Collectibles and Curiosities
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6,623
13,317
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Collectibles and Curiosities For Sale
12 Volumes. The Brontë Sisters, Novels.
Located in New York, NY
12 Volumes. The Brontë Sisters, Novels. Thornton Edition. Bound by Root & Son in 3/4 tan morocco and linen boards, double bordered in gilt-tooling. The spines are faded to brown and ...
Category
Early 20th Century British Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Leather
1 Volume. Izaak Walton, The Compleat Angler.
Located in New York, NY
1 Volume. Izaak Walton, The Compleat Angler. First Rackham Trade Edition. Bound by Bayntun in full green calf; covers bordered in gilt-tooling. Raised ban...
Category
Early 20th Century English Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Leather
1 Volume. Percy Bysshe Shelley, Dramatic Poems.
Located in New York, NY
1 Volume. Percy Bysshe Shelley, Dramatic Poems. Bound in full wine morocco with the covers displaying a gilt-tooled border. Raised band spine with gilt-tooled detailing. Top edge gil...
Category
20th Century American Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Leather
4 Volumes. J.R. Green, A Short History of English People.
Located in New York, NY
4 Volumes. J.R. Green, A Short History of English People. Illustrated Edition. Bound in 3/4 red morocco and marbled boards bordered in gilt-tooling. The...
Category
Late 19th Century English Antique Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Leather
17 Volumes. Guy De Maupassant, The Works.
Located in New York, NY
17 Volumes. Guy De Maupassant, The Works. Academie Edition. Bound in 3/4 brown morocco and marbled boards, bordered in gilt-tooling. The spines displ...
Category
Early 20th Century Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Leather
1 Volume. Rachel Annand Taylor, Leonardo the Florentine.
Located in New York, NY
1 Volume. Rachel Annand Taylor, Leonardo the Florentine. Bound in 3/4 brown morocco and decorative boards bordered in gilt-tooling. Raised band spine with gilt-tooled detailing. Top ...
Category
Early 20th Century American Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Leather
1 Volume. Emma Roberts, Hindostan.
Located in New York, NY
1 Volume. Emma Roberts, Hindostan. Bound in full red morocco with the covers displaying open-tooled central details, and gilt-tooled floral bordering details. The spines display raised bands, label lettering, bordering, and panel details, all gilt-tooled with some open tooling. All of the edges are gilded with floral gilt-tooled dentelles. Includes landscapes, palaces, tombs, temples, the shores of the Red Sea, and the sublime and romantic scenery of the Himalayan Mountains. Illustrated in a series of views drawn by Turner, Stanfield, Prout, Cattermore, Roberts, Allom, etc. Published by Peter Jackson...
Category
19th Century English Antique Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Leather
6 Volumes, M. Rollin, the Ancient History
Located in New York, NY
6 Volumes. M. Rollin, The Ancient History. Bound in full tan calf with the covers displaying a gilt-tooled border and open-tooled cross-hatching. The spines display red and green mor...
Category
Mid-19th Century English Antique Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Leather
Edmé Beauchêne disarticulated human skull with museum provenance, France
Located in Leuven , BE
Edmé François Chauvot de Beauchêne (1780, Île-de-France – 1830, Paris), was a French physician, surgeon and anatomist. He was Chief of l'hopital Saint-Antoine Paris, the Deputy Chief...
Category
19th Century French Antique Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Brass
French Louis XVI Style Gilded and Painted Wood Directoire Wall Barometer
Located in Bradenton, FL
19th century French Louis XVI style gilt and painted wood barometer. While not in working order, barometer has that wonderful old 'chippy' peeling patina. The carved wood frame and g...
Category
19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Wood
2 Volumes, J.J. Foster, The Stuarts
Located in New York, NY
2 Volumes. J.J. Foster, The Stuarts. Limited edition. Bound in full red morocco with covers displaying ornate gilt tooling on the borders and central familial crests. Raised bands gi...
Category
Early 1900s English Antique Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Leather
Chinese 19 th C Workshop-Scaled model with 17 polychromed figures.World exhibit
Located in Leuven , BE
The Diorama was in a private collection for more than 20 years and is said to have been exposed at the China Exposition 1902 in Copenhagen.This group of Chinese polychromed-decorate...
Category
Late 19th Century Chinese Antique Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Terracotta
8 Volumes. Charles C.F. Greville, The Greville Memoirs.
Located in New York, NY
8 Volumes. Charles C.F. Greville, The Greville Memoirs. Bound by Bayntun in full navy morocco with the covers displaying gilt and open-tooling. The spines display raised bands, borde...
