Collectibles and Curiosities
18
1,596
58
30
to
135
823
689
1,684
1,673
1,677
1,842
955
867
817
550
455
310
250
204
197
157
154
87
67
56
52
47
42
5
675
916
88
411
371
69
24
21
124
200
36
14
8
5
13
7
946
515
226
222
215
1,163
562
344
296
261
17
13
12
10
10
Collectibles and Curiosities For Sale
Style: Art Deco
Style: Victorian
S. T. DuPont Gatsby Paris Cigarette Lighter with Original Box and Papers
By S.T. Dupont
Located in High Wycombe, GB
S. T. DuPont Gatsby Paris Cigarette Lighter with Original Box and Papers
Booklet stamped at purchase 2016
Stamped 1LY8N84 DuPont PARIS, Made in France on base.
Category
2010s French Art Deco Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Steel
Silvered Sea Shell Harpa Major
Located in New York, NY
Harpa major fully silvered shell 4". Creel and Gow has been working with the same atelier in Rome, Italy for over 20 years to make our signature silvered shells. Our workshop has bee...
Category
2010s Italian Victorian Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Sterling Silver
Silvered Sea Shell Cymbiola
Located in New York, NY
Cymbiola silvered shell 8". Creel and Gow has been working with the same atelier in Rome, Italy for over 20 years to make our signature silvered shells. Our workshop has been operate...
Category
2010s Italian Victorian Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Sterling Silver
Creel and Gow Silvered Sea Shell Tibia Fusus
Located in New York, NY
Tibia fusus fully silver coated seashell. Creel and Gow has been working with the same atelier in Rome, Italy for over 20 years to make our signature sil...
Category
2010s Italian Victorian Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Sterling Silver
Silvered Sea Shell Strombus Pugilis
Located in New York, NY
Strombus pugilis fully silvered shell. Creel and Gow has been working with the same atelier in Rome, Italy for over 20 years to make our signature silvered shells. Our workshop has b...
Category
2010s Italian Victorian Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Sterling Silver
Silvered Sea Shell Architectonica
Located in New York, NY
Architectonica fully silvered shell 2". Creel and Gow has been working with the same atelier in Rome, Italy for over 20 years to make our signature silvered shells. Our workshop has ...
Category
2010s Italian Victorian Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Sterling Silver
Silvered Sea Shell Turitella
Located in New York, NY
Turitella fully silvered shell 5". Creel and Gow has been working with the same atelier in Rome, Italy for over 20 years to make our signature silvered shells. Our workshop has been ...
Category
2010s Italian Victorian Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Sterling Silver
Intèrieurs Bruxellois Modernisme & Art Dèco
Located in Montelabbate, PU
During the interwar period, housing in Brussels experienced considerable expansion. Two major currents coexisted at this time: one resolutely modernist and avant-garde, in the moveme...
Category
Mid-20th Century Art Deco Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Paper
Antique Book Set, 13 Vols Charles Dickens Novels, English, Fiction, Victorian
Located in Hele, Devon, GB
This is an antique set of 13 Charles Dickens novels. An English language, comprehensive library of fiction books, dating to the Victorian period, published 1866 to 1868.
Synonymous...
Category
Mid-19th Century British Victorian Antique Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Paper
The Wandering Jew by Eugene Sue Complete Edition with Illustrations
Located in Dallas, TX
Presenting a rare first edition hardback copy of The Wandering Jew by Eugene Sue, Complete Edition IN ONE VOLUME with Illustrations by GAVARNI and GIRARDET, published by George Routl...
Category
Late 19th Century English Late Victorian Antique Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Paper
19th Century half mode of steam ship New York
Located in Martlesham, GB
A fabulous quality 19th Century half model of the steam ship "New York", originally called "City of New York", British built for the Inman line launched on the 15th March 1888. Cir...
Category
19th Century British Victorian Antique Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Walnut
Horse on Wheels Toy Framed Painting
Located in Antwerp, BE
Framed painting of a papier mache horse toy on wheels.
