilia
Located in Milano, IT
Little but realistic miniature model of a classic Porsche 911 - most likely a "G Model" from the late 1970s/early 1980s. It is made in pressed clear glass, and is rich in details, to...
Category

1970s Italian Space Age Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Crystal

Alpine Ski Photograph, 'St. Moritz' Taken from Original 1930s Photograph
Located in Oxfordshire, GB
Alpine Ski photograph. 'St. MORITZ', a new mounted black and white photographic image after an original 1930s skiing photograph. Prior to being a recreational activity skiing was purely a means of travelling from A to B through the snow, it only started to become the sport it is today in the mid-1800s. St. Moritz is a luxury alpine resort town in Switzerland's Engadin valley. It has hosted the Winter Olympics twice, has the Cresta Run...
Category

1930s English Sporting Art Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Paper

Le Corbusier Der Modulor Book, 1956
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Le Corbusier Der Modulor book. Le Corbusier published Le Modulor in 1948, followed by Modulor 2 in 1955. These works were first published in English as The Modulor in 1954 and Modulo...
Category

1970s French Mid-Century Modern Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Paper

Exceptional Model of Schooner Wanderer
Located in Norwell, MA
Very fine antique model of the armed schooner "Wanderer". Nice patina to the scribed deck with a large swivel gun, cabins, helm, and a great crew carved in uniform. There are brass r...
Category

1930s North American Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Wood

1970s Vintage Lightning Bolt surfboard by Barry Kanaiaupuni
Located in Haleiwa, HI
Early-1970s Lightning Bolt surfboard made by Barry Kanaiaupuni. Features large and wide lightning bolt jag design, a telltale sign of the earliest of...
Category

1970s American Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Fiberglass, Foam, Softwood

'Taxi Driver' Original Vintage Movie Poster by Andrzej Klimowski, Polish, 1978
Located in Devon, GB
Set amidst the moral decay of New York City following the Vietnam War and Watergate scandal, Martin Scorsese's 1976 psychological thriller 'Taxi Driver' starred Robert De Niro as a l...
Category

1970s Polish Post-Modern Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Paper

Ferrari telephone , 80s Miami Vice Era Phone , Vintage Telephone , Collectible
Located in Milano, IT
Rare Ferrari Telefone / Decorative Object / Limited Edition piece of the 80's It may not be white, but Miami Vice vibes are guaranteed with this funny and rare "Ferrari Testarossa" ...
Category

1980s Hong Kong Modern Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Plastic

1970s German Industrial Cast Aluminum Glass Edison Flameproof Striplight
Located in Leicester, Leicestershire
A vintage Industrial flameproof ceiling striplight / tube light made by Wittenburg of Germany. Originally designed for hazardous areas in factories and on cargo ships. Reclaimed,...
Category

1970s German Industrial Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Aluminum, Brass

Rare 1930s Art Deco Evans Chrome & Enamel Cigarette Case and Matching Ligher Set
By Evans Case Company
Located in Red Lion, PA
Rare 1930s Art Deco Evans Chrome & Enamel Cigarette Case and Matching Trig-A-Lite Lighter Set – Streamline Engine-Turned Design This rare and exceptional 1930s Art Deco Evans cigare...
Category

1930s Art Deco Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Chrome

Late 20th Century Scale Model of the Historic Fallasburg Covered Bridge
Located in Chicago, IL
Meticulously hand-built at 1:20 scale, this late 20th century American cedar frame model captures the elegant engineering of the historic Fallasburg covered bridge in Lowell, Michiga...
Category

Late 20th Century American Folk Art Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Cedar

Vintage 80s Oliver Goldsmith HEX Tortoise Frame & Rose Lens Handmade Sunglasses
Located in St. Louis, MO
This is a nice vintage pair of c.1980s or earlier, Oliver Goldsmith handmade HEX tortoise frame sunglasses with rose lenses. Marked on frames : OG Oliver Goldsmith Handmade Englan...
Category

1980s English Hollywood Regency Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Plastic, Glass

Vintage Chess & Draughts Board, English, Hardstone, Marble, Gaming Set, C.1970
Located in Hele, Devon, GB
This is a vintage chess and draughts board. An English, hardstone and marble gaming set, dating to the late 20th century, circa 1970. Dual purpose gam...
Category

Late 20th Century British Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Marble

Rare Dunhill Rollagas Bordeaux Gold Dust Cigarette Lighter With Dunhill Box
Located in Reading, Berkshire
Rare Dunhill Rollagas Bordeaux Gold Dust Cigarette Lighter With Original Dunhill Box Complete With Guarantee Card Made in Switzerland The Rollagas was first developed in 1953 as ...
Category

Late 20th Century Swiss Art Deco Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Gold Plate

Vintage graduated Amethyst Necklace
Located in London, GB
Vintage graduated Amethyst Necklace A Very fine Vintage Amethyst Necklace made from graduated beads interspersed with small gold plated meta...
Category

Late 20th Century Indian Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Amethyst

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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Medal-Worthy Memorabilia from Epic Past Olympic Games

Get into the games! These items celebrate the events, athletes, host countries and sporting spirit.

Ahoy! You’ve Never Seen a Collection of Sailor Art and Kitsch Quite Like This

French trendsetter and serial collector Daniel Rozensztroch tells us about his obsession with objects related to seafaring men.

Pamela Shamshiri Shares the Secrets behind Her First-Ever Book and Its Effortlessly Cool Interiors

The sought-after designer worked with the team at Hoffman Creative to produce a monograph that beautifully showcases some of Studio Shamshiri's most inspiring projects.

Moroccan Artworks and Objects Take Center Stage in an Extraordinary Villa in Tangier

Italian writer and collector Umberto Pasti opens the doors to his remarkable cave of wonders in North Africa.

Montecito Has Drawn Royalty and Celebrities, and These Homes Are Proof of Its Allure

Hollywood A-listers, ex-pat aristocrats and art collectors and style setters of all stripes appreciate the allure of the coastal California hamlet — much on our minds after recent winter floods.

Whaam! Blam! Pow! — a New Book on Pop Art Packs a Punch

Publishing house Assouline and writer Julie Belcove have teamed up to trace the history of the genre, from Roy Lichtenstein, Andy Warhol and Yayoi Kusama to Mickalene Thomas and Jeff Koons.

The Sparkling Legacy of Tiffany & Co. Explained, One Jewel at a Time

A gorgeous new book celebrates — and memorializes — the iconic jeweler’s rich heritage.

What Makes a Gem-Encrusted Chess Set Worth $4 Million?

The world’s most opulent chess set, weighing in at 513 carats, is literally fit for a king and queen.

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