Cabinets of curiosities, heterogeneous collections of fabulous objects.
Created during the Renaissance, cabinets of curiosities have continued to attract curious visitors and lovers of antique and unusual objects ever since. True miniature museums, some can still be visited today and, perhaps, inspired to create a unique interior design.
Unicorn rostrums, crystals, and precious stones—the pedestals and displays of curiosity cabinets have always been filled with rare and incredible objects. All the world's diversity finds its place there. From science to exotic fauna, botany, and the supernatural, curiosity cabinets never cease to fascinate us.
Visit to a cabinet of curiosities
The rare and all-around objects that generally make up a good cabinet of curiosities fall into five broad categories. Four of them represent the scientific world as it was conceived during the Renaissance. The fifth draws on the imaginary and the supernatural. It's easy to draw up a list of categories in which to display different artifacts, regardless of their provenance and origins.
One object of scientific curiosity is the pocket globe. This ceremonial object reconstructed the solar system as it was known at the time. The small planet fits into its round case covered with rosette skin. The finesse of the design is remarkable. With each new scientific discovery concerning space, constellations, and continents, new globes were created.
Pocket globe, custom-made base in black painted steel, Galerie Delalande, Paris
The pocket globe specialists are located in the heart of the Carré Rive Gauche in Paris.
Galerie Delalande offers, among other things, curiosities based around the world of the ocean. We designed this custom-made black steel base for them.
Pocket globe, custom-made base in black painted steel, Galerie Delalande, Paris
Typical curio cabinets
Naturalia
From the Latin "natural", this category includes objects from nature, without any transformations other than to showcase them on bases, in frames or under glass globes.
Mineral: fossils, rare and precious stones, meteorites etc.
Animal: insects, stuffed animals, shells, rostrums, teeth etc.
Plants: herbariums, dried flowers, various plants, etc.
Animal: insects, stuffed animals, shells, rostrums, teeth etc.
Plants: herbariums, dried flowers, various plants, etc.
Here are two magnificent examples of turtle shells presented on custom-made bases. One in black-painted steel, the other in brass with a chrome patina (a must-have for a custom-made base).
Turtle shell on a black steel base.
Turtle shell on a black steel base.
White turtle shell on a chrome-plated brass base - Custom creation for the Liaigre interior design firm
Discover the project
The Artificialia-style cabinet of curiosities
Also from Latin, it means "made", so it is a question here of grouping together things made by Man.
Creations: all objects manufactured by man can appear in the display cases, often on bases or under glass globes such as precious objects, small antique bronzes, goldwork.
Modifications: natural objects modified by man, set stones, diamonds, carved ivory tusks, turned wooden objects.
Modifications: natural objects modified by man, set stones, diamonds, carved ivory tusks, turned wooden objects.
Amphora on a custom-made black steel base
Custom-made black base for an amphora
The Exotica-style cabinet of curiosities
As its name suggests, this category will showcase all items of foreign origin. The exotic aspect emphasizes the rare and precious nature of these objects.
Fauna and flora: animals and plants from exotic countries, ostrich eggs, elephant tusks, Indian headdresses, masks.
Indigenous Objects: Creations of rare objects from various civilizations around the world
Indigenous Objects: Creations of rare objects from various civilizations around the world
Feather headdress on a black steel base
Custom-made brass base for Eskimo glasses
Scientifica-style cabinet of curiosities
Scientific in Latin. One of the most sought-after categories for art lovers. These period instruments have survived the centuries to become truly sought-after antiques.
Scientific and measuring instruments: old tools used in laboratories (telescope, oscilloscope, sextants, etc.)
Medical instruments: stethoscope, microscope, masks etc.
Cartography: maps of the world, oceans, skies, often displayed in frames
Medical instruments: stethoscope, microscope, masks etc.
Cartography: maps of the world, oceans, skies, often displayed in frames
The Mirabilia-style cabinet of curiosities
Literally "miracles" in Latin, this category brings together strange things found in nature or to which a magical character is attributed.
Animal: A narwhal rostrum becomes a unicorn horn, imaginary stuffed animals created from scratch by mixing various species.
Scientific: incredible fake world maps, automatons, pseudo-scientific objects or those supposed to have belonged to this or that civilization.
Scientific: incredible fake world maps, automatons, pseudo-scientific objects or those supposed to have belonged to this or that civilization.
Steel pedestal for a rostrum
Detail of a steel pedestal for a rostrum
These unusual objects presented in
cabinets of curiosities
The coconut buttocks
As its name suggests, and despite its shape, the coco de mer or sea coconut is not a coconut, but rather its seed. A rare and protected species, it has a place in a cabinet of curiosities. It will, of course, require a custom base to showcase it to its best advantage.
Coco butt box on a custom-made brass base
Custom black steel base for a coco fesse
Custom black steel base with wooden base for a coconut on the butt
Mixed steel and macassa patinated wood base for coco fesse
The gogottes of Fontainebleau
A true geological curiosity, the gogotte is a sandstone concretion, meaning it is the result of the natural cementing of different, very pure sands. Water, passing through them, acts as cement, creating its very particular shapes. The Fontainebleau region has a subsoil very conducive to the creation of gogottes, it is there that we find the most. Highly prized by collectors, it is represented in many cabinets of curiosities or simply as an object of interior decoration.
Fontainebleau gogotte on a custom-made base in raw steel
Fontainebleau gogotte on a custom-made brass base with personalized patina - front view
Fontainebleau gogotte on a custom-made brass base with personalized patina - back view
Fontainebleau gogotte on a custom-made steel base
Counter roulette
Now extinct, this game was present in most bistros at the end of the nineteenth century. While the rules of the "tourniquet" are no longer known, we do know that it was very popular. The lower part of the tourniquet was often hollow to store matches, a built-in scraper allowed them to be lit. A rare object, therefore essential in a cabinet of curiosities, it will be given pride of place, why not on an original base made from old picture frames.
Custom brass base for countertop games - front view
Custom-made base in non-patinated steel for countertop games
How to start your own practice
curiosities?
The wealth of objects and materials in curiosity cabinets makes them abundant sources of inspiration for interior design. With a little patience and research, you can find and display unique or diverse art objects. It's also possible to transform everyday objects into works of art by displaying them as in an antique curiosity cabinet.
To achieve a convincing result and highlight the objects you have found, various solutions are available to you.
To achieve a cabinet of curiosities effect without resorting to clichés, we advise you to take care in the presentation of the art objects you wish to exhibit.
So for your coconut butts, your skulls and other objects with irregular and singular shapes, we recommend that you display them on custom-made bases.
Discover brass, steel and wood bases to enhance your objects and works.
Custom-made base
Custom-made bases for skulls
For more regular shaped objects such as collectible eggs or prehistoric eggs we recommend using our standard range of display stands for objects and art objects.
Our plexiglass displays are discreet and very sturdy.
All our standard plexiglass, steel and wood displays are available for sale online.
By creating a cabinet of curiosities at home, you are taking the step of exhibiting exceptional and rare works of art.
Coco buttocks, skulls, but also maritime charts bearing witness to a past history.
To ensure consistency across all of these items, we offer our expertise and know-how in creating your display. Custom-made bases, egg displays, and presentation magnifiers are all available to showcase each of your items.
With these tips, it's easy to recreate the ambiance of a curio cabinet in your own home. Our goal is for you to personalize the presentation of your art objects as much as possible. A unique presentation for unique objects.
Whether custom-made or standard, you're sure to find the display that will showcase your art and collectibles to their best advantage.
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