41 Antiques Resellers Should Avoid: What NOT to Buy
If you’ve been selling antiques for a couple of decades or more like me, then you’ve personally experienced the [sometimes massive] decline in the values of all sorts of vintage and antiques.
Today, I want to share my personal list of the 41 worst collectibles that I try to completely avoid because they don’t sell well for me on any of the primary platforms (Etsy, eBay, FBMP, or an antique booth).
I never seek out these items, and I rarely buy them, but I’ll provide a few exceptions underneath each category.
Keep in mind as you read the list that I’m speaking to the average antique seller who deals with items primarily in the $10 to $100 range.
So when I say, “Don’t buy clear glass,” I’m not saying that you shouldn’t pick up a Waterford crystal decanter set worth $500 if you can afford it. By all means, if you come across such a set for a reasonable price, buy it.
That said, I don’t come across much Waterford crystal in my shopping adventures at thrift stores and garage sales, LOL. As I said, most of what I (and many of you readers) sell falls into a lower price range.
Also, keep in mind that these rules are not written in stone! Regional differences and rapid fluctuations in some areas of collecting may mean certain items on my list won’t apply to you and your situation.
I always recommend checking sold prices on eBay and/or using Google reverse image search to get a sense of an item’s online pricing and popularity.
In addition, I ALWAYS recommend testing the market. Pick up new-to-you merchandise at low or no cost and see how the market responds. If it sells quickly, buy another and see how it does. Was the first sale a fluke or have you discovered a fantastic seller??
1. Clear Glass
A lot of vintage and antique glass has dropped tremendously in value, but especially clear glass. This includes pressed, patterned, brilliant, and crystal glass. Now is a terrific time to buy it for your own enjoyment as a collector, but not for resale!
Exceptions
- MCM Scandinavian Pieces ($30-100+)
- Hoosier Jars ($10-60)
2. Ceramic Figurines
People no longer have interest in tchotchkes in general; which is any small something that sits on a shelf and gathers dust. This includes Precious Moments, Hummels, and similar products
Exceptions
- Hummels made before 1949
- Beatrix Potter figures ($15-25)
- Wade Whimsies ($2-4 each)
- Christmas themed pieces, especially by Napco and Lefton ($20-50+)
3. Silverplate
Silverplate values have declined drastically. In fact, it’s not uncommon to see plastic bins at estate sales filled with pieces priced at $1-3 each.
Fussy decor that requires regular polishing is NOT something that anyone currently alive wants in their home. Perhaps interest will return, but I seriously doubt it. Avoid it at all costs.
Exceptions
- Champagne Buckets ($30-50)
- Figural Napkin Rings ($25-100 each)
4. Silver Overlay
Sometime in the middle of the 20th century, someone decided to decorate [mostly] clear glass serving pieces with a thin layer of decorative silver. Often the motifs are floral and regularly they celebrate 25th or 50th anniversaries.
It looks fussy, tarnishes easily, and fails to interest young people who don’t tend to entertain with these sorts of pieces.
Exceptions
- Silver overlay perfume bottles ($50-100+)
- Colored glass with overlay ($25-100 each)
5. Cruet Sets
In their heyday, beautiful cruet sets strongly appealed to a great number of collectors. Most tended to sell for $100-200. Now-a-days, it would be difficult to sell one for $25-35 and it would sit on the shelf for a good while before it sold.
Exceptions
- Sets with colored glass ($50-100)
6. Bells
Back in the day, bells were a popular collectible; however, not only is the market flooded with them as collectors divest, but younger generations have little interest in dust-collecting tchotchkes as I mentioned previously.
Exceptions
- Christmas themed bells by companies like Napco and Lefton ($15-40)
7. McDonald’s Toys
As charming as many McDonald’s toys are, you must realize that they manufactured literally millions of each as free give-aways. So they fail on the rarity factor.
Back in the early 2000’s I did collect numerous Toy Story and Disney 100th anniversary figures for my children to play with and recently had success selling 30 of the Disney figures on eBay for $30 (see above).
While Disney toys hold some value when sold in quantity, individually they’re worth only about a dollar or two. In my mind, this makes them not worth dealing with, unless you happen to have a quantity on hand as I did.
