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Collectibles and Curiosities For Sale
Style: Empire
Style: Louis XIV
Ptolemaic Armillary Sphere Charles-François Delamarche Paris, 1805-1810 Circa
Located in Milano, IT
Charles-François Delamarche
Ptolemaic armillary sphere
Paris, circa 1805-1810
Wood and papier-mâché
covered with printed and partly hand-coloured paper
It measures 15.74” in height, ...
Category
Early 1800s French Empire Antique Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Paper, Wood
17thC Church cattedra
Located in Livorno, IT
Louis XIV era church cattedra. At the centre the profile of a cleric, wearing the black doctoral biretta with four flaps , typical for doctorates of pontifical universities and depar...
Category
Late 17th Century Italian Louis XIV Antique Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Wood, Nutwood, Walnut, Giltwood, Lacquer
18th Century Porcelain Snuff Tobacco Box with Ormulu Gilt Decorations
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
Mid-18th Century porcelain snuff tobacco box with Ormulu gilt embossed relief and with empire classical motives. The inside of the lid is decorated with colorful flowers.
Wonderful a...
Category
Mid-18th Century European Empire Antique Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Ormolu
Louvre Paris Great Museums of The World Hardcover 1986
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Louvre Paris Great Museums Of The World Hardcover by editor Ragghianti, Carlo Ludovico.Vintage 1967 'Louvre Paris: Great Museums of the World' Hardcover Book! This book was published...
Category
Late 20th Century French Louis XIV Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Paper
19th Century Ringed Double Sided Stone French Empire Tub
Located in Madrid, ES
19th Century RINGED DOUBLE SIDED STONE FRENCH EMPIRE TUB
Empire tub in double-sided stone with rings
HEIGHT 52cm
WIDTH 86cms
LENGTH 150cm
INTERNAL DEPTH OF THE BASIN 45 cm
WEIGHT 55...
Category
Early 19th Century French Empire Antique Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Stone
Boch La Louviere, Suite Of 18 Plates, Napoleon Ist Battles, Late 19th Century
Located in MARSEILLE, FR
Suite of 18 commemorative plates of Napoleonic battles and military events, such as "Bonaparte at Arcole", "Battle of Iéna", "General Masséna before Zurich", "The death of General de Lanne"...
The grisaille decoration stands out against the white background; the perimeter is decorated with the symbols of the Empire: "N" surmounted by the crown, bicorne
Boch Fes La Louvière plate series, Made in Belgium...
Category
Late 19th Century European Empire Antique Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Earthenware
Antique French 19th Century Jewelry Box Flap Door Miniature Wood Cabinet
Located in Firenze, IT
This beautiful French late 19th century chest of drawers in black ebonized wood and cherrywood reproduces with perfect proportions in scale a miniature cabinet with three drawers and an upper flap door that opens to reveal a white marble top and an oval mirror inside, nice hand carved band on top with geometrical pattern and molded base.
The black lacquered wood creates a wonderful contrast with the beautiful honey-colored wood grain. Despite its convenient size, extremely detailed, this chest of drawers is equipped with a white Carrara marble top and a small mirror that make it even more special and useful.
The model of a piece of furniture was originally created by cabinet makers to show their skills to the customer and to present the sample of the furniture which would then have been produced on a larger scale. These commode miniatures, along with other specimens, were displayed in the craftsman's workshop to serve as examples to aid the potential client in making a selection. Some also think that these little chests were used as doll and puppets...
Category
Late 19th Century French Empire Antique Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Carrara Marble, Metal
Vintage empire style jewelry or trinkets chest of drawers.
Located in Allentown, PA
This is a Vintage empire style jewelry or trinkets chest of drawers. This chest of drawers features its original solid brass hardware. This diminutive chest of drawers is made of dar...
Category
1950s American Empire Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Wood
19th Louis XIV Style Pair of Church / Altar Candlesticks in Silver Metal / Lamp
Located in Beuzevillette, FR
Very nice pair of church or altar candlesticks in silver metal.
The wear of the silver gives them a magnificent patina.
Louis XIV-style
Nineteenth century.
These pretty candlehol...
Category
19th Century European Louis XIV Antique Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Silver Plate
French 19th Century Louis XIV St. Ormolu And Patinated Bronze Barometer
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A most impressive French 19th century Louis XIV st. Ormolu and patinated Bronze barometer, after Torricelli. The circular patinated bronze face has the eight enameled plaques depicti...
