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Collectibles and Curiosities For Sale
Period: 1940s
Color:  Beige
Mid-20th Century Israeli Mezuzah
Located in New York, NY
Early Israeli Mezuzah on velvet mounting with ornate silvered body, and with gilded top and base. Decorated with colored glass and with gilded bell hangin...
Category

1940s Israeli Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Brass

Pinocchio
Located in London, GB
Original artwork used to create the British front of house stills. Gouache on artboard. This original artwork features the films scene where Pinocchio is under the sea. Exceptionally rare. Original artworks rarely surface, as the majority were destroyed. Pieces on the Classic Disney films are always highly prized. This original artwork only recently surfaced, and was previously owned by an English lady, who had been given this piece in the 1940s. Prior to this discovery no other Pinocchio artwork for posters or front of house stills had been seen. Walt Disney's second animated feature film was made after the success of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, (1937). Pinocchio, the world’s most famous wooden puppet, is originally the creation of the Italian writer and social commentator Carlo Collodi. Entitled The Adventures of Pinocchio...
Category

1940s British Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Paint

Nautical magnetic compass, signed by Henry Browne & Son Ltd Sestrel 1942.
Located in Milan, IT
Nautical magnetic compass, signed by Henry Browne & Son Ltd Sestrel 1942, Barking & London 1942. Good condition, slight abrasion on compass rose. The compass is mounted on eboni...
Category

1940s Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Brass

Liquidation of The Entire Stock of The NY Store of Yamanaka & Co., 1944, Cat. #1
Located in valatie, NY
Parke-Bernet Galleries Catalog, By Order of the Alien Property Custodian of the United States, Liquidation of The Entire Stock of The New York Store of Yamanaka & Co. Inc., Oriental Art, Part One, New York, 1944, 190 pages. with 939 lots. One of the three catalogues of the auctions held at the Parke Bernet Galleries in 1944. Lots included graeco buddhist, Cambodian, Siamese and Chinese sculptures and bronzes, Chinese porcelains, pottery, jade, coral carvings, pearl necklaces, Chinese paintings, lamps and screens, Chinese and Japanese furniture. The Yamanaka Company was owned by the seventh generation of the family of Ichaguro Yamanaka, who founded this worldwide business by opening a small curio...
Category

1940s American Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Paper

Vintage Nautical Signal Flag in Frame
Located in Norwell, MA
Framed maritime signal flag representing the number "4", "FOUR" in the international code of signals. This authentic and ocean used pennant is made of individual panels of red and wh...
Category

1940s North American Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Cotton

Antique Carnival Party Box with Original Objects, circa 1940
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Antique vintage party box with all the original objects. Manufacturer by El Ingenio, Barcelona, Spain, circa 1940. In original condition, with minor wear consistent with age and use...
Category

1940s Spanish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Metal

Tennessee Williams, Five Young American Poets, Signed First Edition, 1944
Located in Hillsborough, NJ
AUTHOR: Williams, Tennessee. TITLE: Five Young American Poets. Third Series 1944. PUBLISHER: Norfolk: New Directions, 1944. DESCRIPTION: FIRST ...
Category

1940s American Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Fabric

Ida, A Novel by Gertrude Stein, Stated 1st Ed
Located in valatie, NY
Ida A Novel by Gertrude Stein. New York: Random House, 1941. Stated 1st Ed hardcover. Gertrude Stein wanted Ida to be known in two ways: as a novel about a woman in the age of celebr...
Category

1940s Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Paper

Mexican Modern Sterling Silver Brooch William Spratling
Located in Atlanta, GA
A modernistic sterling silver brooch by William Spratling from the first period 1940-1944. Made in his studio in Taxco, Mexico. The brooch features an abstract woven motif within a b...
Category

1940s Mexican Mid-Century Modern Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Sterling Silver

Traditional Paper Lantern, circa 1940
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Traditional paper lantern. By unknown manufacturer from Spain, circa 1940. In original condition, with minor wear consistent with age and...
Category

1940s Spanish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Bamboo, Paper

Historic Houses of the Hudson Valley by Harold Donaldson Eberlein
Located in valatie, NY
Historic Houses of the Hudson Valley by Harold Donaldson Eberlein and Cortlandt Van Dyke Hubbard. Published by Bonanza Books 1942, New York, NY. Hardcover with dust jacket. Illustrat...
Category

1940s American Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Paper

1940s Doll Mold of a Baby Face
Located in Tarrytown, NY
1940s Toy mold of a baby doll face.
Category

1940s Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Iron

Carl Sandburg, 'Henry Flannery', Bronze Wood, Limited Signed Edition, 1941
Located in Hillsborough, NJ
Author: Sandburg, Carl ( Henry Flannery ). Title: Bronze Wood. Publisher: San Francisco: The Grabhorn Press, 1941. Description: limited signed edition. 1 vol., 8-3/4" x 11-...
Category

1940s American Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Leather, Fabric

