What’s HOT in Etsy Vintage Shops [2024]
Etsy has created a very popular marketplace for vintage and antiques. For years I’ve recommended antique sellers take advantage of the massive following this platform has. But as with other sales venues, like antique booths and eBay, it can be tricky to establish what sells best there.
Today I’m going to share specifics about six categories of items that shoppers can’t get enough of from my Etsy shop in 2024. These include ironstone, flower frogs, textiles, Christmas decorations, handwritten recipe books, and crocks.
Dive into this exploration of what’s hot in Etsy vintage shops right now, and discover why these delightful finds are winning hearts and homes around the country.
If you’re planning to open an Etsy shop, use this link to get your first 40 listings for FREE! (I get 40 free as well!)
Table of Contents
Ironstone
Flower Frogs
Textiles
Christmas
Handwritten Recipe Books & Cards
Stoneware Crocks With Text
1. Ironstone
Nothing says “farmhouse style” like white ironstone. Large collections of this antique ceramic are impressive, and it blends in perfectly with both neutral and more colorful decorating styles.
At the moment, ironstone realizes much higher prices (2-4X) on Etsy than from my antique booth, where it would take six months to a year to sell. This has been true for about three years now, particularly with smaller items like butter pats and creamers.
This c. late-1800’s English creamer by T. Goodfellow pottery (with a couple of small chips) sold on Etsy for $28.
This c. early-1900’s American creamer, marked “International Royal China”, sold for $32. I’ve found that at the moment Etsy buyers love the all-over crazing and browning like you see on this piece.
Be sure to check out my ironstone collecting guide, which details how to tell the difference between English and American ironstone.
I listed two sets of these c.1870’s ironstone butter pats by the J & G Meakin pottery, and each set of three sold for $37 within a couple of days. I can’t keep them in stock; they sell that quickly!
The Wm. Adams & Sons pottery manufactured this lovely milk pitcher, with embossed floral decoration, in the early 1900’s. It sold for the offered price of $50–down from $58.
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2. Flower Frogs
Small and therefore easy to collect, flower frogs have maintained their popularity for many years. What I’ve discovered, however, is that they sell both quicker and for higher amounts (2X) on Etsy.
I’ve written about them extensively (links below) and have an intensive flower frog video on YouTube.
Green cage-type flower frogs sell quite easily, as did this chippy green example ($22).
It didn’t take long for this c.1920 turquoise green frog by Cowan to sell for $24.
Before selling on Etsy, I gave this somewhat garish frog (c.1960’s) featuring an Asian figure on a turtle from my antique booth. After it failed to sell there, it sold for $19 on Etsy.
PRO TIP: In my experience, more common pin-type and clear glass flower frogs are not as popular on Etsy so I sell them from my antique booth in the $8-10 range.
Related Articles
- Flower Frog Collecting Guide
- Decorating With Flower Frogs
- Flower Frog Price Guide in Member Library (subscribe to get access)
3. Textiles
Back in the day, 25-30 years ago, I sold a lot of linens and other textiles from my antique booth. As sales began to dry up in my neck of the woods, I stopped buying them altogether.
A little less than two years ago, I came across some perfect condition doilies with beautiful embroidery and decided to give them a go on Etsy. And they sold! Ever since, I’ve had very good success selling them on this platform.
PRO TIP: I only deal with perfect or near-perfect examples. The world abounds in stained, ripped, and browned linens. No one (except perhaps crafters) wants them.
I make an exception for new-old-stock (NOS) browned pieces which often have browning on the fold lines and/or around the edges.
This new-old-stock (NOS) set of ten + one linen napkins sold for $42. I find that odd numbers of things sell poorly so I’ll market them at the even number but throw in the odd one as a bonus.
I typically frame vintage cross stitch samplers like this one but since that’s kind of a pain, I decided to give this example a try on Etsy. It sold quickly for $13.
I priced it low because of the hole and staining in the lower left corner, which would be covered when framed. I’m anxious to list other samplers now that this one has sold.
More new-old-stock (NOS)! I picked up three pair of these lovely linen kitchen towels: still tagged “Made in Moravia, Czecholslovakia”. Two pair have sold for $23 each.
Old feed sack fabric like the scraps you see above sell like hot cakes for me. This includes any that have been pieced together or that involve applied feed sack decoration. These scraps (24″ x 24″ or smaller) sold for $22.
Related Articles
- Cross Stitch Sampler Collecting Guide
- Feedsack Fabric Guide
- Vera Neumann Textile Guide
- Vera Neumann Cheat Sheet for Dating Marks in Member Library (subscribe to get access)
4. Christmas
While vintage Christmas decorations sell well for me from both my antique booth AND on Etsy, I find that certain items, like those below sell for much more on Etsy.
Who knew that these c.1980’s & 90’s Santa tree toppers would sell so well on Etsy? Something this new probably wouldn’t sell at all from my booth.