Category
19th Century French Louis XIV Antique Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Bronze, Ormolu
Early XIX° Century Italian 800 Silver Liturgical Chatolic Chalice
Located in VALENZA, IT
XIX ° Century Italian silver Liturgical Chatolic Chalice.
The Chalice, smooth and very balanced in its shapes, is in Empire style and is characterized by the classic palmette design ...
Category
1810s Italian Empire Antique Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Silver
Austro-Hungarian Empire 1880 Budapest Vesta Tinder Box In .900 Sterling Silver
Located in Miami, FL
An Austro-Hungarian mechanical vesta tinder case.
Beautiful antique fusee vesta tinder case, created in Budapest Hungary around the 1880. It was crafted during the Austro-Hungarian ...
Category
1880s Hungarian Empire Antique Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Silver, Sterling Silver
Antique Swedish Leather-Bound Bible Book, 1810
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
Swedish leather-bound Bible, with brass brackets decorated with two hearts and two anchors. According to the estate in Sweden where I purchased this book, it belonged to a Scandinavi...
Category
1810s Swedish Empire Antique Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Brass
Swedish Backgammon in Curly Karelian Birch with Playing Pieces, Empire 1820/30s
Located in Knivsta, SE
Swedish Backgammom Box in Curly Karelian Birch with Playing Pieces, Swedish Empire (Karl Johan) 1820/30s. Complete with two Die made in bone and Playing Pieces for two players.
This beautifully crafted backgammon box...
Category
1820s Swedish Empire Antique Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Brass
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
Empire Backgammon Games Box in Mahogany with Pieces, early 19th Century
Located in Knivsta, SE
An Elegant Empire Backgammon Game Box in Mahogany (Swietenia Mahogani) with details in Hallmark Silver. Made in the early 19th Century.
This Games Box for Backgammon is the perfect decorative piece that is also complete with pieces for playing the game! A refined Empire outside which lets the expensive materials of the piece convey the object's elegance. The interior of the box's lid forms one of the playing fields, the other being the bottom part. The backgammon board on the inside of the box is made out of intarsia wood...
Category
Early 19th Century European Empire Antique Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Silver, Brass
Rare French, Early 19th Century Napoleonic Medal Cabinet
Located in Worpswede / Bremen, DE
Rare French early 19th century Napoleonic medal cabinet on four gilt bronze pawfeet, a hinged door to the top and front opening to reveal four drawers containing 184 very fine bronzed plaster medals...
Category
Early 19th Century French Empire Antique Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Plaster, Wood, Paper
19th Century Italian Ringed Double Sided Stone Tub
Located in Madrid, ES
19th century ITALIAN RINGED DOUBLE SIDED STONE TUB
WIDTH 74cms
LENGTH 160 cms
DEPTH 62cm
WEIGHT 300Kg
MANUFACTURE Italian
Material Limestone
THICKNESS OF TH...
Category
Early 19th Century French Empire Antique Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Stone
Antique Sterling Silver Snuff Box with Floral Motif
Located in Vienna, AT
This beautiful snuff box is made from sterling silver. Its inside is gold plated. Lid and bottom are covered in the same floral design reminiscent of a bouquet or floral ornament. Th...
Category
Early 19th Century Austrian Empire Antique Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Gold Plate, Sterling Silver
Antique Angel Motif Sterling Silver Snuff Box
Located in Vienna, AT
This beautiful snuff box is made from sterling silver. The lid and sides are covered in an intricate floral design with musical instruments and a scene of two playing cherubs in its ...
Category
Early 20th Century German Empire Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Sterling Silver
Collection of French Opaline Apothecary Jars
Located in Copenhagen, K
Collection of 20 opaline apothecary jars from the 19th century.
Collection consists of 14 larger jars and 6 smaller jars.
Category
19th Century French Empire Antique Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Opaline Glass
Italian Bronze Double Inkwell 19th Century Siena Marble Empire - Napoleon III
Located in Madrid, ES
A Italian Bronze Double Inkwell 19th Century
Siena marble.
Empire - Napoleon III
Length: 28 cm. Height 9.5 cm. Depth 17.5 cm.
very good condition
Category
19th Century Italian Empire Antique Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Marble
Antique Sterling Silver Gold Plated Snuff Box with Architectural Motif
Located in Vienna, AT
This beautiful snuff box is made from gold-plated sterling silver. The lid is embellished with a nice little graphic of a church surrounded by generous floral motives and ornament. I...