Exceptions:
- A holographic Pikachu card ($30)
- Mario Kart 1990 figurines ($5 each)
8. Beanie Babies
You can expect most Beanie Babies to sell for about $1-5 each. Selling large quantities of them in one lot can be profitable, provided you don’t pay much for them, as with McDonald toys.
Don’t be tricked into believing that extremely common beanies, like Prickles the Hedgehog or the Princess Diana Bear have sold for $10,000 each. When you see those prices on eBay sold listings, it’s due to one of two things: (1) attempts to inflate prices or (2) money laundering.
Exceptions
- Elvis, Claude the Crab, Flitter the Butterfly, and certain others ($5-25)
9. Copper
Copper made it onto a number of recent trend lists, but I think it only lasted for about 6 months and focused mostly on NEW copper decor. Interest seems to have flattened quite a bit.
Exceptions
- French style pots and pans ($30-100)
- Copper utensil sets ($30-60)
10. Dinner Sets
Some years ago you could easily sell a nice set of vintage or antique dishes for $100 or more. Not so today. With the changes in the way we entertain to more casual and less fussy, matching dish sets are out.
Exceptions
- Individual serving pieces ($30-50)
11. Cups & Saucers
While everybody may LOVE a beautiful teacup and saucer, it seems that no one wants to buy them. We drink our tea from mugs now and cups and saucers merely collect dust. Most of the time they don’t move: even for a dollar.
Exceptions
- Antique cup and saucers of particular beauty, e.g., by Shelley or Minton ($30-50)
- Antique handleless ironstone cup and saucers ($25-40)
12. Collector Plates
Franklin Mint and other manufacturers/distributors have produced millions of limited edition plates over the years. Yes, some of them are charming, and we seem to be drawn to anything depicting a Norman Rockwell image, but they are virtually worthless.
Most of collector plates have retained very little, if any, value. In some cases you can’t even give them away(!) Avoid them like the plague. Learn more about the resale value of certain collector plates HERE.
Exceptions
- Early pieces by quality potteries ($30-50)
- Certain complete sets ($50-200)
13. Religious Items
Sad but true: most vintage and antique religious items hold little interest for collectors at the moment.
While I did recently sell a small folk art carving of Jesus’ face for a decent amount on Etsy ($32.99), I think that had more to do with its folk art quality than its religious nature.
Exceptions
- Quality rosaries, e.g., sterling silver ($20-40)
- Sterling silver and gold medals/pendants, e.g., St. Christophers or Mary ($25-100 each)
14. Old Novels
Old novels written by unknown authors, especially those marketed by a book club, should be avoided at all costs.
Exceptions
- Leather bound and/or those with decorative gold gilt bindings and/or covers ($15-50)
- Cheap, excellent condition examples for book stacks ($10-12 for a stack of three)
Check out my article on how to clean and care for old books for some great tips.
15. Salt & Pepper Shakers
Salt and pepper shakers are a bit like bells, they’ve been seriously collected by crowds of collectors. As those collectors pass on, their collections have begun to flood the market.
Few up-and-coming collectors care to buy them, so values remain quite low. I don’t recommend picking them up for resale, even if cheap, as they take quite a long time to sell.
- Extremely unique examples ($20-50)
- Fire King and Anchor Hocking milk glass, jadeite, & delphite sets ($50-75)
- Napco & Lefton Christmas sets ($25-100+)
16. Victorian Frames
Ornate frames from the Victorian era made of gold painted metal have decreased in value dramatically, and few of the younger generations hold them in any esteem.
As beautiful as they are, they simply don’t fit in with the simpler more pared down style that’s popular today.
Exceptions
- None that I can think of
17. Dining Room Sets
For many middle class families, dining rooms are a thing of the past. Our kitchens tend to be large enough to seat a crowd on holidays and at other times of the year, we prefer entertaining on our decks or patios.
It’s not uncommon to see full dining room sets sit for days at estate sales. Even when sold separately, fancy tables and sideboards sell only after the prices have dropped significantly.
Thrift stores have learned to keep prices on these items low, which allows buyers who plan to paint and flip a piece enough room to make a profit.
Exceptions
- Smaller china cupboards, especially if lighted and side boards ($100-200)
18. Armoires
Most antique sellers find extremely large pieces of furniture very hard to sell. New homes tend to have plenty of closet space so armoires are not only unnecessary, but a pain to move.
