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Collectibles and Curiosities For Sale
Style: Empire
Style: Medieval
Cross of Caravaca 17th Century
Located in Madrid, ES
Cross of caravaca XVII century. Very beautiful cross of caravaca made in bronze. 17th Century. Measurements: 14X6 cm. Good condition.
Category

17th Century Italian Gothic Antique Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Bronze

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

17th Century Embroidered King David With Harp Silk Tread Green Velvet Flanders
Located in Antwerpen, BE
Step into the rich tapestry of the 17th century with our exquisite embroidered picture featuring King David With Harp. Meticulously crafted with silk thread, mounted on luscious gree...
Category

17th Century Belgian Gothic Antique Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Silk, Velvet

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

Small 15th Century Illuminated Vellum Book Page, Handwriting
Located in Buisson, FR
Fabulous handwritten and illuminated book page. Beautiful period piece with gorgeous faded colors and typical gilded Gothic initials, France, 15th ce...
Category

15th Century and Earlier French Gothic Antique Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Parchment Paper

Antique Hand-Carved Gothic Style Quasimodo / Hunchback of Notre Dame Sculpture
Located in Lisse, NL
Very rare, 19th century statuette of Victor Hugo's famous novel character. If you are a collector of rare novel and/or famous movie characters then this 19th century sculpture of Quasimodo, better known as the Hunchback of Notre Dame...
Category

Late 19th Century French Gothic Antique Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Wood

Flemish Hand Embroidery 15th & 16th Century Gothic Silk & Gold threat Liturgical
Located in Antwerpen, BE
Flemish hand embroidery from the 15th to 16th century adorns this chasuble fragment, depicting scenes of the Virgin Mary Madonna and child amidst a garden setting. Created with lavis...
Category

16th Century Belgian Gothic Antique Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Gold

An Architectural Model of a Gothic Pinnacle France
Located in Chonburi, TH
This architectural model is a stunning representation of a Gothic pinnacle from France, standing at an impressive height of 51 cm. Crafted with meticul...
Category

19th Century French Gothic Antique Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Oak

Miniature Iron Maiden of Nuremberg
Located in Hanover, MA
Miniature "Iron Maiden" in blackened cast metal attached to its original round wood base. The front doors are pin-hinged and open to reveal pointed spikes. At base of doors is printe...
Category

1890s German Gothic Antique Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Iron

Mary Magdalene on her way to Marseille. Castilian school, 15th century.
Located in Madrid, ES
Mary Magdalene on her way to Marseille. oil on board. Castilian school, towards the last third of the century XV. Oil on panel showing a landscape in the background with a walled city, some mountains and the shore of a watercourse (from the theme it is seen that it is the shore from sea). In the foreground and in full body, a boat with a sail appears with a circus richly dressed characters and with their respective nimbus (these decorated with geometric elements and engraved vegetables), two women and three men. Note the anecdotal detail of the fish crossing the waters under the ship. In the Golden...
Category

15th Century and Earlier Spanish Gothic Antique Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Other

17th Century European Religious Book Binding Brass Mounts Vellum Monumental Size
Located in Atlanta, GA
An antique animal skin or vellum book binding with brass or possibly bronze mounts (sometimes called furniture - centerpiece, corner pieces) of monumental scale. The work measures al...
Category

17th Century European Gothic Antique Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Brass, Bronze

European 16th Century Hand Carved Wooden Virgin Mary Polychrome Statue
Located in Oostende, BE
This 16th century hand-carved wooden Virgin Mary polychrome statue comes from a church in Sint-Niklaas, Belgium (Europe), and was bought directly fr...
Category

16th Century Belgian Gothic Antique Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Walnut

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

Antique Lifesize Crowned Mother Mary and Child Jesus Gothic Revival Sculpture
Located in Lisse, NL
Hand carved wood antique statue of Mother Mary wearing a Gothic crown. This original and all hand carved sculpture of the mother of all mothers is anothe...
Category

Early 20th Century European Gothic Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Wood

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

Antique Cast Figural Medieval Knight in Armor Cigar, Pipe or Cigarette Lighter
Located in Hamilton, Ontario
This figural cigar lighter is unsigned, but presumed to have been made in Austria in circa 1930. The lighter is a standing figural cast and cold-painted medieval knight in armor hold...
Category

Early 20th Century Austrian Medieval Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Spelter

Antique Scottish Silver Large Celtic Double Sided JHS Christogram Cross Pendant
Located in New York, NY
Finely detailed antique Scottish silver Celtic cross with exquisitely decorated arms featuring interlaced Medieval style motifs and a central nimbus with a Christogram, the stylized ...
Category

19th Century Scottish Medieval Antique Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Sterling Silver

Frankenstein; or The Modern Prometheus by Mary Shelley, Later Printing, 1891
Located in Colorado Springs, CO
Shelley, Mary. Frankenstein; or The Modern Prometheus. London: George Routledge and Sons, 1891. 12mo. Rebound in 1/.4 black leather and green marbled boards, with raised bands, gilt...
Category

