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Antique curiosities

This curated selection of curiosities covers the material culture not covered by other collections. These pieces are interesting because they are rare and have been treasured for a long time and speak to our place in history. You will find a broad assortment of functional and decorative objects from antiquity to early 20th century. Hopeful you will be surprised and amused. 

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  • Silver on Copper Basket, England Circa Late 19th Century

    Antique & Art Exchange
    Original price $795.00 - Original price $795.00
    Original price
    $795.00
    $795.00 - $795.00
    Current price $795.00

    A late 19th Century silver on copper basket, England. Overall height with handle up is 11" high.

    Original price $795.00 - Original price $795.00
    Original price
    $795.00
    $795.00 - $795.00
    Current price $795.00
  • Gilt Wood Vase, Circa 1870

    Antique & Art Exchange
    Original price $395.00 - Original price $395.00
    Original price
    $395.00
    $395.00 - $395.00
    Current price $395.00

    A curious mounted Asian gilt wood vase, possibly Chinese circa 1870, custom steel stand later.

    Original price $395.00 - Original price $395.00
    Original price
    $395.00
    $395.00 - $395.00
    Current price $395.00
  • Fang Mask Fragment, Africa

    Antique & Art Exchange
    Original price $1,500.00 - Original price $1,500.00
    Original price
    $1,500.00
    $1,500.00 - $1,500.00
    Current price $1,500.00

    An 18th Century or earlier fragment of a Fang Mask. The Fang are people from Gabon, Cameroon and Equatorial Guinea.

    Original price $1,500.00 - Original price $1,500.00
    Original price
    $1,500.00
    $1,500.00 - $1,500.00
    Current price $1,500.00
  • Silver Plate Lemonade Mixer

    Antique & Art Exchange
    Original price $150.00 - Original price $150.00
    Original price
    $150.00
    $150.00 - $150.00
    Current price $150.00

    A Vintage silver plate lemonade mixer or muddler, American.

    Original price $150.00 - Original price $150.00
    Original price
    $150.00
    $150.00 - $150.00
    Current price $150.00
  • Cigale, France 20th Century

    Antique & Art Exchange
    Original price $250.00 - Original price $250.00
    Original price
    $250.00
    $250.00 - $250.00
    Current price $250.00

    An early 20th Century French pottery "Cigale" or cicada wall pocket meant to bring good luck to a home.

    Original price $250.00 - Original price $250.00
    Original price
    $250.00
    $250.00 - $250.00
    Current price $250.00
  • Shiva Nataraja, Nepal Circa 1900

    Antique & Art Exchange
    Original price $495.00 - Original price $495.00
    Original price
    $495.00
    $495.00 - $495.00
    Current price $495.00

    An early 20th Century Napalese Shiva Nataraja on later custom steel stand circa 1900.

    Original price $495.00 - Original price $495.00
    Original price
    $495.00
    $495.00 - $495.00
    Current price $495.00
  • Abstract, American Circa 1950

    Antique & Art Exchange
    Original price $2,500.00 - Original price $2,500.00
    Original price
    $2,500.00
    $2,500.00 - $2,500.00
    Current price $2,500.00

    An abstract painting by H. Krell, post war scholar, artist and teacher in San Francisco and the bay area, circa 1950.

    Original price $2,500.00 - Original price $2,500.00
    Original price
    $2,500.00
    $2,500.00 - $2,500.00
    Current price $2,500.00
  • Han Dynasty Wine Jar, China Circa 200 BC - 200 AD

    Antique & Art Exchange
    Original price $12,500.00 - Original price $12,500.00
    Original price
    $12,500.00
    $12,500.00 - $12,500.00
    Current price $12,500.00

    A Chinese Han Dynasty green glazed pottery wine jar, circa 200 BC - 200 AD.

    Original price $12,500.00 - Original price $12,500.00
    Original price
    $12,500.00
    $12,500.00 - $12,500.00
    Current price $12,500.00
  • Circa 18th Century Piranesi Etching from the Antiquities Edition, Italy

    Antique & Art Exchange
    Original price $1,250.00 - Original price $1,250.00
    Original price
    $1,250.00
    $1,250.00 - $1,250.00
    Current price $1,250.00

    An 18th Century Italian engraving by Piranesi from this Antiquities edition, 18th Century.