A paper mache - cardboard ride on toy horse - pull toy - horse pull toy with a boy on top. The boy wears a stylish blue costum...
Category
Mid-20th Century Belgian Art Deco Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Canvas, Plaster, Wood
19th century wooden gear wheel
Located in Vosselaar, BE
Sculptural Victorian industrial fragment. Made from solid wood with attention to detail. Interesting proportions and shape.
Category
19th Century Italian Victorian Antique Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Wood
1900s Foldable Anatomical Brochure Depicting the Human Head
Located in Berghuelen, DE
1900s Foldable Anatomical Brochure Depicting the Human Head
A rare brochure illustrating the anatomy of the human head. Very detailed multicoloured depiction of several layers of th...
Category
Early 20th Century German Victorian Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Paper
S.T. Dupont Briquet De Poche LD Plaque Gas Cigarette Lighter With Original Box
By S.T. Dupont
Located in High Wycombe, GB
S.T. Dupont Briquet De Poche LD Plaque Gas Cigarette Lighter With Original Box and Papers
Stamped 100NL95
No 2294
Made in Paris, France
Purchase receipt shoes 4/2/1995 Goldsmith...
Category
20th Century French Art Deco Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Gold Plate, Steel
Wurlitzer Juke Box Model 700 Original and Restored Art Deco Circa 1940
By Wurlitzer
Located in Oakland, CA
Wurlitzer 700 was a design masterpiece by Paul Fuller, its smooth art deco lines have stood the test of time, and it is a beautiful creation. This model plays 78-style records and th...
Category
1940s American Art Deco Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Metal
Alfred Dunhill Sterling Silver Cigarette Case, circa 1930
Located in Van Nuys, CA
Sterling silver cigarette case with decorative enamel face. Art Deco design.
The case is beautifully enameled in a blue and black geometric pattern with a silver finish. The interior of the cigarette case is marked "Alfred Dunhill Paris...
Category
1930s American Art Deco Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Silver
Three Framed Plates from "L'ornement Polychrome" Edited by Racinet
By Auguste Racinet
Located in Hanover, MA
Three mounted and giltwood framed chromolithograph plates from L'Ornement Polychrome: Motifs de tous les styles, art ancien et asiatique, Moyen Age, Renaissance, XVIIe et XVIIIe siècles, by A. Racinet, 1869-1873. Published by Firmin-Didot, Paris.
Specifically, the three framed plates are Middle Ages, Renaissance and 17th century.
This reference work “created to render major services to our industrial arts” brings the archeological art...
Category
19th Century French Victorian Antique Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Giltwood
Taxidermy Composition with Rare Exotic Birds in a Large Bowed Glass Case
Located in Leuven , BE
A wonderful glass case with a selection of 20 rare exotic birds in a natural environment of tree branches and grass. The case has a rare bowed front glass and is in good condition fo...
Category
Late 19th Century British Victorian Antique Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Organic Material
France Art Deco Horse, 1940
Located in Ciudad Autónoma Buenos Aires, C
It was exhibited in the original Miami beach antique show and Palm beach "American International Fine Art Fair (AIFAF)".
Horse in wood and chrome.
We ha...
Category
1940s French Art Deco Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Chrome
Paris 1937 -- Exposition Internationale
By Eugene Beaudoin and Marcel Lods
Located in London, GB
Original French poster for the Exposition International in Paris, 1937.
This award-winning Art Deco design was created by Eugene Beaudoin (1898-1983) and Marcel Lods...
Category
1930s French Art Deco Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Machine Age Art Deco Doctors or Bathroom Floor Model Scale Weigh Master by Hanso
Located in New York, NY
Great Machine Age, American Art Deco floor scale, Weigh Master by Hanson. The scale is fully functional, it shows cosmetic wear to the paint finish, and th...
