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Collectibles and Curiosities For Sale
Color:  White
Flower Color Theory Book
Located in New York City, NY
Leading floral designers Putnam & Putnam are back - now with the ultimate flower-arrangement reference book The follow-up to Darroch and Michael Putnam's acclaimed bestselling debut, Flower Color Theory is the only guide that uses color...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Chinese Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Paper

Mobilier Moderniste: Palais du Maharaja d'Indore (Book)
Located in North Yorkshire, GB
This is a scarce copy of a Sotheby Parke Bernet sale catalogue (Sunday 25th May 1980) of the contents of the Maharaja of Indore's modernistic Madik Bagh palace which he had designed ...
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20th Century Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Paper

Pierre Chareau: Archives Louis Moret (Book)
Located in North Yorkshire, GB
This is a catalogue to an exhibition of Pierre Chareau's work which took place at the Foundation Louis Moret in Switzerland in 1994. 117 pages of which there are 32 pages of illustra...
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20th Century Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Paper

Tenreiro (Book)
Located in North Yorkshire, GB
A Monograph on this most important Brazilian furniture designer and maker from the mid-20th century. He opened his factory in 1943 and one of his main clients was the architect Oscar Niemeyer, for whose designs a number of original pieces were commissioned. He was well-known for making use of indigenous...
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Mid-20th Century Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Paper

Tenreiro (Book)
Tenreiro (Book)
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(KYD) - DICKENS - The Half-Pay Captain (from Sketches By Boz) - ORIGINAL SKETCH
Located in Hillsborough, NJ
AUTHOR: CLARKE, Joseph Clayton (KYD) (Charles Dickens). TITLE: The Half-Pay Captain (from Sketches By Boz). PUBLISHER: England, [c. 1920] DESCRIPTI...
Category

1920s British Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Paper

(KYD) - DICKENS - Tim Linkinwater (from Nicholas Nickleby) - ORIGINAL SKETCH
Located in Hillsborough, NJ
AUTHOR: CLARKE, Joseph Clayton (KYD) (Charles Dickens). TITLE: Tim Linkinwater (from Nicholas Nickleby) PUBLISHER: England, [c. 1920] DESCRIPTION: ORIGINAL INK AND WATERCOLOR SKE...
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1920s British Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Paper

(KYD) - DICKENS - Mr. George Sampson (from Our Mutual Friend) - ORIGINAL SKETCH
Located in Hillsborough, NJ
AUTHOR: CLARKE, Joseph Clayton (KYD) (Charles Dickens). TITLE: Mr. George Sampson (from Our Mutual Friend) PUBLISHER: England, [c. 1920] DESCRIPTION: ORIGINAL INK AND WATERCOLOR ...
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1920s British Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Paper

Joseph Clayton CLARKE (KYD) - DICKENS - The Pavement Artist - ORIGINAL SKETCH
Located in Hillsborough, NJ
AUTHOR: CLARKE, Joseph Clayton (KYD) (Charles Dickens). TITLE: The Pavement Artist (from Somebody's Luggage). PUBLISHER: England, [c. 1920] DESCRIPTION: ORIGINAL INK AND WATERCOL...
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1920s British Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Paper

Set of 2 Store Display Boy Dolls or Child Mannequins, France 1960s
Located in Appeltern, Gelderland
Mid century child mannequin doll. These vintage mannequins are both male children. They have a soft tissue body and beautiful fiberglass cartoon style h...
Category

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

Materials

Fiberglass

POLIDORI - The Vampyre - 1819 - FIRST EDITION - THE EARLIEST OBTAINABLE ISSUE
Located in Hillsborough, NJ
AUTHOR: POLIDORI, John William. TITLE: The Vampyre; A Tale. PUBLISHER: London: for Sherwood, Neely, and Jones, 1819. DESCRIPTION: FIRST EDITION SECOND SHERWOOD ISSUE IN ORIGINAL ...
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1810s British Antique Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Paper

Mills Novelty Art Deco Green Porcelain Penny Scale
Located in Ferndale, MI
Art Deco period penny scale by Mills Novelty co. Period green porcelain pedestal with cream colored foot hold.
Category

1940s American Art Deco Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Iron

Milne, A. A. Winnie the Pooh, 'Specimen Page, 1926'
Located in Hillsborough, NJ
AUTHOR: MILNE, A. A.. TITLE: Winnie The Pooh. PUBLISHER: London: Methuen & Co. Ltd., 1926. DESCRIPTION: SPECIMEN PAGE. 1 page folded, 7-1/8" x 4-5/8", printed in red and bl...
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1920s British Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Paper