Exceptions
- Some smaller examples that you can upgrade with shelving ($100-150)
19. Eastlake Furniture
You may have read recently that Eastlake style furniture from the late 19th century has made a comeback. I’ve yet to experience that myself.
The chunky, geometric style, though not as ornate as other Victorian period furniture, remains a bit too fussy for most modern home decorators. Most antique sellers find upholstered pieces particularly hard to sell.
That said, a few years ago, I did update an Eastlake table that I then sold for $68.
20. Chalkware Figures
Made out of plaster of Paris, kitschy chalkware figures served as prizes at carnivals around the country, primarily in the mid-20th century. They chip and flake easily and you cannot clean them as the paint wipes off.
I personally have never understood the attraction and modern buyers appear to agree with me(!).
Exceptions
- Some excellent condition famous people and nudes ($30-200)
21. Longaberger Baskets
Longaberger baskets were all the rage back in the 90’s. Everybody and their mother got in on the action, and as a result, literally thousands upon thousands of these orange-hued maple baskets can be found on the secondary market.
If you insist upon dealing in them, use the exceptions below as a guideline.
Exceptions
- Baskets signed by Dave or Bonnie Longaberger ($30-50)
- Limited editions ($25-100 each)
22. Dolls
Porcelain dolls from the 1970’s to present day hold no interest for serious doll collectors (or anybody else, for that matter). Do not buy them for resale!
Avoid cheap souvenir examples and those made for children (as seen above) made of plastic, fabric, or composition. Poorly constructed and made in very high numbers, most of these dolls have little to no value.
Exceptions
- Antique dolls made France or Germany ($500-3000+)
- Some Barbies (see below)
23. Newer Barbie Dolls
Naked Barbies floundering in a plastic bin with frizzed up hair should be avoided like the plague. They have no value. Good condition dolls marked “1958” might have some value, but keep in mind that repros of early dolls, made in the 1990’s, bear this mark as well(!).
Exceptions
- 1950’s & 60’s Barbies ($25-500)
- Limited edition Barbies NIB ($20-50)
24. Mantel Clocks
By Smerdis of Tlön – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0
Decorators no longer have a taste for those dome-shaped clocks meant for display on one’s mantel. Their old-fashioned look holds no appeal for even the modern home decorator who loves antiques.
Exceptions
- Antique Seth Thomas ($100-200)
25. Unsigned Costume Jewelry
Most unsigned costume jewelry has little value unless it’s particularly beautiful (see exceptions below) in a way that would appeal to the modern woman, so skip it.
If a piece has a famous signature like Chanel, Trifari, or Miriam Haskell, or if it’s marked silver or gold, it’s considered “signed” and should be purchased, if priced right.
Check out my jewelry price guide, Christmas tree pin article, and/or flower power jewelry article for jewelry tips.
Exceptions
- Beautiful, prong-set pieces ($30-50)
26. Avon Figural Perfumes
If you’re like me, you remember the Avon lady coming to the door with her bag of special samples. Remember the tiny little white lipstick samples? I thought they were the cat’s meow!
It makes me a little sad to know that most of Avon’s charming perfumes, toiletries, and cosmetics have very little value.
All those cute, figural bottles of perfume sold in the thousands to die-hard fans who held onto them for years, along with their boxes. If you like them, go ahead and buy them–for yourself, not for resale.
Exceptions
- Famous people perfumes Herve Leger Femme 1.7 oz, Christian Lacroix Absynthe 1.7 oz ($40-100)
- Instant Vacation, Imari, Natori Fragrances ($20-80 each)
27. Magazines
Magazines by and large have very little value–even those with cool covers, fascinating articles, and colorful advertising.
Buy them to read and clip from, then pass them onto a friend or thrift store.
Dive a little deeper into magazines of value HERE.
Exceptions
- Volume 1, Issue 1 copies ($10-1000)
- Some older issues with famous people on cover, e.g., Marilyn Monroe, Queen Elizabeth, Liz Taylor ($25-500+ each)
- Many issues of Vogue ($10-200)
28. Royal Family Collectibles
Gift shops in the UK sell royal souvenirs by the bushel. Tourists bring home millions of pieces of royal merchandise of all kinds: towels, mugs, jewelry, and yes, spoons.