Category
1930s American Art Deco Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Metal
IMCO Julius Meister 1000 Ifa Storm Thumbwheel Mechanical Lighter In Solid Brass
Located in Miami, FL
IMCO mechanical lighter made by the Julius Franz Meister Company.
This is an amazing authentic petrol lighter original from the art deco period. This industrial piece was originally designed and patented by Hans Silverknopf and was made in Austria back in 1925-26 by the Julius Meister Company, JMCO commonly know as IMCO. This is the final 4th model storm thumbwheel, called IFA-1000. It was crafted in solid polished brass and is fitted with mechanical sliding elements. This lighter has the rare sub-variety in the snuffer, is rounded and domed on top. The function is very simple, the metallic wheel on the lighter, when pushed down by one's thumb, will rub against the ferrocerium to produce a scorching spark. Simultaneously, the petrol vape is released, which is vaporized (depressurized) as soon as it exits the container. This lighter is near mint, is original not a reproduction and has been cleaned and polished to bring back his original splendor.
IMCO
The company was founded by Julius Franz Meister in 1907, the Julian Meister Co. (JMCO/IMCO) began as a button and metal goods factory in Vienna. Bernhard Silberknopf became a company partner during 1911. The factory began manufacturing lighters after World War 1. The first lighter model, the "Imko Feuerzeug" was patented in 1920 and several other models were produced during the early 1920s based on this patent. Hans Silberknopf patented the design for the famous "Ifa" Sturmfeuerzeug in 1925. IMCO produced other several models based on this patent. The design was copied by multiple U.S. and Japanese companies during the 1930s and 1940s and countless replicas have been produced. Frequently deceptively characterized as "trench lighters...
Category
1920s Austrian Art Deco Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Brass, Cut Steel
German Art Deco Desk Top Barometer and Weather Station
Located in Hamilton, Ontario
German Art Deco desk top barometer and weather station.
German desktop barometer, thermometer and hydrometer. This station is unsigned and made...
Category
20th Century German Art Deco Collectibles and Curiosities
Accordion by Sabatino Nocentini & Figli Made in Florence, Italy
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Antique Italian custom made accordion by Sabatino Nocentini Castiglion & Figli.
Antique pearl white accordion, Italian accordion with profuse inlay decoration, gorgeous hand made wi...
Category
Early 20th Century Italian Art Deco Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Abalone, Mother-of-Pearl, Wood
Antique Automata Gentleman's Walking Stick, Horse Head Glove Holder
Located in Oxfordshire, GB
Automaton horse head walking cane.
Early 20th century walking stick with an automaton horse head glove holder. The handle is carved from Horn, finel...
Category
Early 1900s Victorian Antique Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Horn
Silvered Sea Shell Chamelea
Located in New York, NY
Chamelea silvered shell 4". Creel and Gow has been working with the same atelier in Rome, Italy for over 20 years to make our signature silvered shells. Our workshop has been operate...
Category
2010s Italian Victorian Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Sterling Silver
Large 19th Century Lacquered and Gilded Jewelry Box with Inlaid Mother of Pearl
Located in Nova Scotia, NS
Rare Victorian (c. 1850) lacquered papier-mâché jewelry box with inlaid mother of pearl and gilding depicting a floral motif. The mother of pearl looks of high quality and shimmers w...
Category
1850s Victorian Antique Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Gold Leaf, Metal
Weighted Club Chess Set Kings Staunton Pattern No. 5 Boxed, Circa 1930
Located in Lincoln, Lincolnshire
This is a very good, high quality vintage English handmade, boxwood "weighted" chess set club game of 32 pieces, Staunton Pattern No. 5 all in its original box and retailed by The British Chess...
Category
Early 20th Century British Victorian Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Hardwood
19th C Pair of Large Optical Experimental Scientific Mirrors Concave & Convex
Located in Lowestoft, GB
A large pair of scientific optical mirrors, one concave the other convex.
These where used in studies of optical sciences and in particular the study of the properties of light r...