Category
Mid-19th Century Austrian Empire Antique Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Gold Plate, Sterling Silver
Antique Sterling Silver Snuff Box Empire Style Floral Motif
Located in Vienna, AT
This beautiful snuff box is made from sterling silver. Its inside is gold plated. Its shape is reminiscent of a book and lid and bottom are covered in a unique floral ornamental desi...
Category
Early 19th Century Austrian Empire Antique Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Gold Plate, Sterling Silver
Versailles Gardens Sculpture And Mythology By Jacques Girard 1st Ed. 1985 Book
By Vendome
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Versailles Gardens Sculpture And Mythology By Jacques Girard 1985.
Discover the artistic splendor of the gardens of Versailles with the book "Versailles Gardens: Sculpture And Mythology" by Jacques Girard, 1st edition published in 1985. Large heavy collectible coffee table hardcover book
A renowned photographer captures the grandeur, fantasy, history, and artwork of Louis XIV's spectacular gardens of Versailles.
A beautiful book that explains fully the symbolic and historic gardens of Versailles, France. It was published in 1985 and 30 years later the photographic plates stand up to the test of time although there probably are more recent publications. The concept of Louis XIV and created by Le Notre, the greatest landscape architect, the gardens are a lasting tribute to the gods, nature and the marrying of these elements to architecture and design.
“In 1664 a festival was held in the gardens which marked the beginning of the glorious era of Versailles”.
The book has a complete and detailed map of the gardens and extensive commentary on the photographic plates and a full list of the sculptures and the artists.
Published by The Vendome Press...
Category
Late 20th Century French Louis XIV Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Paper
Miniature Portrait of Napoleon on Porcelain, ebonized frame, 19th Century
Located in Greding, DE
Oil on porcelain in a black wooden frame. Image size: 8 x 6 cm.
Category
19th Century French Empire Antique Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Wood, Paint, Porcelain
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
19th Century Gold French Empire Hexagonal Giltwood Verre Églomisé Barometer
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A gold patinated, antique French hexagonal barometer made of handcrafted giltwood, in good condition. The top part of the Parisian décor piece is enhanced by flower carvings. The glass dial is particularized with Verre Églomisé. The thermometer represent the First French Empire time...
Category
19th Century French Empire Antique Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Giltwood
18th Century Gold French Gilded Wood Barometer, Antique Parisian Thermometer
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A rare antique finely worked French barometer with lyre shaped crest thermometer above a large hexagonal framed barometer. The Parisian décor piece is m...
Category
Late 18th Century French Empire Antique Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Giltwood
Queen Elizabeth ii Flag Union Jack Order of the Garter Honi Soit Mal Y Pense
Located in Hastings, GB
British Royal Family
A Rare And Historical Queen Elizabeth II Flag Union Jack Order of the Garter HONI SOIT MAL Y PENSE from the 1950's.
The ...
Category
1950s English Empire Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Cotton
French Late 19th Century Barometer
By Selon Torricelli
Located in Stockbridge, GA
French late 19th century barometer.
Category
Late 19th Century French Empire Antique Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Bronze
King George VI Coronation Flag 1937
Located in Hastings, GB
British Royal Family
A Rare And Historical Royal Coronation Flag from The Coronation Of HRH King George VI in 1937.
George VI (Albert Frederick Arth...
Category
1930s English Empire Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Cotton
King Edward VII Coronation Flag, 1902
Located in Hastings, GB
British Royal Family
A rare and Historical Royal Coronation flag from The Coronation Of HRH King Edward VII, this flag was produced to commemorate t...
Category
Early 1900s English Empire Antique Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Cotton
King George VI and Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother Coronation Flag, 1937
Located in Hastings, GB
British Royal Family
A Rare And Historical Royal Coronation Flag from The Coronation Of HRH King George VI in 1937. Flag shows King George VI alongside Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother.
George VI (Albert Frederick Arthur George; 14 December 1895 – 6 February 1952) was King of the United Kingdom and the Dominions of the British Commonwealth from 11 December 1936 until his death in 1952. He was also the last Emperor...
Category
1930s English Empire Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Cotton
17th Century Italian Rare Carved Walnut Antique Kneeler
Located in Casale Monferrato, IT
Rare antique Italian kneeler, Mid-17th Century Louis XIV. Made of solid walnut with relief decoration carved into the wood. In the part dedicated to the knees there is a compartment. Of great value all the hand forged iron part of the escutcheons and fantastic large antique keys...