As enamored as many of us are with the British royal family, we don’t have much interest in royal remembrances. We want to read about them and watch them on television, but not drink coffee out of mugs featuring their “mugs.”
- Antique royal souvenirs ($20-100)
- Queen Elizabeth souvenirs ($10-200)
29. Insulators
Insulators keep telephone and other wires from touching wooden poles, which when wet would effect conductivity. The most common examples include the aqua blue glass (above) and brown porcelain. They both sell for a couple dollars each.
Back in the day, people collected insulators like crazy, but then interest died out. I have, however, had it on good authority from several collectors that a new band of serious enthusiasts has risen up and this area of collecting has taken on new life.
Here’s some good info on insulators.
Exceptions
- Unusual shapes ($30-50)
- Colored glass (other than aqua), e.g., purple, yellow, etc. ($20-200+)
30. Puzzles
Vintage and antique puzzles present many obstacles: (1) dull subjects in muted colors and (2) a fear that one or more pieces are missing, and (3) the fact that so many have survived. Puzzles are a dime a dozen.
Find some in depth info about vintage and antique puzzles HERE.
Exceptions
- Victorian examples with brightly colored lithograph images ($10-50)
31. Dr. Seuss Books
Dr. Seuss books bring back special memories for so many of us: the Grinch, Horton [Hears a Who], and Yertle the Turtle, to name a few.
We remember our parents reading them to us, and then us reading them to our own children. The bright colors and fantastical characters have burned themselves onto our collective consciousness.
We view them as valuable monetarily because of the emotional value they have for us. Unfortunately, that doesn’t translate into dollar and cents. Simply put, too many of them have been issued over the years–millions in fact.
Exceptions
- Some early 1st editions ($30-200)
32. Comic Books
One of my fondest memories of visits to my grandmother’s involves curling up on her overstuffed couch reading comic books. Spiderman and Fantastic Four were two of my favorites.
Even if I still owned those comics, they wouldn’t be worth more than a dollar or two.
Exceptions
- High quality early editions of popular comics ($30-50)
33. Records
While the younger generation, including my daughter, has reached back in time and acquired a taste for vinyl records, that has done very little to increase values.
Buying and selling records is highly specialized with only about .01% of all records being worth more than a dollar. [I made that statistic up, BTW.]
- Some excellent condition Beatles & Elvis records ($100-10,000)
- Some 1950’s & 60’s rock and roll, jazz, blues, and soul ($10-10,000)
34. Sewing Patterns
As far as I know, sewing patterns don’t qualify as an actual collectors item. By that, I mean people who buy them intend to use them, rather than display them.
Taking a look at eBay’s sold listings, it seems evident that large lots of sewing patterns by any maker sell well. If you can pick up a box of older examples for very little money, do consider picking them up.
Keep in mind that uncut patterns are worth a bit more than those that have been cut. For cute patterns that have little value in-and-of-themselves, consider this bookmark project that’s one of my most popular on Pinterest.
Exceptions
- Some older Vogue & Advance patterns ($10-100)
- Large lots of 1950’s-1970’s patterns, e.g., a lot of 50 ($50-200, or $1-4 each)
35. Chairs
Vintage chairs, like the one shown here, are a dime a dozen. In fact, it can sometimes be difficult to sell them for even a dime.
Exceptions
- Antique Windsor or Stickley chairs ($500-1000+)
- MCM chairs ($100-500 each)
36. Sheet Music
While I wrote an entire article a few years ago about sheet music, I have to be completely honest with you, it’s not a quick seller. And most of what you’ll find out in the wild is worth about a dollar or less.
I have sold some sheets framed and recently I sold a vintage copy of “Breakfast at Tiffany’s” with an image of Audrey Hepburn on the front for $20 on eBay. But it sat there for almost 2 years.
Exceptions
- Some framed, highly attractive sheets ($25-35)
37. Newspapers
It’s not uncommon to come across piles of old “preserved” newspapers at estate sales. The feeling was back-in-the-day that papers celebrating important cultural moments would gain value over time. In most cases this hasn’t been true.
