Naval Binoculars
Vintage 1930s Japanese Other Aviation Objects
Aluminum
20th Century Japanese Other Nautical Objects
Metal
20th Century Japanese Other Scientific Instruments
Metal
Vintage 1940s Japanese Other Scientific Instruments
Metal
Vintage 1950s Japanese Industrial Nautical Objects
Aluminum, Brass
Recent Sales
Vintage 1940s Japanese Art Deco Nautical Objects
Brass, Aluminum
Vintage 1950s Japanese Scientific Instruments
Aluminum, Brass
Vintage 1950s German Scientific Instruments
Early 20th Century German Nautical Objects
Chrome
Vintage 1930s French Nautical Objects
Mid-20th Century Japanese Nautical Objects
Metal, Brass, Chrome
Vintage 1940s Japanese Art Deco Nautical Objects
Metal
Mid-20th Century Japanese Nautical Objects
Brass, Chrome
20th Century Japanese Nautical Objects
Steel
Mid-20th Century German Nautical Objects
Chrome
Mid-20th Century Japanese Scientific Instruments
Steel
Vintage 1940s Nautical Objects
Chrome
Vintage 1940s Japanese Nautical Objects
Chrome
Vintage 1940s Japanese Nautical Objects
Metal
Mid-20th Century Japanese Nautical Objects
Metal, Brass
Vintage 1940s Japanese Scientific Instruments
Vintage 1940s Japanese Nautical Objects
Brass, Chrome
Vintage 1960s Japanese Modern Decorative Objects
Vintage 1950s Russian Nautical Objects
Mid-20th Century Japanese Nautical Objects
Brass, Chrome
Vintage 1940s Japanese Scientific Instruments
20th Century Japanese Scientific Instruments
Metal, Aluminum, Brass
Vintage 1940s Japanese Nautical Objects
Vintage 1960s American Modern Nautical Objects
Vintage 1940s Japanese Mid-Century Modern Nautical Objects
Vintage 1940s German Art Deco Desk Sets
Oak
Mid-20th Century Japanese Nautical Objects
Brass, Chrome
Early 20th Century Japanese Nautical Objects
Metal, Brass, Chrome
Vintage 1940s Japanese Nautical Objects
Metal, Brass
Mid-20th Century Japanese Nautical Objects
Brass, Chrome
Early 20th Century Japanese Nautical Objects
Brass, Chrome
Early 20th Century Japanese Nautical Objects
Brass, Chrome
Mid-20th Century Japanese Nautical Objects
Metal, Brass
Mid-20th Century German Nautical Objects
Chrome
20th Century Japanese More Furniture and Collectibles
Early 20th Century German Nautical Objects
Chrome
Early 20th Century German Nautical Objects
Steel
20th Century Japanese Decorative Objects
Mid-20th Century Russian Nautical Objects
Brass, Steel
Vintage 1940s Japanese Mid-Century Modern More Furniture and Collectibles
Mid-20th Century Japanese Nautical Objects
Chrome
20th Century Japanese Arms, Armor and Weapons
Aluminum, Brass, Steel
Mid-20th Century German Art Deco Scientific Instruments
Chrome
Early 20th Century German Nautical Objects
Chrome
Mid-20th Century German Nautical Objects
Chrome
Vintage 1940s Japanese Mid-Century Modern Nautical Objects
Brass, Chrome
Mid-20th Century Nautical Objects
Brass, Chrome
Early 20th Century Japanese Nautical Objects
Brass, Chrome
Mid-20th Century Japanese Mid-Century Modern Nautical Objects
Brass, Chrome
Vintage 1940s Japanese Nautical Objects
Metal, Chrome
Vintage 1940s Japanese Nautical Objects
Chrome
20th Century Japanese Scientific Instruments
Aluminum, Steel
20th Century Japanese Scientific Instruments
Metal
20th Century Japanese Scientific Instruments
Metal
20th Century Scientific Instruments
Brass, Steel
Vintage 1940s Nautical Objects
Brass
20th Century Japanese Scientific Instruments
Chrome
Mid-20th Century German Industrial Scientific Instruments
Optical Glass
Mid-20th Century Japanese Art Deco Nautical Objects
Vintage 1940s Japanese Industrial Scientific Instruments
Bronze, Steel, Aluminum, Brass
People Also Browsed
Vintage 1970s American Mid-Century Modern Musical Instruments
Chrome
Mid-20th Century English Renaissance Beds and Bed Frames
Oak
Antique Early 1800s English Georgian Beds and Bed Frames
Upholstery, Mahogany
Antique 16th Century Spanish Renaissance Architectural Elements
Pine
Antique 19th Century English Chinese Chippendale Vitrines
Glass, Mahogany
Vintage 1930s British Other Nautical Objects
Fabric, Wood
Vintage 1970s American Games
Metal
Antique Early 19th Century French Arms, Armor and Weapons
Bronze, Stainless Steel
Vintage 1970s Italian Renaissance Sterling Silver
Marble, Sterling Silver
Vintage 1960s German Rococo Dinner Plates
Gold
Vintage 1910s American Art Nouveau Table Lamps
Bronze
Vintage 1940s German Nautical Objects
Aluminum, Stainless Steel, Chrome, Nickel
Antique 19th Century Italian Victorian Wardrobes and Armoires
Walnut
Antique 19th Century American Beds and Bed Frames
Silk, Mahogany, Oak, Walnut
Vintage 1940s Scientific Instruments
Metal
Antique 17th Century Italian Baroque Armchairs
Velvet, Walnut
Naval Binoculars 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.