Category
Late 19th Century English Late Victorian Antique Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Brass
Antique Victorian Silver & Ebonized Walking Stick Dated 1890 19th Century
Located in London, GB
This is a beautiful antique Victorian novelty silver pommel and ebonised shaft walking stick, dated 1890.
This decorative walking cane features a naturalistically sleeping cupid on ...
Category
1860s Victorian Antique Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Silver
Antique Gentlemans Sword Walking Stick Cane Sterling Silver Ebony Wood 19th Cent
Located in Dublin, Ireland
Superb Rare Polished Solid Ebony wood Sword Stick of outstanding quality, enclosing its original square tapering polished steel blade, late Nineteenth Century, of English origin.
...
Category
19th Century English Victorian Antique Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Steel
Swagger Stick from The Queen’s Own Royal West Kent Regiment
Located in Chillerton, Isle of Wight
Swagger Stick from The Queen’s Own Royal West Kent Regiment
Superb vintage Military swagger stick The Queen’s Own Royal West Kent Regiment Malacca cane. The cane has slight curve ...
Category
1920s Art Deco Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Cane
The Holy Bible, Standard Edition, Illustrated Family Bible, 1885
Located in Colorado Springs, CO
The “Standard” Edition of The Holy Bible, Containing the Old and New Testaments and Apocrypha, Translated out of the Original Tongues, Together with Cruden’s Complete Concordance… and Revised New Testament, with Many Other Important and Useful Aids to the Study of the Holy Scriptures, All Written to Increase the Interest in and Simplify the Study of the Word of God. Syracuse: Bible Publishing House, 1885. Standard Edition. Illustrated with steel and wood engravings and chromolithographs. Large quarto, with original full leather carved and gilded boards. Gilded edges and pewter clasps. Presented with a custom-made archival clamshell box.
Presented is a beautifully restored and exquisitely bound Holy Bible from 1885. This family bible was published by the Bible Publishing House, in Syracuse, New York. It contains both the Old and New Testaments, and the Apocrypha and Cruden’s Complete Concordance. It also boasts 100,000 marginal references and readings, Dr. William Smith’s “Standard Bible Dictionary,” a complete history of all the books of the bible, biblical scenery, and “Manners and Customs of the Ancients.” For studying, it includes “Bible Aids for Social and Private Prayer,” the history of translation of the bible, a history of all religious denominations, “Psalms in Meter,” and a “Teachers’ Bible Textbook.” It is decorated with stunning full and half page illustrations, printed as steel engravings, wood engravings, and chromolithographs, illustrating scenes in the life of Christ, bible text events from Genesis to Revelation, natural history, and several maps of the Holy Land engraved by L.B Folger. It also contains a stunning dedication page, a marriage license...
Category
1880s American Late Victorian Antique Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Leather, Paper
Climax Streamline 1930s American Art Deco Train Car Ashtray and Drink Stand
Located in Buffalo, NY
W.J. Campbell designed this art deco cocktail smoker in 1934 for the Climax Machinery Company of Indianapolis. The smoke stand and ashtray feature a circular ring which doubles as a ...
Category
1930s American Art Deco Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Metal, Copper, Steel, Chrome
Antique Scottish Silver And Agate Brooch. Late 19th Century
Located in St Annes, Lancashire
Lovely piece of Scottish silver and agate
8 beautiful agate pieces arranged in a circular design
Finely engraved silver mounts
Good condition
Free shipping
Category
1880s Scottish Victorian Antique Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Agate, Silver
Taxidermy, Canary in Bow Glass Case
Located in Oxfordshire, GB
Taxidermy, Canary In Bow Glass Case.
A 19th century cased canary in a nice glazed bow fronted case with gilt lines. The case contains a cleverly modelled bird set against a painted b...
Category
Late 19th Century British Victorian Antique Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Glass
Art Deco by Victor Arwas, 1st Edition
Located in Bradenton, FL
Art Deco by Victor Arwas, hardcover book with dustjacket. First edition, published by Harry N. Abrams, Inc. of New York in 1980. Printed and bound in Japan. 416 Illustrations, includ...