Charles DICKENS. A Christmas Carol - FIRST EDITION SECOND ISSUE - 1843
Located in Hillsborough, NJ
AUTHOR: DICKENS, Charles. TITLE: A Christmas Carol. In Prose. Being A Ghost Story of Christmas. PUBLISHER: London: Chapman & Hall, 1843. DESCRIPTION:...
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1840s British Antique Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Leather

19th Century White Belgian Parisian Plaster Architectural Model Capitol
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A white, antique Belgian architectural model made of handcrafted plaster of Paris, in good condition. It depicts the Frederik's Church in Copenhagen, Denmark. The main entrance of the detailed cathedral is accessible by a wide staircase, particularized by four columns. The detailed dome is composed with many rectangular windows. Exceptional item collector. Wear consistent with age and use. circa 1900...
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19th Century Belgian Rococo Antique Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Plaster

A. A. Milne, a Fine Letter Signed Mentioning Christopher Robin and Pooh, 1931
Located in Hillsborough, NJ
AUTHOR: MILNE, A. A.. TITLE: A fine ALS mentioning Christopher Robin and Pooh. PUBLISHER: Chelsea, 1931. DESCRIPTION: AUTOGRAPH LETTER SIGN...
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1930s British Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Paper

Cast Iron & Tin Toys of Yesterday with a Price Guide Don Cranmer, 1st Ed
Located in valatie, NY
Cast Iron & Tin Toys of Yesterday with a Price Guide Don Cranmer. Published by L-W Promotions, Sharon Center, OH, 1974. 1st Ed softcover, 108 pages with 100's of illustrations and an...
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1970s American Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Paper

Antique Print of a Knight in England or Scotland '1842'
Located in Langweer, NL
Antique print titled 'A Knight'. Old print of a knight. This print originates from 'A critical inquiry into antient armour as it existed in Europe (..)' by Sir Samuel Rush Meyrick. ...
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19th Century Antique Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Paper

Oscar Wilde, the Sphinx, First Edition, 1894, Illustrated by Charles Rickets
Located in Hillsborough, NJ
AUTHOR: WILDE, Oscar. TITLE: The Sphinx. PUBLISHER: London: Elkin Mathews & John Lane at The Sign of The Bodley Head, 1894. DESCRIPTION: FIRST EDITION. 1 vol., 8-1/2" x 7",...
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1890s British Antique Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Leather

DS-2878 Boxing Handstitched Leather Punching Bag by De Sede
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Leather punching bag DS-2878/60 by De Sede. Matching to the re-edition of the DS-2878, De Sede boxing fans can get their hands on a very special a...
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21st Century and Contemporary Swiss Modern Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Leather

Joan Mitchell-Drawing into Painting by Mark Rosenthal, 1st Ed Exhibition Cat
Located in valatie, NY
Joan Mitchell-Drawing into painting by Mark Rosenthal. Published by Cheim & Read, New York, 2017. 1st Ed Exhibition Catalog (Oct. 27, 2016-Dec. 23,2016), hardcover with dust jacket. ...
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21st Century and Contemporary American Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Paper

Bukowski, Mockingbird Wish Me Luck, Presentation Copy First Paperback Edition
Located in Hillsborough, NJ
Author: bukowski, charles. Title: mockingbird wish me luck. Publisher: los angeles: black sparrow press, 1972. Description: presentation copy first paperb...
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1970s American Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Paper

Art Treasures of the Louvre by René Huyghe, 1st Ed
Located in valatie, NY
Art Treasures of the Louvre by René Huyghe. New York: Harry N. Abrams, 1960. 1st Ed hardcover with dust jacket. Translated and adapted from the French, by Rene Huyghe who was a curat...
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1960s French Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

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Paper

Façades of Paris: Windows, Doors, and Balconies
Located in New York, NY
Lively watercolors and ink drawings of refined facades draw a compelling portrait of Paris, where each building is accompanied by its delightful ornamental details. This elegant b...
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21st Century and Contemporary Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Paper

Royal Doulton Golf Plate, Series Ware
Located in Oxfordshire, GB
Royal Doulton Series Ware Golf plate. Royal Doulton rack plate with polychrome golf scene and the proverb, "EVERY DOG HAS HIS DAY, AND EVERY MAN HIS HOUR", designed by Charles Crombie. The rear of the plate with Royal Doulton trade mark, pattern No. D3395 and '15'. Charles 'Chas' Crombie (1885 - 1967) was an illustrator whose work is well known to the collector. His pictures can be found in many forms, on postcards, calendars, in books and on Royal Doulton ceramics. Royal Doulton Golf...
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1910s English Sporting Art Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Ceramic

