Pieces made to go in Kunstkammer or “cabinets of wonders,” from the time when you just hadn’t arrived if you didn’t have one to show off. From the collections of the Museum of Applied Arts/MAK, Vienna.

Nautilus shell. 16th c. — Nautilus shell. 16th c. Maker not known. Image © MAK Museum, Vienna. Fair use license. via https://sammlung.mak.at/en/collection_online?id=collect-29187

Ostrich egg with gold lacquer. 1850-1875. — Ostrich egg with gold lacquer. 1850-1875. Meiji Period, Japanese. Eggshell with gold lacquer. Artist not known. Image © MAK Museum, Vienna. Fair use license. via https://sammlung.mak.at/en/collection_online?id=collect-50351

Centerpiece. 18th c. — Centerpiece. 18th c. Copper, crystal and iron. Paul Kolbany, possible artist. Image © MAK Museum, Vienna. Fair use license. via https://sammlung.mak.at/en/collection_online?id=collect-21631

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