Category
1980s Japanese Art Deco Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Paper
12K Gold Thimble in Leather Case, c. 1900
Located in Chicago, IL
Engraved with simple and elegant scrollwork around its skirt, this European 12K gold thimble dates to the early 20th century. Cast in the late Victorian period, the thimble is engrav...
Category
Early 20th Century European Victorian Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Gold
Antique 19th C. Cast Iron Classical Figural Dolphin Victorian Book Press
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Antique 19th C. Cast Iron Classical Figural Dolphin Victorian Book Press. Item features Intricate supports with dolphins and fluted columns, acanthus accented base, substantial and h...
Category
19th Century Victorian Antique Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Iron
Art Deco Ashtray Stand, Chrome and Bakelite by Demeyere, Belgium, 1930s
By Demeyere
Located in Saarburg, RP
Art Deco ashtray stand
This beautiful and rare Art Deco Ashtray Stand from the 30s/40s is in the streamline modern art deco style. The designer of this extraordinary object has succ...
Category
1930s Belgian Art Deco Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Iron, Chrome, Metal
Antique Novel, A Legend of Montrose, Sir Walter Scott, English, Victorian Book
Located in Hele, Devon, GB
This is an antique novel, A Legend of Montrose by Sir Walter Scott. An English, bound book of Scottish interest, dating to the Victorian period, published 1896.
A prominent Scottis...
Category
Late 19th Century British Victorian Antique Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Paper
Foldable Anatomical Brochure Depicting Female Anatomy ca.1900s
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Foldable Anatomical Brochure Depicting Female Anatomy ca.1900s
A rare 19ct anatomical brochure illustrating the female human anatomy. Very detailed multicoloured depiction of human ...
Category
Early 20th Century German Victorian Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Paper
Wiener Werkstaette Arts And Crafts, Beaded Bag, by Maria Likarz-Strauss, c 1919
By Maria Likarz, Wiener Werkstätte
Located in Vienna, AT
Exceptional, rare pouch bag with abstract bead embroidery in bright orange, beige, dark brown and white, crocheted at the upper edge, cords as drawstrings with olive-shaped wooden be...
Category
1910s Austrian Art Deco Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Animal Skin, Goatskin, Silk, Beads
Stunning Hand Carved Art Deco Era Bust Sculpture of an Olympian w. Laurel Wreath
By Otto Poertzel 1
Located in Lisse, NL
Solid wooden bust of an Olympic champion by (professor) Otto Poertzel (1876 - 1963).
This stunning bust of a young male athlete is of museum quality and condition. Both the geometrical design of the wooden base and the fresh and energetic look and feel of this young male Olympian breath the spirit of the roaring twenties. You will hardly ever come accros a better proportioned, a more realistic or more 'soulful' bust than this wonderfully patinated athlete. It takes an incredibly skilled artisan to be able to create a piece of this quality, because it simoultaniously breathes both energy and serenity. For the mouth, nose, eyes and ears to also be of such perfection makes this antique an...
Category
Early 20th Century German Art Deco Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Wood
19thc German Zinner&Sohn Musical Automaton Toy w Children & Organ Grinder Monkey
Located in Savannah, GA
This rare playful presentation features wonderful detailed faces, charming actions and whimsical music. Arranged on a faux bois paper covered wooden platform, a young organ grinder a...
Category
1890s German Late Victorian Antique Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Porcelain, Fabric, Wood
Louis Kuppenheim 1930 Germany Art Deco Set of Case & Vesta Box In .900 Silver
Located in Miami, FL
Art deco set of case and vesta matches box by Louis Kuppenheim.
A beautiful set comprising of a case for cigarettes and a vesta box for matches. This suite was created in Germany du...