SCHULZ - Peanuts Jubilee - FIRST EDITION INSCRIBED WITH A DRAWING OF SNOOPY !
Located in Hillsborough, NJ
AUTHOR: SCHULZ, Charles. TITLE: Peanuts Jubilee. My Life and Art With Charlie Brown and Others. PUBLISHER: NY: Holt, Rinehart and Winston, 1975. DESCRIPTION: FIRST EDITION INSCRIBED WITH A DRAWING. 1 vol., 15-3/8" x 11-3/8", illustrated, inscribed on the half-title "For B. J. with every best wish - Charles M. Schulz" with the addition of a large full body sketch of Snoopy, hardcover, original stamped silver boards. CONDITION: Inner and outer hinges fine, mild general handling to covers, foredge of rear pastedown and endpaper worn, internally clean and bright, overall VERY GOOD. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: "B.J." is B.J. Thomas best...
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1970s American Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Paper

Johannes Balbus. Catholicon, 1469, Original Leaf Printed by PETER SCHOEFFER
Located in Hillsborough, NJ
Author:: Balbus, Johannes. Title: Catholicon. (An original leaf). Publisher: Mainz: [Peter Schoeffer], 1469. Description: An Original Catholicon Leaf Printed By Peter Schoeffer. 36.5 cm x 28.5 cm, printed in double columns with 66 lines to the page, rubricated 15 on recto and 38 on verso, printed on Galliziani paper, the half of the sheet without the watermark, but with the characteristic shadows at wire-line intervals of ca. 5 mm.. Condition: Mild toning to edges of leaf, otherwise invery good condition Additional Information.: The first nonreligious book ever printed by the first printer. Below is an interesting translation mentioning Africa from Verso: column 2: 11th item: line 34 - "Heliotrope: A green colored stone having blood red veins. If placed in a silver dish filled with water and exposed to the rays of the sun, the water will turn blood red, and the sun will go dark. It is most brilliant when at the rising and setting of the sun it changes color. It is found in Africa." Aside from a leaf from the Gutenberg bible this is one of the earliest possible obtainable pieces of printing associated with Johann Gutenberg. Provenance: 1) Sir Hans Sloane...
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15th Century and Earlier German Antique Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Paper

Midcentury Round Ashtray White Travertine Marble and Steel, Mannelli Italy 1970s
Located in Roma, IT
Elegant midcentury rounded white travertine marble ashtray or bowl. Fratelli Mannelli probably designed this fantastic piece in Italy during the 1970s. This wonderful item is made...
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Late 20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Travertine, Marble, Metal, Steel, Chrome

Sotheby's, Property from the Estate of Laurance S. Rockefeller, Oct. 11-12, 2005
Located in valatie, NY
Property from the Estate of Laurance S. Rockefeller (October 11 & 12, 2005) by Sotheby's. Sotheby's held a single-owner sale of Property from the Estate of Mr. Laurance S. Rockefeller, who is remembered as a pioneering venture capitalist, a dedicated conservationist and a visionary philanthropist from one of America's most prominent families. Highly respected by policy makers and consulted by presidents, Mr. Rockefeller was deeply committed to both his charitable and business endeavors. With a discerning eye, he applied the same care to assembling his personal collection of paintings, ceramics, porcelain and ethnographic art...
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21st Century and Contemporary American Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Paper

Rare Italian White Marble Relief of "Young Saint John the Baptist" circa 1860
By Desiderio da Settignano
Located in New York, NY
A Rare Italian White Marble Relief of "Young Saint John the Baptist" circa 1860 after Desiderio Da Settignano. The original pietra serena relief by Desiderio Da Settignano, is in ...
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19th Century Italian Renaissance Antique Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Marble

VERINEAU ( Gerda Wegener ) - Douze Sonnets Lascifs - LIMITED EDITION - 1925
Located in Hillsborough, NJ
AUTHOR: VERINEAU, Alexandre de, (Louis Perceau), (Gerda Wegener - illustrator). TITLE: Douze Sonnets Lascifs: pour accompagner la suite d'aquarelles int...
Category