Category
Mid-17th Century Italian Louis XIV Antique Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Walnut
Map Holy Land La Terre Sainte Engraved van Loon Published N de Fer 1703 French
Located in BUNGAY, SUFFOLK
La Terre Sainte, The Holy Land, Tiree Des Memoires De M.De.La Rue. Par N. de Fer. Geographe de Sa Majeste Catoliq et de Monseigneur le Dauphin. Avec Privil du Roi 1703
Detailed map of the Holy Land from Nicholas de Fer's L'Atlas Curieux ou le Monde. East is oriented at the top.
MAKER Nicolas de Fer 1646-1720
The French cartographer and engraver, Nicolas de Fer, was a master at creating maps that were works of art. The maps that he published were printed during the Baroque period when the decorative arts were characterized by ornate detail. De Fer’s detailed maps and atlases were valued more for their decorative content than their geographical accuracy.
Nicolas de Fer was born in 1646. His father, Antoine de Fer, owned a mapmaking firm. At the age of twelve, Nicolas was apprenticed to a Parisian engraver named Louis Spirinx. The family business was starting to decline when his father died in 1673. Nicolas de Fer’s mother, Genevieve, took over the business after the death of her husband. In 1687 the business was passed on to Nicolas and the profits increased after he took over the firm. Nicolas de Fer was a prolific cartographer who produced atlases and hundreds of single maps. He eventually became the official geographer to King Louis XIV of France and King Philip V...
Category
Early 1700s French Louis XIV Antique Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Paper
19th Century Pair of Empire Style Gilt Bronze Figural Three-Light Candleholders
Located in Frankfurt am Main, DE
A pair of gilt bronze three-light candelabra with kneeling putto holding the candleholders raised on richly elaborate base, France, late 19th century.
Measures:
Height 12.50 in / 3...
Category
Late 19th Century French Empire Antique Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Bronze
Early 20th Century French Louis XIV Carved Walnut Bombe Miniature Commode Chest
Located in Dallas, TX
Decorate a master bathroom counter with this miniature chest of drawers. Crafted in France, circa 1920, the petite fruitwood "Commode de Maitrise" (or masterwork created by a cabinetmaker's apprentice to prove mastery of his craft at the end of his apprenticeship), sits on four bun feet; the chest features three bombe drawers across the front decorated with intricate handles. The small antique cabinet...
Category
Early 20th Century French Louis XIV Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Walnut
19th Century French Empire Miniature Commode
Located in Winter Park, FL
A 19th century French Empire miniature commode. A well executed miniature chest made of walnut and veneer of walnut with two large drawers below a smaller top drawer and with solid walnut columns. Inscription written in ink on the back of each of the large drawers: Don D...
Category
Early 19th Century French Empire Antique Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Walnut
Antique Hand Carved Wood Boot Match Holder Striker
Located in Seguin, TX
Circa 1890's hand carved wood match striker and holder. In the shape of 17th Century syle boot, think 3 Muskateers. Buckle area is rough for striking, s...
Category
Late 19th Century Unknown Louis XIV Antique Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Wood
French Nécessaire de Voyage
Located in New Orleans, LA
This exceptional and rare French nécessaire de voyage is almost certainly the work of the highly respected Parisian manufacturer Pierre-Dominique ...
Category
Early 19th Century French Empire Antique Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Crystal, Silver
Italian 18th Century Gilt Bronze Reliefs Christ and Virgin Mary after Girardon
Located in Milan, IT
Pair of Gilt bronze reliefs of early 18th century, after François Girardon (1628-1715) The original model for these two profiles of the Virgin and Christ dates from 1691. These works...
Category
Early 18th Century Italian Louis XIV Antique Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Bronze
Early 19th Century French Empire Apprentice Commode in Walnut with Lift Top
Located in Atlanta, GA
Early 19th century French Empire Apprentice Commode in walnut with lift top. Table top item.
Category
Early 19th Century French Empire Antique Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Walnut
Empire Style Ibach Model 2 Grand Piano Mahogany Case Ormolu Mounts
Located in Leeds, GB
Empire style, 1901, Ibach model 2 grand piano with a mahogany case and gate legs. Entire cabinet decorated with ormolu mounts depicting classical scenes of gods, goddesses and wreaths. This piano is one of 12 unique instruments made as exhibition models...