Category
Late 19th Century English Antique Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Leather
Antique Map of Kentucky and Tennessee by Johnson, 1872
Located in Langweer, NL
Antique map titled 'Johnson's Kentucky (..)'. Original map of Kentucky and Tennessee. This map originates from 'Johnson's New Illustrated Family Atlas ...
Category
Late 19th Century Antique Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Paper
Johan Rippen Grand Piano in Off-White Cast Aluminum
By Rippen Pianos
Located in Waalwijk, NL
J.J. Rippen for Rippen Pianofabriek N.V, grand piano, cast aluminum, wood, brass, The Netherlands, design 1946, production 1950s.
This model is a renowned grand piano conceived by ...
Category
1940s Dutch Mid-Century Modern Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Aluminum, Brass
2 Volumes. Colonel Wilson, Picturesque Palestine, Sinai & Egypt.
Located in New York, NY
2 Volumes. Colonel Wilson, Picturesque Palestine, Sinai & Egypt. Bound in 3/4 brown morocco and linen boards with gilt-tooled borders and title lettering. The spines display raised b...
Category
Late 19th Century American Antique Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Leather
2 Volumes. Samuel Rogers, The Writings.
Located in New York, NY
2 Volumes. Samuel Rogers, The Writings. Bound by Zaehnsdorf in full navy calf with the covers displaying a double border with floral corner flourishes, both gilt-tooled. The spines d...
Category
Early 19th Century English Antique Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Leather
1 Volume. Walton & Cotton, The Complete Angler.
Located in New York, NY
1 Volume. Walton & Cotton, The Complete Angler. Bound by Bayntun in 3/4 tn calf and marbled boards. The Spine displays raised bands, figurine panel details, bordering, and label lett...
Category
Mid-19th Century English Antique Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Leather
1 Volume. Edward Fitzgerald, Rubáiyát of Omar Khayyám.
Located in New York, NY
1 Volume. Edward Fitzgerald, Rubáiyát of Omar Khayyám. Bound in full blue morocco with the cover displaying a central floral crest in gilt-too...
Category
Early 20th Century American Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Leather
Rare Big Adjustable Gymnastic Leather Pommel Horse, 1950s
Located in Praha, CZ
- completely good and original condition with minor damages
- Czechoslovakia, around 1950s
- adjustable height.
Category
1950s Czech Mid-Century Modern Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Steel
5 Volumes. George C. Williamson, Bryan's Dictionary of Painters & Engravers.
Located in New York, NY
5 Volumes. George C. Williamson, Bryan's Dictionary of Painters & Engravers. Bound in 3/4 purple morocco and linen boards, bordered in gilt-tooling. The spines display raised bands, ...
Category
Early 20th Century English Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Leather
1970s British Bronze AC.GMT.Co. Industrial Wall Clock Chrome Bezel Black Dial
Located in Leicester, Leicestershire
Rescued from Industrial scrap yards and brought back to life in our UK workshop, our expert process allows us to create a high quality clock of luxury standards.
At A.C GMT Co. we apply new paint finishes or lustrous copper and bronze to the clock case. Our high speed polishing machine restores the chrome bezel, which then frames one of our high definition screen printed dials.
These clocks were originally slave or secondary clocks used on cargo ships and super tankers, they would have been controlled by a master clock...
Category
1970s English International Style Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Chrome, Bronze, Steel
28 Volumes. Theodore Roosevelt, The Works.
Located in New York, NY
28 Volumes. Theodore Roosevelt, The Works. Elkhorn Edition. Bound in 3/4 wine Morocco and marbled boards, bordered in floral gilt-tooling. The spines di...
Category
Early 20th Century American Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Leather
1 Volume. James Walter, Memorials of Washington.
Located in New York, NY
1 Volume. James Walter, Memorials of Washington. Edition de Luxe. Bound in 3/4 green morocco and linen boards with a gilt-tooled crest on the cover. The spines display gilt-tooled le...
Category
Late 19th Century American Antique Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Leather
1970s British Bronze and Chrome AC GMT Co. Industrial Wall Clock White Dial
Located in Leicester, Leicestershire
Rescued from Industrial scrap yards and brought back to life in our UK workshop, our expert process allows us to create a high quality clock of luxury standards.
At A.C GMT Co. we ...
Category
1970s English Industrial Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Bronze, Steel, Chrome
1 Volume. William Shakespeare, A Midsummer Night's Dream.
Located in New York, NY
1 Volume. William Shakespeare, A Midsummer Night's Dream. Limited Edition. Bound by Chelsea Bindery in full blue Morocco with the cover displaying borders, titles, and a central depi...