Mark of Zorro / Il Segno Di Zorro
Located in London, GB
Original Italian film poster for the 1940 adventure romance film The Mark of Zorro. This film was directed by Rouben Mamoulian The cast includes Tyrone Power...
Category

1940s Italian Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Paper

Vintage 1948 Sterling Silver 'Tennis' Presentation Trophy
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
A fine and impressive vintage George VI English cast sterling silver presentation trophy in the form of a tennis player; an addition to our diverse presentation silverware collection. This fine vintage George VI cast sterling silver presentation piece has a circular waisted form to a circular domed spreading base. The surface of the cup is plain and unembellished. This vintage tennis trophy...
Category

1940s English Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Silver, Sterling Silver

Juke Girl
Located in London, GB
Original US film poster for the 1942 crime mystery film directed by Curtis Bernhardt and staring Ann Sheridan, Ronald Reagan. This poster is conservation linen backed and it would b...
Category

1940s American Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Paper

Maritime Range Light with Polished Aluminum Body on Three Legs
Located in Norwell, MA
From the U.S. Navy, this awesome prismatic beacon has the most incredible lens you will ever see. Polished aluminum pole mounted high power nautical range light. Fitted with huge cut...
Category

1940s American Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Aluminum, Steel

Charlie Chaplin Signed Photograph as Monsieur Verdoux
Located in Jersey, GB
A signed photograph of Charlie Chaplin as his character from the controversial 1947 film Monsieur Verdoux Charlie Chaplin was the biggest star of the silent era. Born into poverty...
Category

1940s Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Paper

Watercolor Aviation Sketch of a Poster for Gran Premio Milan 19th September 1948
Located in Milan, IT
Preparatory sketch, watercolor, of a poster about the aeronautical competition Gran Premio Milano on 19th September 1948, depicting three types of flying machines, made by Riccardo C...
Category

1940s Italian Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Paper

Flamingo Road / Viale Flamingo
Located in London, GB
Original Italian film poster for the 1949 Film Noir directed by Michael Curtiz and starring Joan Crawford, Sydney Greenstreet and Zachary Scott. This siz...
Category

1940s Italian Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Paper

Jane Peterson Autograph with Magazine Article
Located in valatie, NY
Jane Peterson Autograph with Magazine Article. July 1943 Americana Illustrated volume XXXVII, number 3. This was a publication of "The American Historical Company," New York City. Wi...
Category

1940s American Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Paper

Five French Dried, Pressed and Framed Botanical Specimens
Located in New York, NY
A set of dried, pressed and framed botanical specimens, plants and flowers with botanical descriptions Calligraphed in Latin and French. These old pieces are elegantly floated in off...
Category

1940s Belgian Rustic Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

The Grapes of Wrath / Les Raisins de la Coiere
Located in London, GB
Original French film poster for the 1940 masterpiece directed John Ford and starred Henry Fonda, John Carradine, Jane Darwell. The striking artwork is ...
Category

1940s French Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Paper

Watercolor Aviation Sketch of a Poster for Gran Premio Milan 19th September 1948
Located in Milan, IT
Preparatory sketch, watercolor, of a poster about the aeronautical competition Gran Premio Milano on 19th September 1948, depicting three types of flying machines, made by Riccardo C...
Category

1940s Italian Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Paper

1940s German Silver and Enamel Card Case
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
A fine vintage German silver and enamel card case; part of our boxes and cases collection. This fine German vintage card case has a rectangular book ...
Category

1940s German Other Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Silver, Sterling Silver, Enamel

Jane Peterson Autograph with Magazine Article
Located in valatie, NY
Jane Peterson Autograph with Magazine Article. July 1943 Americana Illustrated Volume XXXVII, Number 3. This was a publication of "The American Historical Company," New York City. Wi...
Category

1940s American Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Paper

Suspicion / Soupcons
Located in London, GB
Original French film poster for Suspicion, 1941. This poster is from the film's first French release in 1946. This poster by Bernard Lancy (1892-1964) Bernard Lancy was a prolific creator of film posters, and designed the artwork for many notable French and foreign films. He brilliantly encapsulates the crux of the drama with his close-up portrait of Cary Grant's impassive face, and Joan Fontaine...
Category

1940s French Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Paper

Vintage George VI Arts & Crafts Style English Sterling Silver Chalice
By J. Wippell & Co. Ltd. 1
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
An exceptional, fine and impressive vintage George VI English sterling silver chalice in the Arts & Crafts style; an addition to our religious silverware collection. This exceptio...
Category

1940s English Arts and Crafts Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Silver, Sterling Silver

Tarzan's Magic Fountain
Located in London, GB
Original British trade advertisement for the 1949 adventure, fantasy science film Tarzan's Magic Fountain. The film was directed by Lee Sholem and starred Lex Barker, Brenda Joyce, ...
Category

1940s British Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Paper

Mighty Joe Young
Located in London, GB
Original British trade advertisement for the 1949 Andventure, Fantasy film Mighty Joe Young. The film was directed by Ernest B. Schoedsack and stared Terry Moore...
Category

