Mercury Barometer
Antique 1830s French Louis Philippe Wall Clocks
Giltwood
Antique 1780s French Louis XVI Wall Clocks
Giltwood
Antique Late 19th Century French Louis XVI Scientific Instruments
Bronze
Antique 1790s English Georgian Scientific Instruments
Mahogany
Antique Early 1800s English George III Scientific Instruments
Mahogany
Antique Early 19th Century French Scientific Instruments
Brass
Antique 1810s English George III Scientific Instruments
Mahogany
20th Century American Directoire Wall Clocks
Glass, Wood
Antique 1890s English Victorian Wall Clocks
Brass, Steel
Antique 19th Century German Black Forest Wall-mounted Sculptures
Walnut
Antique 1880s English Table Clocks and Desk Clocks
Marble, Ormolu
Antique Late 19th Century French Country Wall-mounted Sculptures
Brass
Vintage 1920s Austrian Art Deco Scientific Instruments
Brass
Antique 19th Century English Scientific Instruments
Antique 18th Century and Earlier French Decorative Art
Wood
Antique 19th Century English Regency Scientific Instruments
Antique 1870s European Victorian Wall Clocks
Oak
Vintage 1950s American Wall Clocks
Antique 19th Century Dutch Scientific Instruments
Walnut
Antique 1880s French Napoleon III Scientific Instruments
Wood
Antique 18th Century French French Provincial Garden Ornaments
Wood
Antique Early 19th Century French Empire Scientific Instruments
Wood
Antique 1830s French Scientific Instruments
Antique Early 19th Century European Biedermeier Scientific Instruments
Wood
Early 20th Century European Scientific Instruments
Brass
Antique 19th Century French Louis XV Scientific Instruments
Antique Early 19th Century Great Britain (UK) Georgian Scientific Instru...
Mahogany
Antique 19th Century French Charles X Scientific Instruments
Gold Leaf
Antique 18th Century Italian Other Scientific Instruments
Wood
Antique Late 18th Century French Louis XVI Decorative Art
Glass, Giltwood
Antique 1870s French Louis XVI Scientific Instruments
Brass
Antique Early 19th Century French Directoire Scientific Instruments
Giltwood
Antique 1860s French Scientific Instruments
Wood
Early 20th Century French Louis XVI Scientific Instruments
Giltwood
Antique Early 19th Century Neoclassical Wall Clocks
Oak
Antique 1850s Unknown American Colonial Mounted Objects
Mercury Glass, Walnut
Antique 19th Century British Victorian Scientific Instruments
Antique Early 19th Century French Louis XVI Wall Clocks
Gold Leaf
Antique 1830s English Regency Scientific Instruments
Mother-of-Pearl, Rosewood
Antique Late 19th Century British Scientific Instruments
Walnut
Antique 19th Century European Rococo Revival Scientific Instruments
Oak
Antique 1830s Swiss Scientific Instruments
Antique 19th Century French Other Antiquities
Glass, Wood
Vintage 1910s French Industrial Table Clocks and Desk Clocks
Brass, Steel
Antique 19th Century French Louis XVI Scientific Instruments
Glass, Giltwood
Antique 18th Century and Earlier Scientific Instruments
Pine
Antique Early 19th Century English Chinoiserie Scientific Instruments
Glass, Wood
Antique Mid-19th Century English Scientific Instruments
Antique 1870s Scientific Instruments
Mahogany
Antique 19th Century European Victorian Wall Clocks
Rosewood
Antique Early 19th Century American Hepplewhite Scientific Instruments
Mahogany
Antique 18th Century French Louis XVI Scientific Instruments
Glass, Wood, Giltwood
Antique 19th Century English Victorian Scientific Instruments
Walnut, Glass
Mercury Barometer For Sale on 1stDibs
Finding the Right Collectibles-curiosities for You
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.
Read More
Medal-Worthy Memorabilia from Epic Past Olympic Games
Get into the games! These items celebrate the events, athletes, host countries and sporting spirit.
Ahoy! You’ve Never Seen a Collection of Sailor Art and Kitsch Quite Like This
French trendsetter and serial collector Daniel Rozensztroch tells us about his obsession with objects related to seafaring men.
39 Incredible Swimming Pools
It's hard to resist the allure of a beautiful pool. So, go ahead and daydream about whiling away your summer in paradise.
Pamela Shamshiri Shares the Secrets behind Her First-Ever Book and Its Effortlessly Cool Interiors
The sought-after designer worked with the team at Hoffman Creative to produce a monograph that beautifully showcases some of Studio Shamshiri's most inspiring projects.
Moroccan Artworks and Objects Take Center Stage in an Extraordinary Villa in Tangier
Italian writer and collector Umberto Pasti opens the doors to his remarkable cave of wonders in North Africa.
Montecito Has Drawn Royalty and Celebrities, and These Homes Are Proof of Its Allure
Hollywood A-listers, ex-pat aristocrats and art collectors and style setters of all stripes appreciate the allure of the coastal California hamlet — much on our minds after recent winter floods.
Whaam! Blam! Pow! — a New Book on Pop Art Packs a Punch
Publishing house Assouline and writer Julie Belcove have teamed up to trace the history of the genre, from Roy Lichtenstein, Andy Warhol and Yayoi Kusama to Mickalene Thomas and Jeff Koons.
The Sparkling Legacy of Tiffany & Co. Explained, One Jewel at a Time
A gorgeous new book celebrates — and memorializes — the iconic jeweler’s rich heritage.