Antique Optical Instruments
Early 20th Century Czech Industrial Antique Optical Instruments
Brass, Bronze, Steel
19th Century French Louis Philippe Antique Optical Instruments
Steel, Brass
19th Century French Napoleon III Antique Optical Instruments
Wood, Glass
1840s French Antique Optical Instruments
1850s Antique Optical Instruments
Brass
1880s English Victorian Antique Optical Instruments
Brass
Early 19th Century English Regency Antique Optical Instruments
Brass
Late 18th Century Great Britain (UK) Georgian Antique Optical Instruments
Brass
Early 19th Century French Antique Optical Instruments
Brass
1790s English Antique Optical Instruments
Mahogany
Late 19th Century English Late Victorian Antique Optical Instruments
Mirror, Optical Glass, Hardwood
Late 19th Century English Late Victorian Antique Optical Instruments
Mirror, Optical Glass, Hardwood
1890s British Victorian Antique Optical Instruments
Metal
Early 20th Century Antique Optical Instruments
Brass
Late 18th Century French Louis XVI Antique Optical Instruments
Blown Glass, Giltwood, Paint, Wood
18th Century European Antique Optical Instruments
Pine, Petrified Wood, Paper
Late 19th Century English Antique Optical Instruments
Blown Glass, Pine
Early 20th Century English Antique Optical Instruments
Blown Glass, Hardwood
Late 19th Century English Late Victorian Antique Optical Instruments
Brass
Early 20th Century British Edwardian Antique Optical Instruments
Brass
19th Century Victorian Antique Optical Instruments
Brass
1910s English Industrial Antique Optical Instruments
Copper, Lead
1870s Antique Optical Instruments
Brass
1810s British Antique Optical Instruments
Brass
1870s Antique Optical Instruments
Brass
Early 20th Century Antique Optical Instruments
Brass, Metal
18th Century English Antique Optical Instruments
Brass
Mid-19th Century English Victorian Antique Optical Instruments
Mirror, Optical Glass, Oak
1910s British Antique Optical Instruments
Brass
1920s American Antique Optical Instruments
Metal
1910s British Antique Optical Instruments
Brass
1850s British Antique Optical Instruments
Brass
1890s British Antique Optical Instruments
Brass
1890s British Antique Optical Instruments
Brass, Nickel
Early 19th Century English William IV Antique Optical Instruments
Optical Glass, Mahogany
Early 19th Century English George III Antique Optical Instruments
Brass
Early 20th Century British Antique Optical Instruments
Brass
19th Century English Antique Optical Instruments
Brass
1830s English William IV Antique Optical Instruments
Bronze
1890s British Late Victorian Antique Optical Instruments
Brass
Early 19th Century English Georgian Antique Optical Instruments
Mahogany
1870s Antique Optical Instruments
Brass
1840s British Antique Optical Instruments
Brass
Early 20th Century English Edwardian Antique Optical Instruments
Brass
1860s British Antique Optical Instruments
Brass
1870s Antique Optical Instruments
Brass
Late 19th Century British Antique Optical Instruments
Brass
1870s Antique Optical Instruments
Brass
Early 19th Century English George IV Antique Optical Instruments
Brass
19th Century English Antique Optical Instruments
19th Century English Antique Optical Instruments
1880s Antique Optical Instruments
Brass
Early 20th Century European Antique Optical Instruments
Metal, Brass
Early 20th Century Italian Antique Optical Instruments
Brass
1870s Antique Optical Instruments
Brass
1830s English Antique Optical Instruments
Brass
1910s Antique Optical Instruments
Brass
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Antique Optical Instruments 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.
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