Category
Early 20th Century English Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Leather
2 Volumes. John Fiske, The Life and Letters.
Located in New York, NY
2 Volumes. John Fiske, The Life and Letters. Bound in 3/4 wine morocco and marbled boards, bordered in gilt-tooling. The spines display raised bands, bo...
Category
Early 20th Century American Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Leather
Concorde Supersonic Model
Located in Paris, FR
Model Concorde supersonic with light wooden body and
all covered with riveted aluminium foil. On polished stainless
steel base with item's descri...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Dutch Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Aluminum
2 Volumes. Madame Campan, The Memoirs of the Court of Marie Antoinette.
Located in New York, NY
2 Volumes. Madame Campan, The Memoirs of the Court of Marie Antoinette. Limited Edition. Bound in 3/4 blue morocco and linen boards double bordered in gilt-tooling. The spines displa...
Category
Late 19th Century English Antique Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Leather
1 Volume. Nathaniel Hawthorne, Wonder Book.
Located in New York, NY
1 Volume. Nathaniel Hawthorne, Wonder Book. Limited Edition. Bound by the Chelsea Bindery in full red morocco with the cover displaying a gilt-tooled border, 3 figures including one ...
Category
Early 20th Century English Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Leather
Antique English Victorian Brass Desk Bell, Circa 1880's.
Located in New Orleans, LA
Antique English Victorian Brass Desk Bell, Circa 1880's.
Category
Late 19th Century English Victorian Antique Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Brass
Mid Century Japanese Fuji Meibo Naval Binocular Nardo Grey & Brass -Original box
By Fuji Meibo
Located in Leicester, Leicestershire
Japanese Fuji Meibo Observation Binoculars 15 x 80 - 4 degree field of view.
A large pair of Japanese naval observation binoculars mounted on an a...
Category
1950s Japanese Industrial Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Aluminum, Brass
1 Volume. Gyula Krùdy, Sinbad the Sailor.
Located in New York, NY
1 Volume. Gyula Krùdy, Sinbad the Sailor. First Trade Edition. Bound by Sangorski & Sutcliffe in full orange morocco. The cover displays a depiction of a castle surrounded by water a...
Category
Early 20th Century English Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Leather
1 Volume. Edward Fitzgerald, Rubiáiyát of Omar Khayyám.
Located in New York, NY
1 Volume. Edward Fitzgerald, Rubiáiyát of Omar Khayyám. Bound in 3/4 brown morocco and linen boards, bordered in gilt-tooling. The spines display raised bands, bordering, panel detai...
Category
Early 20th Century American Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Leather
14 Volumes. Anthony Trollope, The Barsetshire Novels.
Located in New York, NY
14 Volumes. Anthony Trollope, The Barsetshire Novels. Shakespeare Head Edition. Bound in 3/4 brown morocco and linen boards, bordered in gilt-tooling....
Category
Early 20th Century Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Leather
1 Volume. Laurence Housman, Arabian Nights.
Located in New York, NY
1 Volume. Laurence Housman, Arabian Nights. Limited Edition. Bound in full vellum with the covers and spines displaying gilded and blue titles and decorative details. The top edge is...
Category
Early 20th Century English Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Leather
1 Volume, T.E. Lawrence, Seven Pillars of Wisdom
Located in New York, NY
1 Volume. T.E. Lawrence, Seven Pillars of Wisdom. First Trade Edition. Bound in full brown morocco with gilt-tooled borders, panel details, and label lettering with raised bands. All...
Category
Early 20th Century English Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Leather
1 Volume. Edward Fitzgerald, The Rubaiyát of Omar Kháyyám.
Located in New York, NY
1 Volume. Edward Fitzgerald, The Rubaiyát of Omar Kháyyám. Bound in 3/4 red morocco and linen boards bordered in gilt-tooling. The spine displays raised bands, bordering, floral pane...
Category
Early 20th Century American Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Leather
1 Volume, Edward Fitzgerald, Rubáiyát of Omar Khayyám
Located in New York, NY
1 Volume. Edward Fitzgerald, Rubáiyát of Omar Khayyám. Bound in full brown morocco with the cover displaying floral gilt-tooled detailing with red inlay. The spines display raised ba...
Category
Late 19th Century English Antique Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Leather
10 Volumes, Samuel R. Gardiner, History of England
Located in New York, NY
10 Volumes. Samuel R. Gardiner, History of England. Bound in full brown calf with the covers displaying borders, floral corner flourishes, and a central crest, all gilt-tooled. The s...
