Once upon a time, collectors gathered marvels from the natural world and far-flung lands. Shells, fossils, portraits, bones, and books. Strange instruments, carved figures, or an animal never seen before. Together they became a cabinet of curiosities — a miniature world intended to spark wonder, curiosity, and conversation.
What is a Cabinet of Curiosities?
Also called a Wunderkammer, these cabinets first appeared in Renaissance Europe. They weren’t always cabinets in the modern sense, they were often entire rooms filled with shelves and drawers. They brought together Naturalia (specimens from nature), Artificialia (crafted objects), Exotica (treasures from other cultures), and Scientifica (instruments and inventions).
In an age before museums, these collections offered an escape into the unknown and the marvellous.
Below: Mounted Roe Deer Antlers from £26
Why Now?
Fast forward to today and the idea has found new life. Many interiors now embrace little corners of oddities and treasures — not to shock, but because they’re interesting; a shelf of curious ceramics, a wall of small portraits, a tabletop with candlesticks, shells, or a stack of old books.
But it’s not about filling a room with clutter. It’s about arranging the unusual, things with history, and the personal into something that tells your story. A modern-day cabinet of curiosities invites viewers or visitors to stop and look closer, to ask questions. It’s another way to make a home memorable.
Below: Vintage Insect Specimens from £10
More Than a Trend
We often hear about trends — and the cabinet of curiosities is having a bit of a moment. But we believe homes should never be built on passing fashions. They should reflect the things you love. Objects with history, patina, and character. A cabinet of curiosities is timeless exactly because it is personal and is about the owner, so no two will ever be the same.
Finding Your Own Curiosities
At Only Nice Things we tend to buy a lot of pieces that naturally feel right at home in collections like this. Antique wooden candlesticks with a soft sheen from years of use. Vintage natural history prints. An insect in resin, a pair of mounted antlers, or a few vintage books.
And because they’re vintage, each is unique — often just one of its kind. That’s what makes them so well-suited to building your own modern Wunderkammer.
If you’re curious, join our mailing list or follow us on Instagram to see the latest finds before anyone else. With vintage, once it’s gone, it’s gone.
Below: Vintage Japanese Kokeshi Dolls from £24
Be Inspired
So, what could you put in your own cabinet? A fossil picked up on holiday, a tiny portrait, a jug with a story to tell? The joy lies in the mix — in curating a home that feels wonderfully your own.
Why not take a look at some of the curiosities we’ve collected recently…