    Original price $1,250.00 - Original price $1,250.00
    Original price
    $1,250.00
    $1,250.00 - $1,250.00
    Current price $1,250.00
  • Vintage Watercolor of Flowers, China

    Antique & Art Exchange
    Original price $795.00 - Original price $795.00
    Original price
    $795.00
    $795.00 - $795.00
    Current price $795.00

    A Chinese watercolor of trees.

    Original price $795.00 - Original price $795.00
    Original price
    $795.00
    $795.00 - $795.00
    Current price $795.00
  • "Elephant Capture" Engraving, England circa 1820

    Antique & Art Exchange
    Original price $295.00 - Original price $295.00
    Original price
    $295.00
    $295.00 - $295.00
    Current price $295.00

    An early 19th-century English black and white engraving titled "Elephant Capture" circa 1820.

    Original price $295.00 - Original price $295.00
    Original price
    $295.00
    $295.00 - $295.00
    Current price $295.00
  • Painted Oval Box, 19th Century

    Antique & Art Exchange
    Original price $1,750.00 - Original price $1,750.00
    Original price
    $1,750.00
    $1,750.00 - $1,750.00
    Current price $1,750.00

    A 19th-century oval painted box, with a red painted inside, possibly German, painted later.

    Original price $1,750.00 - Original price $1,750.00
    Original price
    $1,750.00
    $1,750.00 - $1,750.00
    Current price $1,750.00
  • Ottoman Fighting Shield, 17th Century

    Antique & Art Exchange
    Original price $1,200.00 - Original price $1,200.00
    Original price
    $1,200.00
    $1,200.00 - $1,200.00
    Current price $1,200.00

    A small Ottoman fighting shield, 17th Century on later custom steel stand.

    Original price $1,200.00 - Original price $1,200.00
    Original price
    $1,200.00
    $1,200.00 - $1,200.00
    Current price $1,200.00
  • Mountain Scene, American Circa 1950

    Antique & Art Exchange
    Original price $2,500.00 - Original price $2,500.00
    Original price
    $2,500.00
    $2,500.00 - $2,500.00
    Current price $2,500.00

    A landscape of a mountain behind a field of yellow by influential artist and scholar Krell circa 1950.

    Original price $2,500.00 - Original price $2,500.00
    Original price
    $2,500.00
    $2,500.00 - $2,500.00
    Current price $2,500.00
  • Rebus — Picture puzzle, Germany 19th Century

    Antique & Art Exchange
    Original price $395.00 - Original price $395.00
    Original price
    $395.00
    $395.00 - $395.00
    Current price $395.00

    A 19th-century German picture word game or rebus. 

    Original price $395.00 - Original price $395.00
    Original price
    $395.00
    $395.00 - $395.00
    Current price $395.00
  • Bridge in Blue, American Circa 1950

    Antique & Art Exchange
    Original price $2,500.00 - Original price $2,500.00
    Original price
    $2,500.00
    $2,500.00 - $2,500.00
    Current price $2,500.00

    Large and brilliant study of a coastal arch bridge in blues by Krell, circa 1950.

    Original price $2,500.00 - Original price $2,500.00
    Original price
    $2,500.00
    $2,500.00 - $2,500.00
    Current price $2,500.00
  • Rembrandt Etching #18, by Francesco Novelli

    Antique & Art Exchange
    Original price $395.00 - Original price $395.00
    Original price
    $395.00
    $395.00 - $395.00
    Current price $395.00

    Rembrandt etching done by Francesco Novelli, Italy circa 1770.

    Original price $395.00 - Original price $395.00
    Original price
    $395.00
    $395.00 - $395.00
    Current price $395.00
  • Still Life, American Circa 1950

    Antique & Art Exchange
    Original price $2,500.00 - Original price $2,500.00
    Original price
    $2,500.00
    $2,500.00 - $2,500.00
    Current price $2,500.00

    A still life of jars and pots in browns and yellows, by B. Krell (signed upper right) wife of influential artist and scholar Krell circa 1950.