I’ve been selling these before Christmas for three years now with great success. This handsome 13″ example sold for $38.
PRO TIP: Focus on Santas and Father Christmases that have winsome faces. Porcelain ones are even better.
Imagine my delight when I opened this box at the flea market! This gorgeous (excellent condition) brick Putz house in its original box sold for $44. Plug it in and it lights up!
While less exciting, this Putz church sold for $27. I’ve found that in general Putz houses sell on Etsy for about two times what they’d sell for from my booth.
Selling Christmas tree pins on Etsy is a no-brainer for me since they sell for two to three times booth prices.
The pin on the left with rhinestones sold for $19, while the tree on the right, with enamel painted ornaments and pearl star (signed “Gerrys”) sold for $22.
Related Articles
- Vintage Christmas Decoration Collecting Guide
- Christmas Decoration Price Guide
- Christmas Tree Pin Collecting Guide
- 30+ Christmas Crafts to Make & Sell (proven sellers!)
- Comprehensive Christmas Decoration Price Guide (60+ p. PDF)
5. Handwritten Recipes
Two years ago I learned how greatly sought after handwritten recipe books are on Etsy. Shortly thereafter, I discovered that handwritten (and even typed) recipe cards are likewise sought after.
Because I was hesitant to offer a fragile document (like the one below) from my antique booth, where customers would flip through the pages and possible damage them or lose the loose recipes within, I decided to try one out on Etsy.
To my delight it sold for a very good price!
This 1940’s example with multiple handwritten recipes, as well as several clippings glued in and/or loose, sold for $42.
I pick them up whenever I come across them out in the wild because they are a slam-dunk seller.
More recently I’ve discovered that vintage recipe boxes filled with handwritten and other cards, like this wooden one dating to the 1950’s, also sell well on Etsy. It sold for $29.
Even this newer, acrylic box containing handwritten and typed cards sold (quickly) for $50.
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6. Stoneware Crocks With Text
As a farmhouse style seller (from my antique booth) numerous crocks have passed through my hands. Lately though, I’ve noticed that they sit for quite a while before selling.
Because of this, I decided to give them a try on Etsy, and boy, I’m glad I did!
I picked up this good-looking fruit crock at a antique mall in Pennsylvania. In nearly perfect condition save a chip on the lid, it sold for $78 (c.1880-90).
A little newer than the previous crock, this yellowware dairy (probably butter) crock likely dates to the 1930’s. It sold for $42.
Lastly, this charming stoneware/ironstone pot that once held face cream, sold for $58 despite the poor condition of its lid.
Related Articles
- Antique Dundee Marmalade Crock Collecting Guide
- Vintage Cheese Crock Collecting Guide
- Antique Blue & White Stoneware
Other Articles You’ll Enjoy
Conclusion
It can take some time for newer Etsy sellers to discover what sells well and what doesn’t. That’s why I decided to illuminate some of the categories that have sold well for me lately. I hope you find this list of six helpful to you and your business.
If you haven’t opened an Etsy shop yet, but are planning to, use this link to get your first 40 listings for FREE! (I get 40 free as well!)
Let me know in the comments if you have also found success selling one or more of these. And feel free to let us know what category(ies) you would add!
Bye for now,
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Hi Diana. I find all your articles and YouTube reels so interesting and informative. Thank you for all of them! I’m not a dealer but lover of all things antique/vintage. Please tell us how to find your Etsy shop-I would enjoy shopping there! Have a lovely day. Sandal
You are such a sweetie Sandal! I’m so glad you’re getting enjoyment out of my resources. You can visit my Etsy shop HERE.
Another great informative article. Thank you so much for all the research and time you put into these for us. I feel so much more knowledgable than I did before I found your site! Have a Happy 4th of July!
Aww–you’re the sweetest Kathy, and you’re very welcome. Hope your 4th is shiny & bright!
I struggle to find ironstone out here in California, even though I attend flea markets and estate sales multiple times a month. I can remember years ago when my sister and I would pick it up for a song!
I’m going to try some recipe card boxes and some cookbooks in my booth. I’m envisioning a section with those as well as an old mixer and some vintage baking tools.
I always enjoy your articles and your YouTube videos, Diana. Thank you so much for the great information.
You are so welcome Paula! Glad I helped you form some new ideas for your booth–best of luck–
I greatly enjoy your newsletters and postings, and often find myself referring back to as a reference. I was wondering … you mention stoneware/crockery with lettering. I have several (thanks to my “Lowellian” mother, crocks from late 1800’s- early 1900’s with specific Lowell, Mass places of business. My question is, how might I go about assessing value?
I’m so glad you’re finding my resources helpful Vanessa! This article I wrote a couple of years ago will give you some ideas on how to go about assessing value. Best of luck!