Category
Late 19th Century English Antique Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Leather
3 Volumes. G.N. Wright, The People's Gallery of Engravings.
Located in New York, NY
3 Volumes. G.N. Wright, The People's Gallery of Engravings. Bound by John Mylrea in 3/4 red calf and marbled boards bordered in floral open-tooling. The spines display a black morocc...
Category
Mid-19th Century English Antique Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Leather
2 Volumes, Edward Fitzgerald, Rubáiyát of Omar Khayyám
Located in New York, NY
2 Volumes. Edward Fitzgerald, Rubáiyát of Omar Khayyám. First Edition. Bound by Pagnant in full brown morocco with the covers displaying ornate bordering and central floral gilt-tool...
Category
Late 19th Century English Antique Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Leather
1970's British Ultimate Gray /Monochrome Black AC GMT Co. Classic Wall Clock
Located in Leicester, Leicestershire
Quartz sweep seconds / non ticking wall clock finished in ultimate gray pantone 17-5104
Rescued from Industrial scrap yards and brought back to life in our UK workshop, our expert...
Category
1970s English Industrial Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Chrome, Steel
Facendo Mobili Con Poltrona
By Poltronova
Located in New York, NY
Second edition of this compendium of radical and post-modern design produced by the Tuscan-based firm Poltronova from its early collaborations with Ettore Sottsass, who became Art Director in 1958, through the heyday of 1960’s anti-design and to the mid-1970s. Features work by both Old Guard masters and emerging leaders of the Radical Movement including (in addition to Sottsass) Archizoom, Superstudio, Sergio Asti, Gae Aulenti, Angelo Mangiarotti, Allesandro Mendini, Massimo and Lella Vignelli, Gianni Ruffi, Giovanni Michelucchi, Gianfranco Fini, Mario Ceroli, Ugo Nespolo, Roberto Barni, Paolo Portoghesi, Gino Marotta, and the group De Pas, D’Urbino, and Lomazzi. Written by Pier Carlo Santini and published by Artigraf Edizioni in 1996, following its initial run in 1977. 4to, 181 pages with text in Italian; stiff printed wraps with printed brown paper dust jacket. Fully illustrated, primarily in black-and-white. Includes artist biographies. A scarce and significant resource chronicling the contribution of this avant-garde design firm. A crisp, collectible copy with only minor bumping to the dust jacket and extremities. From the estate of design guru Jim Walrod...
Category
1990s Italian Mid-Century Modern Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Paper
Regency Satinwood Miniature Chest
Located in Bedfordshire, GB
A good quality late Regency Period, 19th century, satinwood miniature chest of attractive small proportions having well figured and crossbanded top, over three drawers with original turned wooden knobs, raised on elegant original splayed feet with shaped apron.
A chariming little 19th century miniature chest of drawers, which is shallower than most and therefore attractively proportioned. It also boasts beautifully figured satinwood veneers which have retained an excellent colour and patina. This would probably have been made as a travelling salesmans...
Category
Early 19th Century English Regency Antique Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Satinwood
Mechanical or Animated Huge Stuffed Zebra, by Hansa and Four Feet High
Located in Chicago, IL
The famous stuffed animal company, Hansa, was created in 1972 by German-born Hans Axthelm. Each and every Hansa stuffed animal, is hand sewn, using the inside-out method, in order to...
Category
1990s Philippine Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Acrylic
Large Antique Soild Oak Sculpture of Saint John the Baptist w. Lamb of God 1850
Located in Lisse, NL
Unique hand carved church statue of Jewish prophet, John the Baptist, circa 1850.
When you think of the life of Saint John the Baptist (or Baptiste as it is spelled here) then you can only come to the conclusion that in fact he was one of the most important human beings in the history of the world in general and of Christianity in particular. Saint John is sometimes depicted with a lamb to symbolise his recognition of Jesus as the Son of God. When John baptised Jesus in the River Jordan he said 'Behold, the Lamb of God'. In this case the sculptor chose to portray a standing lamb which is a rare feature and this antique was obviously carved in the Baroque Style. This Style is less detailed (or some would say 'more naive') than for example the Renaissance Style, but there are many collectors who love and collect this Style. Also, because it was most used in antique churches all over Europe and this Style also is most used in antique religious paintings of the old masters. Just like with 17th century Baroque Saint...
Category
Mid-19th Century French Baroque Revival Antique Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Wood, Oak
1970's British Ultimate Gray /Monochrome AC GMT Co. Classic Quartz Wall Clock
Located in Leicester, Leicestershire
Quartz sweep seconds / non ticking wall clock finished in Ultimate gray Pantone 17-5104
Rescued from Industrial scrap yards and brought back to life in our UK workshop, our expert...