    Original price $2,500.00 - Original price $2,500.00
    Original price
    $2,500.00
    $2,500.00 - $2,500.00
    Current price $2,500.00
  • Patinated Metal Diamond Shaped Censer, Japan,19th Century

    Antique & Art Exchange
    Original price $295.00 - Original price $295.00
    Original price
    $295.00
    $295.00 - $295.00
    Current price $295.00

    A Japanese patinated metal diamond shaped censer with ancient Chinese Style Decoration .

    Original price $295.00 - Original price $295.00
    Original price
    $295.00
    $295.00 - $295.00
    Current price $295.00
  • City Scape, American Circa 1950 Was $2500

    Antique & Art Exchange
    Original price $1,500.00 - Original price $1,500.00
    Original price
    $1,500.00
    $1,500.00 - $1,500.00
    Current price $1,500.00

    City scape painting by influential artist and scholar Krell circa 1950. Was $2500

    Original price $1,500.00 - Original price $1,500.00
    Original price
    $1,500.00
    $1,500.00 - $1,500.00
    Current price $1,500.00
  • Watercolor of a Forest Scene by Meyer Straus, American 19th Century

    Antique & Art Exchange
    Original price $1,500.00 - Original price $1,500.00
    Original price
    $1,500.00
    $1,500.00 - $1,500.00
    Current price $1,500.00

    A late 19th-century American watercolor of a forest scene signed Meyer Straus (1831–1905).

    Original price $1,500.00 - Original price $1,500.00
    Original price
    $1,500.00
    $1,500.00 - $1,500.00
    Current price $1,500.00
  • Circa 1810 Engraving of an Egyptian Monument, France

    Antique & Art Exchange
    Original price $595.00 - Original price $595.00
    Original price
    $595.00
    $595.00 - $595.00
    Current price $595.00

    An early 19th-century French engraving from the "Description de l'Egypte", printed after Napoleon's expedition into Egypt, circa 1810. Framed and m...

    View full details
    Original price $595.00 - Original price $595.00
    Original price
    $595.00
    $595.00 - $595.00
    Current price $595.00
  • Vintage Etching of a Sleeping Person

    Antique & Art Exchange
    Original price $750.00 - Original price $750.00
    Original price
    $750.00
    $750.00 - $750.00
    Current price $750.00

    Vintage etching of a sleeping man, signed indistinctly.

    Original price $750.00 - Original price $750.00
    Original price
    $750.00
    $750.00 - $750.00
    Current price $750.00
  • Powder Blue Plate, China Circa 1850

    Antique & Art Exchange
    Original price $495.00 - Original price $495.00
    Original price
    $495.00
    $495.00 - $495.00
    Current price $495.00

    A Chinese powder blue plate, circa 1850

    Original price $495.00 - Original price $495.00
    Original price
    $495.00
    $495.00 - $495.00
    Current price $495.00

How to Collect and Style Antique Curiosities

Decorating with antique curiosities is about storytelling. Each object — a bronze sculpture, scientific instrument, or framed botanical print — carries its own narrative.

Grouping several pieces together on a console or mantel brings personality and depth to your interior, transforming it into a cabinet of wonders.To balance your collection, pair your curiosities with elegant Antique Furniture or statement pieces from our Large Antique Furniture Collection.

Complement your display with the warm glow of Vintage Lamps or reflections from Vintage Mirrors to enhance the textures and patinas of your chosen objects.Looking to curate smaller treasures? Explore Gifts Under $100 or delve into Antique History Books for fascinating titles that enrich your collection with knowledge and context.

Don’t miss our New Arrivals — constantly updated with rare and unusual pieces waiting to be rediscovered.Each item in AAXSF’s Curiosities Collection is carefully vetted for authenticity and visual impact — objects that spark conversation and elevate any interior with cultural depth.

What qualifies an object as an “antique curiosity”?

An antique curiosity is a rare or unusual item with historical or artistic significance — often collected for its uniqueness rather than practical use.

How should I display my curiosities?

Group objects by theme, color, or material on a shelf, desk, or console. Combine them with mirrors or lamps to highlight textures and create visual rhythm.

Are all curiosities in the collection authentic antiques?

Yes. Each piece is selected by experts at AAXSF for provenance, condition, and originality, ensuring genuine antiques with lasting aesthetic value.