Exceptions
- Excellent quality NY Times Moon landing ($25-35)
38. Scarves
I started buying scarves, like the one you see above, because I fell in love with their designs. What I quickly learned is that unless it has a designer name attached to it, buyers have little interest.
I’ve even found that famous name examples by the likes of “Vera” Neuman and others sell extremely slowly. As a result, I’ve stopped picking them up, along with wool scarves made in Scotland, even if the plaid is lovely.
A while back I picked up a “Hermes” scarf, only to discover after a bit of research that it was a fake. But I LOVE these learning experiences! You can read all about my fake Hermes scarf HERE.
Exceptions
- Designer brands like Gucci, Chanel, Dior, and Hermes ($50-200)
39. Hats
As much fun as we may have trying on vintage hats when we come across them in the wild, they don’t sell! Those who do enjoy wearing hats usually prefer new ones. In addition to having been worn by another person, vintage hats often give off a frumpy vibe.
Exceptions
- Fur hats ($20-100)
- Hats suitable for costumes ($15-40 each)
40. Milk Glass
As popular as milk glass has been for decorating, especially for weddings, values remain quite low; especially florist grade pieces, like the one above.
Exceptions
- Colored milk glass ($10-50)
- Antique pieces by certain makers ($25-100 each)
41. Doilies
If you’re like me then you’ve inherited numerous doilies from your mother or grandmother. Can you imagine all the time and skill that went into creating these beautiful, lacy linens? They must be worth a lot of money, right?
Wrong. Home decorators no longer feel it necessary to place a specialized linen underneath every single decorative item. They no longer serve a purpose.
Exceptions
- Exceptional examples with stunning embroidery ($10-25)
Conclusion
So, when you’re out in the big wide world vintage shopping, keep this list in mind. But also keep in mind that there are always exceptions to any “rule” and things do vary from region to region (and country to country).
I also want to point out that specialists, particularly those dealing in the high end of certain items on this list, like dolls and records, would object to being on it! That’s because their superior knowledge and expertise, which jack-of-all-trades dealers don’t always have, allows them to turn a great profit.
As I mentioned previously, when in doubt, whip out your smart phone and check out the sold listings on eBay. Let me know in the comments what item(s) you’d add or remove from the list. I’d love to hear your thoughts.
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Thanks for the GREAT article! I have lots of almost everything that you say not by look for but I’ll either enjoy them or sell them in lots….or use them in craft projects. They all make me smile. 🙂
I hear you Barb–I’ve got quite a few of the items myself. You’ve got great ideas for appreciating them despite their lack of popularity at the moment 🙂 So glad you enjoyed the article!!
Very informative. The mall where I sell has a good market in both records and comic books as there is no competition in the area. The rest of your list is spot on, and I have seen it change. I appreciate your site as it helps keep me up to date on what I should buy. Insulators? Anyone? hahahaha
Thanks for affirming much of the list Mary 🙂 So interesting to hear that records and comic books do well in your shop. There are definitely regional differences!!
Light fixtures made with glass insulators sell well. These are DIY for me, the key is that I have a tool to drill holes in them. It’s not a typical garage workshop tool.
Thanks for sharing the idea with us Susan! I’m a huge fan of utilizing vintage and antiques that are no longer popular in new and interesting ways. Your light fixture sounds like it fits the bill!
Hey Susan, I love making light fixtures and have a box of insulators. Are you using a tile bit to drill the holes in the glass?
We just made bathroom light fixtures with insulators. Love ’em!
Cool!
I do well with hats, especially wide-brim. Pillbox-style hats are harder to move. I live in Kentucky, so people are looking for hats to wear to Churchill Downs (home of the Kentucky Derby, also known as parade of the hats!) or our other popular racetrack, Keeneland. I, however, still sell them to folks who don’t want them for racing events. I also do well with scarves, though it’s in spurts. I specifically look for horse-themed (being in KY, again, factors into that), Vera Neumann, and other signed pieces. Ralph Lauren scarves can also fetch good prices.
Thanks for the insights Mary! It’s definitely true that we have to consider regional differences when “figuring out” what sells well 🙂
Appreciate your time and expertise in writing this article!
Aww, thanks so much Mary Ann!!