Category
1930s German Art Deco Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Lapis Lazuli, Silver, Sterling Silver
Betel Motor Car Art Deco Brass Box, Collectible Toy, Children's Paint Set, 1930s
Located in Roma, IT
Patent 75086 - This is a large tobacco box with many purposes, (Child's Paint Set). Car in multicolored golden tin in classic brass. Almost new with all the original parts. Wonderful...
Category
Early 20th Century American Art Deco Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Metal, Brass
ANTIQUE PERSIAN ASHTRAY WiTH CRANBERRY GLASS TRIANGLE INTERNAL TRAY
Located in GB
Royal House Antiques
Royal House Antiques is delighted to offer for sale this lovely, super decorative antique Persian Oriental Ashtray with lovely Cranberry glass internal tray
A ...
Category
20th Century European Art Deco Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Glass, Wood
Original WWI 1917 Brass Button Polisher
Located in Chillerton, Isle of Wight
Original WWI 1917 Brass Button Polisher
The polisher is in excellent working condition it has an age darkened patina, a unique piece designed for use by the army
This collectable it...
Category
1910s Art Deco Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Brass
Miniature 19th Century Victorian Figured Mahogany Chest of Drawers
Located in Morristown, NJ
19th c. Charming antique miniature chest of drawers. The chest has a marble top. The case is figured mahogany, with four stacked drawers, the ...
Category
Mid-19th Century English Late Victorian Antique Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Marble, Brass
Antique English Victorian Brass Desk Bell, Circa 1880-1890.
Located in New Orleans, LA
Antique English Victorian Brass Desk Bell, Circa 1880-1890.
Category
Late 19th Century English Victorian Antique Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Brass
Antique Victorian 9 Karat Yellow Gold Miniature Vesta Match Case Birmingham 1897
Located in Portland, OR
A good antique miniature 9 Karat solid gold vesta match case, Birmingham, 1897.
The vesta having a hinged lid enclosing a storage area for matches to the inside, to the top is a circ...
Category
1880s Victorian Antique Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Gold
Antique Victorian Quality Rosewood Inlaid Banjo Barometer
Located in Suffolk, GB
Antique Victorian quality rosewood inlaid banjo barometer having a quality attractive banjo shaped rosewood case with superb satinwood marquetry inlay and a carved top, porcelain the...
Category
1880s English Victorian Antique Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Rosewood
Antique English Victorian Brass Desk Bell, Circa 1880's.
Located in New Orleans, LA
Antique English Victorian Brass Desk Bell, Circa 1880's.
Category
Late 19th Century English Victorian Antique Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Brass
Antique County Map, Rutlandshire, English, Framed, Cartography, Victorian, 1860
Located in Hele, Devon, GB
This is an antique lithography map of Rutlandshire. An English, framed atlas engraving of cartographic interest, dating to the mid 19th century and later.
Superb lithography of Rutl...
Category
Mid-19th Century British Victorian Antique Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Wood
Antique County Map, Norfolk, English, Framed Lithography, Cartography, Victorian
Located in Hele, Devon, GB
This is an antique lithography map of Norfolk. An English, framed atlas engraving of cartographic interest, dating to the mid 19th century and later.
Superb lithography of Norfolk a...
Category
Mid-19th Century British Victorian Antique Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Glass, Wood
French Art Deco Michel Dufet ashtray
By Michel Dufet
Located in SAINT-OUEN-SUR-SEINE, FR
Original French Art Deco ashtray circa 1930 by Michel Dufet in bi-color wood.
Category
20th Century French Art Deco Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Wood
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.
Recently Viewed
View AllMore Ways To Browse
Antique Iron Collectors
Vintage Framed Art Collectable
Black Victorian Display
Antique Wood Shoes
Antique Iron Wheel
Vintage Furniture Supplier
Vintage Furniture Suppliers
American Streamline
Vintage Wine Collectables
Vintage Wine Collectibles
Antique Iron Screws
Antique Yard
Vintage Electronics Electronics
Electronics Vintage
Wood Staircase
Vintage Cat Collectables
Vintage Cat Collectibles
Horse Antiques Collectables