1940s British Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Paper

The Life of a Forgotten Magicians
Located in London, GB
The Life of a Forgotten Magicians We are proud to offer a unique collection of one of London’s most unquestionably entertaining magicians known as Bernard and Ms Radar. A fascinating collection of 1940s-1960s items relating to the telepathic magic act 'Bernard and Miss Radar', a mind reading husband and wife duo, who extensively toured British theatres performing their telepathy based act and who were apparently the recipients of the 'World Convention of Magicians Award', which they received at the Magic Circle Convention in London in 1955. The collection comprises the basis for their act; 2 large handmade jigsaw puzzles, a “Radar” hat, top hat and other associated items with which they performed. There is also a large quantity (over 1000) of publicity photographs, theatre contracts, Magic Circle programmes, scrapbooks and other ephemera relating to their career, plus approximately fifteen original 1940s and 1950s theatre and other posters and several hand bills and flyers, all including Bernard and Miss Radar on the billing, along with other variety acts of the period. Some of the theatre posters included are; The Hippodrome, Eastbourne, Arcadia Theatre, Skegness, Commodore, Ryde, The Knightstone, Weston-Super-Mare and The Palace Theatre, Reading, which now all been framed to preserve them for display. Dimensions in inches: (Poster sizes) H 32” x W 22” x D 2” Origin: England Condition: Aged through wear and tear is present across all the item, some fading across the posters however they are not torn or damp. Some of the hand painted items also show aged wear and light discolouration. Please take note that these items are over 70 years old and would have been used as part of this magician’s act, therefore its safe to say these items all show age, however, are very well preserved. Please review all the photos and propose questions were unsure of the condition to avoid any disappointment. Over 1000 artifacts - most not pictured due to volume of items. Postage cost is high due to the weight (30kg) and volume of items in this lot, 10 posts mounted, 1 full box of archived material, top hat box...
Category

1940s British Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Paper

Fishing Book, Golden Days by Romilly Fedden
Located in Oxfordshire, GB
Vintage fishing book, golden days by Romilly Fedden A good 1949 (2nd edition) angling book by Romilly Fedden entitled 'Golden Days' and printed in Grea...
Category

1940s English Sporting Art Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Paper

Blonde Ice
Located in London, GB
Original US film poster for the 1948 film noir directed by Jack Bernhard and stars Leslie Brooks, Robert Paige and Michael Whalen.
Category

1940s American Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Springtime for Thomas
Located in London, GB
Original US film poster for Springtime for Thomas (1946) This seven minute cartoon would have been shown before the main feature at the cinema. Tom and Jerry cartoons were extremely...
Category

1940s American Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

"White Heat / La Furia Umana" Original Italian Film Poster
Located in London, GB
Original Italian film poster for White Heat, 1949. This film was directed by Raoul Walsh, and stars James Cagney, Virginia Mayo and Edmond O'Brien. Cagney was synonymous with gangste...
Category

1940s Italian Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

"Festival du Film Maudit" Original French Poster
Located in London, GB
Original French poster for Festival du Film Maudit. In 1949 an avant-garde cine-club called Objectif 49 was formed in France. Its founder members i...
Category

1940s French Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

"Bluebeard / Barbe-Bleue" Belgian Movie Poster
Located in London, GB
Original Belgian movie poster for Bluebeard 1944 staring John Carradine, Jean Parker, Nils Asther and directed by Edgar G. Ulmer. The film did not...
Category

1940s Belgian Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

French Mid-Century Mirrored Miniature Cabinet
Located in New York, NY
French Mid-Century (1940s) pink mirrored rectangular miniature cabinet with 2 doors and bevelled trim on lacquered base with mahogany interior
Category

1940s French Art Deco Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Lacquer, Mahogany

Angels with Dirty Faces/Gli Angeli Con La Faccia Sporca
Located in London, GB
Original Italian movie poster for Michael Curtiz's Classic 1938 crime film staring James Cagney, Pat O'Brien, Humphrey Bogart, the poster is designed by the wonderful Italian artist ...
Category

1940s Italian Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Mother's Day Flowers
Located in Seattle, WA
Sweet vintage trembler pin butterfly and flowers "tremble". A very happy little treasure.
Category

1940s Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Pinocchio
Located in London, GB
Original artwork used to create the British front of house stills. Gouache on artboard. This original artwork fetures the films scene where pinocchio dances in the song i've got no strings. Exceptionally rare. Original artworks rarely surface, as the majority were destroyed. Pieces on the Classic Disney films are always highly prized. This original artwork only recently surfaced, and was previously owned by an English lady, who had been given this piece in the 1940s. Prior to this discovery no other Pinocchio artwork for posters or front of house stills had been seen. Walt Disney's second animated feature film was made after the success of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937). Pinocchio, the world’s most famous wooden puppet, is originally the creation of the Italian writer and social commentator Carlo Collodi. Entitled The Adventures of Pinocchio...
Category

1940s British Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Paint

Pinocchio
Pinocchio
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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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