Chevalier Opera Glasses
Mid-20th Century French Historical Memorabilia
Brass
Vintage 1910s French Scientific Instruments
Brass
Recent Sales
Antique Late 19th Century French More Furniture and Collectibles
Chrome
Antique Early 1900s French Edwardian Scientific Instruments
Brass
Early 20th Century French Historical Memorabilia
Brass
Antique Late 19th Century French Scientific Instruments
Mother-of-Pearl
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21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Vases
Porcelain
Early 20th Century Chinese Sculptures and Carvings
Coral
Early 20th Century British Edwardian Sterling Silver
Silver
1990s Italian Louis XVI Decorative Boxes
Gold Plate, Sterling Silver, Enamel
2010s Italian Modern Game Boards
Brass
2010s Italian Decorative Bowls
Crystal, Sterling Silver
Antique 15th Century and Earlier German Decorative Art
Other
Early 20th Century French Art Nouveau Vases
Glass
Antique 19th Century English Victorian Decorative Boxes
Brass, Silver, Vermeil
Antique 19th Century Unknown Empire Cabinets
Mahogany
Antique 19th Century German Models and Miniatures
Silver
20th Century British Lanterns
Vintage 1950s English Dinner Plates
Porcelain
20th Century Swiss Other Nautical Objects
Mahogany
Antique 19th Century French Napoleon III Vases
Bronze, Ormolu
Antique 19th Century German Rustic Cabinets
Oak, Horn, Glass
Chevalier Opera Glasses 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.
- 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022No, opera glasses are not the same as binoculars. Although they resemble one another, opera glasses are usually smaller than binoculars and have lower-power optics that do not magnify as much. On 1stDibs, shop a range of antique opera glasses.
- Do opera glasses work?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022Yes, opera glasses work and provide magnification in the range of 3x, sometimes even more. Opera glasses are typically more compact and have an elegance that’s not found in regular binoculars. They’re just what you need to view the stage better during a performance so as not to miss anything. Shop a collection of opera glasses from some of the world’s top sellers on 1stDibs.
- 1stDibs ExpertAugust 15, 2024To identify your opera glasses, look for markings, usually found in inconspicuous areas. Once you have located a maker's mark, use trusted online resources to determine who produced the glasses. Should you encounter difficulty with the identification process, seek the advice of a certified appraiser or antique dealer who is knowledgeable about opera glasses. Shop a diverse assortment of opera glasses on 1stDibs.
- 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022The difference between opera glasses and binoculars relates to their size and optics. Opera glasses are generally smaller and feature low-power optics. They are usually used only for viewing theatrical performances. Larger, more powerful binoculars have a wide range of uses. On 1stDibs, shop a collection of opera glasses and binoculars.
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