Category
Early 20th Century German Empire Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Mahogany
Antique Empire Mahogany Sleigh Bed, Cabinet Makers Example, as Dog Bed
Located in New York, NY
This rare cabinet makers example of an antique Empire mahogany sleigh bed,
As Dog bed. With new poly foam bed covered in black & white ticking.
Category
Early 19th Century French Empire Antique Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Mahogany
French 1890s Empire Style Lit en Bateau Doll Bed with Out-Scrolling Accents
Located in Atlanta, GA
A French Empire style wooden lit en bateau doll bed from the late 19th century, with out-scrolling accents. Created in France during the last quarter of ...
Category
Late 19th Century French Empire Antique Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Wood
19th Century French Siege of Arras Floor Screen
Located in Nantucket, MA
Antique Louis XIV Siege of Arras floor screen, 19th century, a four panel screen with paper lithograph laid down on wooden panels, depicting the schematic pla...
Category
19th Century French Louis XIV Antique Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Paper
Miniature Antique Empire chest of drawers
Located in Ballard, CA
exquisite exemple of a miniature sample of an empire chest made by a "Compagnon" most likely this was for the mentor to judge the ability of his pupi...
Category
Late 19th Century French Empire Antique Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Mahogany
Christ 18 ° Century in Oak, France
Located in Brussels, Brussels
Christ from the 18th century in oak -France
Very fine work of good quality
Beautiful patina and in perfect condition.
Category
18th Century French Louis XIV Antique Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Oak
Italian 17th Century Giltwood Altarpiece Sculpture Hand Carved in High Relief
Located in Firenze, IT
This antique 17th century Louis XIV period Italian architectural altarpiece fragment is made of a masterfully sculpted rectangular solid wood panel...
Category
17th Century Italian Louis XIV Antique Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Giltwood, Lacquer
19th Century Watch Winding Display Cabinet
Located in New Orleans, LA
This incredible, one-of-a-kind watch display cabinet brings together the beauty of an antique with the functionality of modern technology. Crafted of mahogany, this 19th century jewelry display cabinet...
Category
19th Century Unknown Empire Antique Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Mahogany
19th Century French Empire Miniature Commode
Located in Winter Park, FL
A fine early 19th century French Empire miniature sample commode with four dovetailed drawers. Made of burl of walnut veneer with oak and pine as secondary woods. Working locks with ...
Category
Early 19th Century French Empire Antique Collectibles and Curiosities
Mausoleum of Cecilia Metella on the Appian Way, Early 19th Century Circular
Located in Paris, FR
A large circular micromosaic panel representing the so called "Tomb of Cecilia Metella on the Appian way" near Rome. This plate shows superior quality and m...
Category
Early 1800s Italian Empire Antique Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Marble
Le Style Empire, Décoratations, Extérieures Et Intérieures, Mobilier, Bronzes
Located in valatie, NY
Le Style Empire: Décoratations, Extérieures et Intérieures, Mobilier, Bronzes. Printed in Paris by Chez F. Contet. All volumes are 1st Ed's with the exception of volume 1 which is a ...
Category
Early 20th Century French Empire Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Paper
Empire Painted and Lacquered Spyglass, Early 19th Century
Located in Spencertown, NY
The adjustable spyglass with gilt brass trim and original leather case.
Category
Early 19th Century French Empire Antique Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Lacquer
Casket Boulle,
Located in Kraków, Małopolska
We present casket boulle 19th century
Every piece of furniture that leaves our workshop from the beginning to the end is subjected to manual renovation, so as to restore its original condition from many years ago (It has been cleaned to bare veneer, disinfected and finished by hand with high gloss shellac polish).
Highly recommended especially for the connoisseurs of beauty and elegance.
Opportunity to sell furniture...
Category
19th Century French Louis XIV Antique Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Walnut
Napoléon's Footbath by George Bullock
Located in New Orleans, LA
This amazing footbath was created for Napoleon Bonaparte. It was part of the toilet service to be used during his exile on St. Helena. Just before shipm...
Category
Early 19th Century English Empire Antique Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Porcelain
Atelier Musee Du Louvre after Pilon Germain, King Henri II Bust, 1850s, France
By Atelier de moulage du Louvre, Germain Pilon
Located in Biebergemund, Hessen
A French Grand Tour 19th century plaster, bust of French King Henri II made by Atelier de moulage du Louvre between 1854-1865 after Pilon Germain...
Category
Mid-19th Century French Empire Antique Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Plaster
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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