I've been making one-of-a-kind art houses and Advent calendars for nearly a decade now, and 2026 is my most extensive collection to date. Through the years, my Advents have been purchased as indulgences of total whimsy for fellow collectors, armchair travellers and kindred spirits who delight in the miniature scale, imagination, daily surprise and beauty of these unique curations.

This Florentine Cabinet of Curiosities Advent calendar is larger than the standard doll's house scale - more suited to a scale for large dolls. The contents have been meticulously chosen (and in some cases, handmade) to complement the wonderful vintage Florentine wooden chest of drawers I found by chance earlier this year. 

At only 18cm high, this gorgeous golden dresser is diminutive, probably made as a jewellery box, and yet it is spacious enough with its three drawers to house almost all of the 25 gifts inside.

Each gift will come giftwrapped and numbered, designed to open each day throughout December (or however you choose to enjoy it). Treat it like a daily visit to a doll-sized Florentine fleamarket!

At the end of your unboxing experience you will have your own richly detailed miniature vignette featuring the petite chest with all drawers laden with vintage treasures, and styled with a sweet display on top and underneath. Use these photos as your styling guide if you wish, or repurpose all the gifts however your heart desires.

The entire scene would live beautifully under a large glass cloche or inside a display cabinet.

A truly memorable gift for a like-minded collector, who will enjoy savouring the joy and surprise of opening a new find each day for nearly a whole month.

All the contents you'll receive are photographed here, but I have deliberately resisted detailing them in order to enhance the surprise. I find most often these Advents are purchased for personal enjoyment.

However, if you require more detailed information on the contents than what is featured in the photos, please feel free to get in touch. Rest assured, the value of each piece is far beyond anything you would find in a more mass-produced or generic 'luxury' Advent calendar. Think real silk, brass, hand-painted ceramics, glass, semi-precious stones. This 'wunderkammer' even includes a little miniature seashell notebook I handcrafted in the Victorian tradition with every paper page adorned with a different nautical sticker. So fun! 

Note: all my Advent Calendars are designed for adult collectors and are not suitable as gifts for young children as they contain small parts, fragile materials, and true vintage and antique finds.

Some of the pieces do carry small imperfections, reflective of their vintage or antique condition and in some cases handmade character.