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 artefacts. 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. Antique and vintage collectibles and curiosities can bring whimsy and wonder to any interior.ĭecorating 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.Īnd 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.

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