1920s French Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Leather

Lladro Pulcino Obelisk Porcelain White Elephant Figurine with Wooden Base, Spain
Located in Nuernberg, DE
Pulcino obelisk porcelain elephant figurine designed by Sculptor Francisco Cuesta at Lladro Porcelain, Spain. The Lladro Figurines are hand crafted by ...
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Early 2000s Spanish Modern Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Porcelain

Sotheby's: Property from the Collection of Josephine & Walter Buhl Ford II, 1st
Located in valatie, NY
Sotheby's: Property From the Collection of Josephine & Walter Buhl Ford II. 1st Ed softcover auction catalog. Walter Buhl Ford II married Josephine Clay ...
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21st Century and Contemporary Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Paper

19th Century Dentist's Treadle Drill, by Ss White Dental Manufacturing Co.
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
S.S. White Dental Manufacturing Company Treadle Drill, Operational * USA, circa late 19th century *Operational means, when the foot pedal is engaged the engine wheel turns, there are no attachments to test, we do not know if the mechanism will do anything more than spin the 'wheel engine' An intact, very complete (except for drill attachments ) antique dental...
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Late 19th Century American Industrial Antique Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Steel, Iron

Vintage Molded Rubber Jaws Great White Shark Replica Movie Prop
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Vintage 23" molded rubber jaws great white shark replica movie prop. Item features molded rubber construction of jaws, very nice vintage item, weighs...
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Late 20th Century Modern Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Fiberglass, Rubber, Paint

Lunardi - Account of the First Aerial Voyage in England - 1784 - First Edition
Located in Hillsborough, NJ
AUTHOR: LUNARDI, Vincent. TITLE: An Account Of The First Aerial Voyage In England, In A Series Of Letters To His Guardian, Chevalier Gherardo Compagni, Written under the impressi...
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1780s British Antique Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Paper

Picasso by Gertrude Stein
Located in valatie, NY
Picasso by Gertrude Stein. B.T. Batsford, LTD, London, 1948. 3rd Ed hardcover no dust jacket. With 64 illustrations in color and B&W. The famous writer ...
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1940s Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Paper

Magnificent Clocks for Chinese Imperial Court from the Nezu Museum, Christie's
Located in valatie, NY
Magnificent Clocks for the Chinese Imperial Court from the Nezu Museum Christie's, Hong Kong, May 2008. 159pp. 1st Ed softcover. 14 lots profusely illustrated in color. One of the m...
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21st Century and Contemporary Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Paper

Blanc de Chine Pagodas, Chinoiserie White Porcelain Object of Art, Pair
Located in 10 Chater Road, HK
Pagodas are a form of Buddhist architecture. Before Buddhism was introduced to China from India, there had been no pagodas in China. The structures of pagodas are called stupa, meani...
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2010s Chinese Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Porcelain

Original Handcolored Antique Print of a Suit of Armour, '1842'
Located in Langweer, NL
Antique print titled 'A Suit of Armour, in the posession of Sir Samuel Meyrick K.H.'. Old print of a suit of armour. This print originates from 'A critical inquiry into antient armou...
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19th Century Antique Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Paper

Original Antique Print of Guy de Bryan and Bernabò Visconti, 1842
Located in Langweer, NL
Antique print titled 'Sir Guy de Bryan & Bernabo Visconti'. Old print of Guy de Bryan and Bernabò Visconti. This print originates from 'A critical inquiry into antient armour as it e...
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19th Century Antique Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Paper

Ellen von Unwerth, Heimat, Limited Edition Signed Book
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Welcome to Heimat An enchanted trip through Bavaria with Ellen von Unwerth Ellen von Unwerth’s puckish humor pervades the pages of Heimat, an enchanted tour around Bavaria. The ren...
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21st Century and Contemporary Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Paper

Bill Blass Collection: New York, October 21-23, 2003 Sotheby's
Located in valatie, NY
The Bill Blass Collection: Sotheby's New York, October 21-23, 2003. 1st Ed softcover auction catalog. Large 474-page catalog for the auction of r...
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21st Century and Contemporary American Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Paper

Antique Handcolored Print of Thomas Montacute of Salisbury and a Knight, 1842
Located in Langweer, NL
Antique print titled 'Thomas Montacute Earl of Salisbury and a Knight'. Old print of Thomas Montacute, Earl of Salisbury. This print originates from 'A critical inquiry into antient ...
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19th Century Antique Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Paper

Antique Handcolored Print of Thomas Peyton in Full Armor Gear, 1842
Located in Langweer, NL
Antique print titled 'Sir Thomas Peyton'. Old print of Thomas Peyton, sheriff of Cambridgeshire and Huntingdonshire. This print originates from 'A critical inquiry into antient armou...
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19th Century Antique Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Paper