1890s English Gothic Antique Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Leather, Paper

Antique Early Romanesque Gothic Architectural Tabernacle Niche Door
Located in Forney, TX
A scarce antique ecclesiastical architectural hand carved and painted wooden church - cathederal tabernacle door. 18th century or earlier, early Medieval European Romanesque Gothic style, facade with elaborate arched header atop partial quartfoil, hinged tabernacle door panel which would have opened to important religious niche...
Category

18th Century European Gothic Antique Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Wood

Large Medieval inscription
Located in Bruxelles, BE
Large Medieval German Inscription stone Germany, 14th century 46 x 83 x 13 cm
Category

15th Century and Earlier German Medieval Antique Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Stone

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

Antique Byzantine Style Sterling Silver Amethyst Cross Pendant
Located in New York, NY
Fine antique sterling silver Byzantine style hand crafted organically shaped cross pendant with a rectangular amethyst center framed by two rows of granulation work, the arms decorat...
Category

19th Century European Medieval Antique Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Sterling Silver

Jacques Callot, French Book by Paulette Choné, 1992
Located in Atlanta, GA
Jacques Callot 1592 - 1635, French book by Paulette Choné, 1992. This important book was published after the Jacques Callot exhibition presented at the Lorraine Historical Museum in ...
Category

1990s French Medieval Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Paper

Early 1900 and Very Fine Quality Hand Carved Wall Crucifix / Jesus on the Cross
Located in Lisse, NL
Sizeable crucifix with a finer quality carved corpus of Christ. Looking at Christ like this and thinking about the gruesome way in which He lost His earthly life, the crucifix (in our view) is a symbol of what 'telling people the truth' can lead to. 'The truth does not have many friends' is something I once read. Looking at what is going on in the world today, in most countries that still is the case. However, we feel that we (humans), nevertheless, are still becoming more loving, civilized, empathetic and self-conscious. Mind you, this good size wall crucifix dates from the early 1900s and the cruelties that people did to one another for acting or being different than 'normal' in those days, in most cases were far worse than what we see in this day and age. Looking at Christ on the cross with this in mind, we have come along way and we are slowly, but surely evolving in the right direction. Maybe it is just some of our 'leaders' who are lacking behind. Christ on the cross should therefor also be a reminder of someone who has lived and foreseen all this and who should therefor always be a beacon of hope and light when things are not going our way, yet. What attracted us most in this work of religious art are the quality details of His anatomy and the warm patina of this finely carved corpus. The facial features of this superb corpus of Christ reveal...
Category

Early 20th Century European Gothic Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Brass

Antique French 19th Century Vampire Slaying Kit.
Located in New Orleans, LA
Antique French 19th Century Vampire Slaying Kit.
Category

Late 19th Century French Gothic Antique Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Metal

Antique Byzantine Style Large, Substantial Silver Five Fold Cross Pendant
Located in New York, NY
Beautiful Byzantine style large, substantial antique silver Five-Fold cross pendant with an oval faceted garnet glass center, granulation, silver wire decoration and a circular chased bale. 19th Century The five-fold cross is symbolic of the five wounds of Christ, Christ and the four quarters of the world and Christ and the four evangelists. It is also known as Cross and Crosslets and has been the emblem and coat of arms of the Kingdom of Jerusalem since the thirteenth century. Large Byzantine style statement crosses...
Category

19th Century Medieval Antique Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Silver

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

An antique bronze scale model of an 18th century cannon on a hardwood base c1920
Located in Central England, GB
This superb finely detailed model of an 18th century cannon is very well engineered. It has large distinctive front spoked wheels with studded tra...
Category

Early 20th Century British Medieval Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Bronze

13th Century Period Wood Carved Polychrome Sculpture of Corpus Christi
Located in Vero Beach, FL
13th Century Period Wood Carved Polychrome Sculpture of Corpus Christi Rare and beautiful sculpture of Corpus Christi. The artwork, probably German, is carved from hardwood. This f...
Category

15th Century and Earlier Unknown Medieval Antique Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Hardwood, Paint

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

Cross of Caravaca 17th Century
Located in Madrid, ES
Cross of caravaca xvii century Very beautiful cross of Caravaca made in bronze. 17th century. Measurements: 12 x 6cm Good condition.
Category

17th Century Italian Gothic Antique Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Bronze

Rare Monumental Italian Carved Carrara Marble Model of a Cathedral
Located in New York, NY
A Rare and Monumental Italian Carved Carrara Marble Model of a Cathedral, Rome, 19th century, circa 1840. Possibly a representation of Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore in Florence Italy. The Italian Renaissance is renowned for its magnificent works of art and architecture, which are admired to this day for their grandeur and intricate details. Among the most impressive examples of this era are the rare and monumental carved Carrara marble models of cathedrals...
Category

19th Century Italian Gothic Antique Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Carrara Marble

