Antique shopping at a local antique store or antique mall may inspire you to dig around your own home to see what may be worth money. If you are interested in becoming a vendor at an antique mall, this is a perfect way to kickstart your collection! Keep reading to find out five surprising items found in your home that may be worth more than you think!
5 Ordinary Household Items Worth Money
Dishes and kitchenware
Vintage entertainment
Jewelry
Furniture
Coins
1. Highly Sought-After Dishes and Kitchenware
Vintage Pyrex
As you sift through your kitchen cupboards and pantry, make sure to keep an eye out for many kitchenware collectors’ current obsession – vintage Pyrex. These are all over antique malls and antique stores, which is a sign they are wanted! We all know this classic kitchenware, and finding Pyrex dishes and sets with specific patterns and colors has become the latest craze. Vintage Pyrex patterns that may pack a monetary punch are:
Pink Daisy
Snowflake
Balloons
Rooster Black
Silverware
It is time to go through the flatware sets you’ve inherited and see what items may be worth your while. Make sure to give special attention to any antique silver spoons you may find. There is typically a hallmark on the back of silver spoons, which can help you identify how old, rare, and valuable your piece of silver is!
Silverware from notable designers like Tiffany or Georg Jensen may be worth a pretty penny, especially if you have a complete set. Even if you aren’t sure what brand or design your silverware set is, if it is a complete antique set of real silver, it is valuable!
If you need help appraising your flatware or learning more about hallmarks, stopping by your local antique store or talking to an owner at an antique mall booth is a great idea!
Mason Jars
It may come as a surprise that Mason jars can be worth money, but with the trend of farmhouse-chic décor, Mason jars are having a major moment. The ones we are referring to aren’t the shiny, clear glass ones bought at any big box store. Rather, they are vintage green and amber Ball Mason jars, Atlas, or Lightning brand Mason jars.
Look at antique stores and antique malls, and you will quickly learn how desired and trendy vintage Mason jars are!
2. Vintage Toys and Entertainment
Collectible Action Figures
Everything 1980s and 1990s is making a comeback, and toys are no exception. Action figures like He-Man and collections of Polly Pockets can be desired items amongst avid collectors. If you have figures or playsets in their original box, they’ll be worth even more.
If reading about vintage toys is getting you excited, hop in the car and go shopping at an antique store or antique mall near you; there are sure to be many toys that bring back all the fun of your childhood!
Original Spiderman and Star Wars figurines are also hot vintage toy items. If they are in good condition, they could be valuable. Antique trains have also become a trending item among toy collectors. Time to go antique shopping in your attic and childhood boxes and see what nostalgia and value you can discover!
Vintage Gaming Systems
Due to the pandemic, many people started pulling out their old gaming systems to pass quarantine; throwback gaming systems have now become very desired items. Original video game systems like Nintendo, Atari, or SEGA are highly sought after. If you have the machine and/or the accompanying cassettes, count yourself lucky!
Turn Table and Vinyl
What is old is new again, especially when it comes to record players and records. Many people are discovering the simple pleasure and unique sound that listening to records on a turn table is. There is a strong likelihood that you have some old Beatles, Rolling Stones, or Bob Dylan records collecting dust in a box. Lucky you, as those are all popular records amongst vinyl collectors!
If you are looking to add to your vinyl collection or are on the hunt to find some of value, great places to look are antique stores and antique malls!
3. Men’s and Women’s Jewelry
Costume Jewelry
It may not be the first thing that comes to mind, but costume jewelry is trending. The 1920s Trifari line is highly desired, along with designers like Chanel, Dior, or Miriam Haskell. Don’t count yourself out if your jewelry box contains non-designer costume jewelry. There are many buyers looking for unique brooches, necklaces, and bracelets regardless of designer label!
Antique stores and antique malls have many examples of costume jewelry to help you see if what you’ve found at home might be worth something!
Men’s Watches
Is there a men’s watch that has been handed down a couple of generations? Time to get it appraised by a jeweler or at an antique store, as it is most likely valuable. Brands like Rolex, Patek Philippe, and Omega from the 1970s and 1980s are only increasing in value. Bonus points if your watch has original packaging and paperwork.
4. Furniture Worth a Second Look
Mid-Century Modern Furniture
Look at any design magazine, and it is clear the mid-century modern vibe is very on-trend. Furniture spanning from 1933-1965 may be valuable and is highly desired. Furniture items with a branded manufacturer or designer names like Eames, Noguchi, Jacobsen, Knoll, and Saarinen are treasures to behold.
That old table you took from your grandparents’ garage for your first apartment may be vintage worth money! Not sure what may be of value? Stop in at an antique mall or antique store for inspiration!
5. Collectable Money and Coins
Coin collections have always been popular and are many times passed down from generation to generation. If you have a coin collection or loose change lying around, it’s time to take a closer look and take them to an antique store to be appraised.
Quarters, dimes, half-dollars, and silver dollars made before 1964 are 90% silver and may yield a profit if melted down. If you come across a gold coin, it may be especially valuable. A good rule of thumb is the older the coin, the more value it most likely holds!
Now that you have some ideas of household items that may have value, it’s time to start digging and antique shopping in your own home! If you need more inspiration or a break from the dust, feel free to stop by one of our America’s Antique Mall locations to get your fix on all things antique and vintage!