Interesting that vinyl albums don’t sell well I’m your area! I would guess that on average, several are sold in our antique mall every day. Usually for $8-12, so when I can pick them up for about $1 I do. Usually 60s to 70s rock & roll. And it’s usually 20 somethings buying.
Yes, agreed. Vinyls are back in vogue and there are stores in my area. I live in Southern California.
Thanks for sharing your experience Diane! It may be worth testing the market for some of us who have been record-averse 🙂
Great to know Diane! My husband and I pick them up for my 20-something daughter 🙂
Agree with everything! I still see interest in milk glass, but I don’t buy it. I don’t understand what the fascination is with old records. I’ve gotten to where I never look at them, but I still see people poring over the stacks. Maybe they want it for themselves. I still sell hats from time to time, but several years ago, people snatched & grabbed no matter the condition! How times have changed.
Thanks for the confirmation Florence! I think you’re right about the records but some other commenters have indicated that they sell well for them–who knew??
Hi Diana, Your article on what not to buy ever is most interesting. I am in Australia where things are generally a bit different but basically the same, if you know what I mean.
When I started up as a dealer, I had the same problems with pricing and a lot of people where I have my stall commented that they thought some items were underpriced. I always priced to make a profit and feel that the old adage about leaving a bit of meat on the bone for a buyer to resell with a bit of profit is a good idea. I paid attention to what I sold and what other people sold and over time I have built up enough confidence to price things where I think they should be and at a price I would buy them for.
I agree with most of the categories you list but when out thrifting, I think you must always keep an open mind. You never know what you will find. If an item catches your eye, if it is unusual, if it looks good, is useful, has a bit of class or is quirky and the price is right, it is well worth considering.
I have bought some items and wondered later why I bought them and then sold them fast. Everything is a gamble so one has to have some checks and balances but nevertheless stay open to possibilities. Trust your gut. Keep exploring and learning and researching. Build your confidence. ps Sorry, this is a long rant.
I agree with everything you said Carolyne! I am a huge proponent of “leaving meat on the bone,” testing the market, and buying up every cool quirky thing you can find, especially if it’s an antique 🙂 Loved your “rant!”
Funny enough, Doilies actually sell for me. I have quite a few people that buy them for crafting (Pinterest). I also sell quite a few vintage table clothes. As for dishes, I have a good amount of people buying vintage Corelle. China and dinnerware does not sell.
So great to hear that doilies are selling well for someone, Carin! Maybe the rest of us should send you ours, LOL 🙂 Good to know about the Corelle, too.
I am finding 95% of this true at every estate sale I attend!! Even on the 75% off day all the beautiful glassware and silver plate and knick knack items just still there and the families have to disperse of it themselves. As usual your article is right on the money ! Thanks for your work. Anita
You are such a sweetheart Anita!! Thank you for all the confirmations and kind words 🙂 🙂
I have noticed that “large and heavy” antique furniture does not sell in our area.
They about have to give it away.
Rock albums sell well.
Yes, I agree on the large and heavy. So great to know about the rock albums!
I’ve been selling on Etsy since 2011 and you are SPOT ON with every single one of these! I was selling Vera Neuman scarves like crazy during the beginning of the Pandemic but that has completely stopped over the past year or so. I do find other Vera pieces sell well.
Loved this article!
Thank you for confirming the list Joann and for the Vera tip 🙂
Good article. I would agree with you on all of these. One exception is I’ve sold quite a few S&P shakers where I had a booth until about a year ago. Where I am now, not so much. It’s a shame about dinnerware and clear glass because I have tons.
I’m glad you agree with most of the list Don 🙂 Good to know about S&P shakers–maybe some of us should give them a try…
I have shared this information on my Facebook page and will further share it with other resellers. Agree on each item. People will cringe when I confess to painting Longaberger baskets in vintage primitive colors to sell. Clear glass is regularly shoved off the shelves in local thrifts. Straight into trash bins. Love the article.
Thanks so much for the shares Donna!! That means a lot 🙂 I have no problem with painting Longabergers, LOL. If you own it, you can do whatever you want to it!
I too, loved that list! I only had one or two, but disagree with the teacups because I recently heard that millenials are into “having tea” like it was in the 90’s. It is a way to be “fancy” without excess amounts of stuff. My sons 22 year old new wife and her friend love it!