Weighted Resin Chess Set Game in Jointed Wood Box Kings, Ca 1930s
Located in Lincoln, Lincolnshire
This is a good and complete English resin moulded "weighted" chess set game of 32 pieces, in a jointed pine box, all dating to the early/ mid 20th century, Circa 1930's. The chess...
Category

Early 20th Century British Medieval Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Resin, Pine

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

Two Vintage Framed Shield Form Heraldic Crests
Located in Bridgeport, CT
Large tanned leather shield forms with nail head trim and carved and painted applied crests with some gilt details. Each with a different crest- one with a swan and rampant lions, th...
Category

20th Century Medieval Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Leather, Glass, Wood

Vintage French Medieval Knight's Helmet in Brass
Located in Dallas, TX
Vintage French Medieval Knight's Helmet in Brass is a marvelous recreation of a period artifact. Hand-crafted by an obviously skilled artisan who clear...
Category

Mid-20th Century French Medieval Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Brass, Nickel

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

Ancient Byzantine Bronze Double-Sided Engraved Reliquary Cross, 9th-12th Century
Located in New York, NY
Fine engraved double-sided Byzantine bronze reliquary cross, 9th-12th Century AD Excellent original patina Composed of two parts hinged at the top an...
Category

15th Century and Earlier European Medieval Antique Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Bronze

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

John on the chest of Christ Sculpture Museum Reproduction
Located in Den Haag, NL
This Item is an Identical Museum Reproduction The carving shows Christ and St John sitting on a bench. John rests his head on Christ's chest, his eyes closed in devotion. His right hand rests in that of Christ, who places a loving arm around his shoulder. This Item is an Identical Museum Reproduction . Polymer is a heavy and very strong type of resin material that captures perfectly the details of the casting. The advantages of polymer when compared to concrete, cast stone, and cement are that it is far less fragile and much more resistant . sold by . Ancient Sculpture...
Category

2010s American Gothic Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Plaster

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

Great Quality Carved & Superb Condition Wooden Corpus Christi on Crucifix, 1800s
Located in Lisse, NL
Antique crucifix with stunning hand carved details and an amazing patina. This remarkable and good size crucifix with a sculpture of a suffering Christ on the cross is another one...
Category

Early 19th Century German Gothic Antique Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Fruitwood, Oak

Pair of Alabaster Bookends in Form of Medieval Library Very
Located in Mombuey, Zamora
Library, Book, Throne, medieval, revival Alabaster and marble bookends in the shape of monks sitting on a throne reading a book Medieval style figur of a monge carved on the albastr...
Category

20th Century Italian Medieval Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Alabaster

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

Book of the Hunt by Gaston Fébus, One-Time Only Limited-Edition Facsimile
Located in BARCELONA, ES
This is a one-time only facsimile edition limited to 987 copies of a Medieval illuminated manuscript, the Book of the Hunt, by the Fren...
Category

2010s French Medieval Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Leather

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 Large Carved Oak Figure of Saint Anthony of Padua, 18th-19th Century
Located in New York, NY
Fine hand carved oak figure of Saint Anthony of Padua Late 18th- Early 19th Century Saint Anthony is depicted with his head raised, mouth ajar, as if in the process of speaking. He stands upright wearing his traditional Franciscan robes and holding open a book. Beautifully carved with high level of detail, unusual for oak pieces. Oak is a dense hardwood which is difficult to carve and it's rare to see this level of detail in an early oak sculpture. Saint Anthony is the Patron Saint of lost things. While living at the monastery, he had a treasured book which contained psalms and personal observations. His book was stolen by a man who decided to leave the monastery and Anthony ferverently prayed for its return as the cost of a new book would have been beyond his means. The thief repented and returned the book which is believed to be preserved at the Franciscan Library in Bologna. He is one of the most popular Catholic saints...
Category

Early 19th Century European Medieval Antique Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Wood, Oak

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

Ardagh Chalice, an Antique Sterling Silver and Enamel Replica Dublin 1914
Located in London, London
The Ardagh Chalice is considered to be one of the greatest treasures of the early Irish Church, and one of the finest known works of Insular art. It is thought to have been made in the 8th Century AD, and was discovered in 1868 by Jim Quin & Paddy Flanagan just outside the village of Ardagh in County Limerick, Ireland. Hallmarked in Dublin in 1914 by West & Son, this handsome, Antique Sterling Silver Replica of the Ardagh Chalice, is decorated with Celtic bands...
Category

1910s Irish Medieval Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Sterling Silver

Medieval Style Armor Gauntlet Articulated Steel
Located in Rochester, NY
Articulated medieval style steel gauntlet. Well made, mid-20th century.
Category

Mid-20th Century Medieval Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Metal, Steel

Large Early 19th Century Door Lock and Latch on Patinated Stand
Located in San Mateo, CA
Large early 19th century European door lock and latch. This had a custom stand made that was patinated to match the lock. This was probably done in the 1970's. There is an acrylic mi...
Category

Early 19th Century European Gothic Antique Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Brass, Iron

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

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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