Antique Print of a Knight and Guard, 1842
Located in Langweer, NL
Antique print titled 'A Knight and one of the King's Guards'. Old print of a knight and guard of the King. This print originates from 'A critical inquiry into antient armour as it ex...
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19th Century Antique Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Paper

Antique Print of Crossbowman by Meyrick, 1842
Located in Langweer, NL
Antique print titled 'A Cross-Bow-Man and his Paviser'. Old print of a crossbowman and a man with a pavise (shield). This print originates from 'A critical inquiry into antient armou...
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19th Century Antique Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Paper

Antique Print of an Archer and Crossbowman, 1842
Located in Langweer, NL
Antique print titled 'Archer and Cross Bowman'. Old print of an archer and crossbowman. This print originates from 'A critical inquiry into antient armour as it existed in Europe (.....
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19th Century Antique Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Paper

Antique Print of a Soldier and Knight, 1842
Located in Langweer, NL
Antique print titled 'A Soldier and Knight'. Old print of a soldier and knight. This print originates from 'A critical inquiry into antient armour as it existed in Europe (..)' by Si...
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19th Century Antique Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Paper

Antique Print of the Earl of Richmond, 1842
Located in Langweer, NL
Antique print titled 'Peter Earl of Richmond and a Soldier'. Old print of the Earl of Richmond and a soldier. This print originates from 'A critical inquiry in...
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19th Century Antique Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Paper

Antique Print of an Officer of Pikemen, 1842
Located in Langweer, NL
Antique print titled 'An Officer of Pikemen'. Old print of an officer of pikemen. This print originates from 'A critical inquiry into antient armour as it existed in Europe (..)' by ...
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19th Century Antique Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Paper

Antique Print of a Knight of the Birmingham Family, 1842
Located in Langweer, NL
Antique print titled 'A knight of the Birmingham Family'. Old print of a knight of the Birmingham family. This print originates from 'A critical inquiry into antient armour as it exi...
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19th Century Antique Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Paper

Antique Print of the Duke of York, 1842
Located in Langweer, NL
Antique print titled 'Duke of York, father of Edward the fourth slain A.D. 1460'. Old print of the Duke of York. This print originates from 'A critical in...
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19th Century Antique Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Paper

Antique Print of William Longuespee, 1842
Located in Langweer, NL
Antique print titled 'William Longuespee Earl of Salisbury'. Old print of William Longuespee, Earl of Salisbury. This print originates from 'A critical inquiry into antient armour as...
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19th Century Antique Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Paper

Original Antique Engraving of Inhabitants of Tonga Tabu, C.1836
Located in Langweer, NL
Antique print titled 'Tonga-Tabu'. Old print depicting various inhabitants of Tonga Tabu. This print originates from 'Entdeckungs, Reise der Franzosischen Corvette Astrolabe Unternomen auf Befehl Konig Karls...
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19th Century Antique Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Paper

Beautiful Antique Print of Inhabitants of Tonga Tabu, C.1836
Located in Langweer, NL
Antique print titled 'Tonga-Tabu'. Old print depicting various inhabitants of Tonga Tabu. This print originates from 'Entdeckungs, Reise der Franzosischen Corvette Astrolabe Unternomen auf Befehl Konig Karls...
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19th Century Antique Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Paper

Italian Modern White Plastic Column Radio, 1990s
Located in MIlano, IT
Italian modern white plastic column radio, 1990s. Column radio covered with a white plastic structure. The radio is functional. Good conditions. Measurements in cm 24 x 26 x 61 H....
Category

1990s Italian Mid-Century Modern Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Metal, Metallic Thread

Antique Map of Tartary and Northeast Asia, c.1750
Located in Langweer, NL
Antique map titled 'Carte de la tartarie occidentale'. An interesting map of Tartary and northeast Asia, from Lake Baykal, Partie du Siberia in the north, Pays des Kalkas at the cent...
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18th Century Antique Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Paper

Antique Map of Kerguelens Island Coast by Cook, 1784
Located in Langweer, NL
Antique print titled 'Kerguelen's Land (..)'. Antique map of Kerguelens island coast, known today as the Desolation islands. Originates from 'A Voyage to the Pacific Ocean: Undertaken, by the Command of His Majesty, for Making Discoveries in the Northern Hemisphere (..)' published in Dublin. Artists and Engravers: James Cook...
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18th Century Antique Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Paper

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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