I have also been thinking about ways to repurpose things (candles come to mind with clear glass) and even though it goes against every bone in my body, I have sprayed silverplate with chalk paint and am using old plates (not the super pretty ones though) to apply specialized decals.
There is a Canadian by the name of Marie-Claude Marquis who gives a new meaning to antique second-hand plates with witty typographical interventions. And some heavy old antiques are selling on Charish. It is a way for designers to be earth-friendly.
Forgive my wordiness, but loved the info and am always thinking of new ways to repurpose, re-use and recycle cool old stuff!
Thanks for sharing all of your thoughts Wendy! Good to know about teacups and saucers, and I’m a HUGE repurposing fan. Thanks for all the great ideas 🙂
Very interesting and informative! Thanks for sharing your wisdom. It’s a shame about the lack of interest in vintage dishes – I just adore them and can’t seem to pass them up when I come across them! While I do have a few sets I’d like to sell, there are two particular kinds I am obsessed with and collect for my own enjoyment: Luray Pastels and Homer Laughlin Briar Rose. There is no one I have found who is eager to sell what they have at anything but exorbitant prices!!
Always a fan,
Lisa
I hear you about the vintage dishes Lisa–I love them too! I hope you come across some really cheap Luray and Homer Laughlin pieces to add to your collection 🙂 Thanks for being such a sweet fan–
I sell quite a few Vera scarves in my Etsy shop. It helps to describe the color and general pattern, as well as the date of manufacture. Google dating Vera Neumann scarves. “Head wrap/head covering” is a hot description.
As to sewing patterns, I only list Vogue Designer Originals, unless it’s a special style like a cape, and possibly bell bottoms. “Modest wedding dress” is a hot description.
Cordially,
Pat
Thanks for the insights into Vera scarves and Vogue patterns Pat–such great info! BTW, I have a free chart with Vera dating info in my Member Library for anyone who has signed up to get my newsletter.
Great article, Diana! When I find S&P sets, I only buy inexpensive ones–people in New England still seem to collect them–when I price them reasonably. I collect MG for myself and very little to resell. I am stuck with some chalkware–that sells occasionally. You help us all learn. “A smart man (or woman) learns from his mistakes, a wise man learns from the mistakes of others!” Thanx for helping us all to become wise!
It is almost the same in Sweden. But cups can be very expensive when the designer is known.
Good to know Christina! Thanks for sharing your experience 🙂
I’d agree almost 100% with you- I run estate auctions(buy online/pick up locally) I have an aversion to shipping. I had an auction last fall with huge quantities of bells, collector plates, clear glass etc. Most of these-sold in lots-went for less then $1 an item. I was thrilled when that estate was done!
I have found a few exceptions-maybe just a local difference. Tea cups are selling much better for me now and at higher prices than a few years ago. I used to sell at $4.95 now I sell for $10-12. I only sell English/French teacups-those from Japan are not sought after here. My shop’s owner says people are buying them as shower favors. Issues of George magazine-JFK Jr’s periodical-sell well $15+ depending on the issue and milk glass “wedding boxes” sell very well $25+ apiece. Also I agree with Kathy A (I am in CT)on S&P shakers-especially very cute or unusal designs. I buy in auction lots for less than $1 a set and sell in one of my booths for $6-10. I always keep some lower priced “filler” in my booth for those with lower budgets. These filler items sell very quickly and keep people coming back.
Great list. I do sell doilies and salt and pepper shakers fairly well. The only silver plate I can sell are serving utensils, cake/ pie servers, large spoons and meat forks, old sugar spoons, butter knives, ice tea spoons in sets, and pickles forks, for some reason, always sell right away. I’m in western NC. Thanks for the info.
Diana, you are wrong on the insulator hobby, at least for glass (especially unusual colors). Rare or uncommon pieces are currently increasing in value and have been for years now. Common clear or aqua insulators such as the Hemingray 16 on your website will never fetch good sales unless they are priced accordingly.
I have been a serious insulator collector for nearly 50 years and know what I’m talking about. Thanks,
Mike Gay NIA #1428
Thanks for sharing your thoughts Michael. You may not have noticed but I did make an exception for colored insulators. I also gave several caveats for my list in the opening of the article that should help you understand my thinking in developing this list 🙂