Category
1970s English Industrial Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Chrome, Steel
Georgian Mahogany Miniature Chest
Located in Bedfordshire, GB
A Good Quality And Charming Early 19th Century Mahogany Miniature Chest, Having Well Figured Top Over Three Long Drawers With Original Brass Knobs And Boxwood Inlaid Escutcheons, Over Elegant Shaped Apron With Original Splayed Bracket Feet.
There is regular debate over whether miniature furniture was made as an apprentice piece, which is when a craftsmen who was looking for a job at a workshop would create something to showcase their talents. Or whether it was made as a travelling salesmans sample piece, which is when a few items were produced as scale models but a well established workshop as a form of physical catalogue in advance of a travelling salesman’s road trip around the country, for him to use to try and fill his order book with full size counterparts.
We believe that this particular little Georgian Miniature Chest was probably made as an apprentice piece, due to the relative simplicity of it, combined with the exceptional execution, which maybe suggests that somebody was very much trying to impress somebody else. It is also slightly unusual in form, which again suggests it was made more as a one off item with a specific purpose, as opposed to a scale model of other items.
It is certainly a charming piece of antique miniature furniture...
Category
Early 19th Century English Georgian Antique Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Mahogany
Vivien Mallock: Queen Elizabeth II’s Diamond Jubilee Portrait Roundel, 2012
Located in Lymington, Hampshire
This is the bronze maquette for a bas-relief portrait commissioned by the City of Winchester in honour of Queen Elizabeth II’s Diamond Jubilee. The final roundel is six feet in diameter and is shaped as a Winchester Rose with Queen Elizabeth II in the centre. She is wearing a three-strand diamond necklace and the Girls of Great Britain and Ireland tiara. Signed ‘VM 1’. English, 2012.
The Girls of Great Britain and Ireland tiara was made by the House of Garrard...
Category
2010s English Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Bronze
A model of a Dockyard built teak and brass field cannon
Located in Lymington, Hampshire
A model of a Dockyard built teak and brass field cannon, with a brass barrel set on a brass-bound carriage with large wheels and a brass-bound bucket, swabs and ramrods to scale, fin...
Category
1930s English Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Brass
Boeing Engine part CFM56 Side Table
Located in Paris, FR
Side table Boeing Engine part CFM56 made
with CFM56 engine part in titanium nickel and
aluminium alloy. From Boeing 737 and Airbus A320,
with polished a...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary French Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Aluminum, Nickel
Alfred Dunhill Sterling Silver Cigarette Case, circa 1930
Located in Van Nuys, CA
Sterling silver cigarette case with decorative enamel face. Art Deco design.
The case is beautifully enameled in a blue and black geometric pattern with a silver finish. The interior of the cigarette case is marked "Alfred Dunhill Paris...
Category
1930s American Art Deco Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Silver
19th Century Victorian Painted Pine Miniature Apprentice Chest of Drawers
Located in Bedfordshire, GB
A very attractive and charming late 19th century Victorian
painted pine miniature chest having two short drawers and
two long drawers with original porcelain knobs raised
on elega...
Category
Late 19th Century English Victorian Antique Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Pine
Miniature 19th Century Oak Kitchen Windsor Chair
Located in Bedfordshire, GB
A delightful late 19th century miniature oak
kitchen Windsor armchair having attractive
turned decoration to back, seat, legs
and supports
(A most unusual and charming item of ...
Category
Late 19th Century English Country Antique Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Oak
Audrey Werner, Pre-Raphaelite Sterling Silver and Garnet Necklace, US, 1994
Located in New York, NY
Seamlessly mixing influences from around the world, Werner works with oft-overlooked materials--including her signature black iron--to create bold pieces of striking beauty. "I am am...
Category
1990s North American Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Sterling Silver
Vintage 1957 Chicago World Metallurgical Congress Brass Medal Badge Pin 4.5"
Located in Dayton, OH
Mid century brass medal / badge / brooch pin from the 1957 Chicago World Metallurgical Congress. American Society for Metals, R.J. Raudebaugh, USA, Group 8, Struck by Medallic Art Co...
Category
1950s Mid-Century Modern Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Brass
Antique Mahogany Childs Wellington Chest
Located in Bedfordshire, GB
A delightful mid-19th century mahogany childs size Wellington
chest of five long drawers with locking pilaster raised on
original plinth base.
Category
19th Century English Victorian Antique Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Mahogany
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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