25 Surprising “Antiques” That Sell for Good Money
If you’ve been in the antique biz for any length of time then you’ve come to embrace the fact that you learn something new every day. Literally, with an almost endless number of vintage items being bought and sold on the secondary market, we sellers have so much to learn!
In this post I share twenty-five items that surprised me when they sold for [relatively] high prices. In most cases it was the first time I’d come across the item, in others it was a confirmation of the high value I’d gotten in the past.
Keep in mind that “a lot of money” means different things to different folks. My antique biz falls in the low-mid range, so a lot means $35-120 🙂
Table of Contents
Native American Baskets (1)
Butter Pats (2-4)
Antique Ironstone Pots (5)
Restaurant Creamers (6)
Yellowware (7)
Unique Planters (8)
MCM (9-12)
Crewel Wall Art (13)
Safety Glasses (14)
Handwritten Journals (15-16)
Interesting Handmade Items (17)
Average Cutting Boards (18)
Linens (19)
Flags (20)
Perfume (21-23)
Specific Types of Christmas Decorations (24-25)
1. Native American Baskets
I’ve been selling [Easter Woodlands] Native American baskets on eBay for a couple of years now. It’s a fairly specific collectible with a narrower group of collectors so the large audience found on eBay makes it the smart place to sell them.
This ash splint basket with a wrapped rim and red-stained reeds sold on eBay in 2022 for $64. It measures 7″ high x 6.5″ in diameter and is signed “Dephine Cloud” on the base.
And a miniature Choctaw plaited basket sold for $54 on eBay in 2025.
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2-4. Butter Pats
Antique lovers without much space find butter pats an excellent collectible since they are quite small, usually around 3″ in diameter.
This lovely pair of transferware pats, signed T.R. & L. Booth sold on Etsy in 2022 for $32.
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This pretty flow blue example with no maker’s mark sold on Etsy in 2025 for $22.
And two sets of three German ironstone pats (for a total of six) sold on Etsy in 2025 for $74.
I’ve been selling ironstone butter pats in sets of three for $32 for quite some time now. The first set knocked my socks off since I had only been getting $4-6 for individual ones from my antique booth.
I discovered how well small ironstone pieces sell on Etsy for good prices a few years ago. I described the results of this ironstone experiment HERE (back in 2021).
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5. Antique Ironstone Pots
Collectors simply love ironstone pots like this French example with amazing typography, even with bad damage. The base, which advertises La Reine des Cremes (The Queen of Cremes) made by Bossard-Lemaire in Paris, France. It won an award in 1888.
It also reads: “The only one without rival for maintaining skin in a perpetual state of youth and beauty.” It sold on Etsy in 2023 for $57.79. The buyer used a 15% off coupon that I have automatically sent to those who put an item in their cart but don’t purchase right away.
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6. Restaurantware Pitcher
Restaurantware is the natural result of industry improvements made to American ironstone (largely by the Hall pottery) . Developed in the 1930’s and 40’s, it became widely used in the late 40’s through the 1970’s. Because it’s nearly indestructable, restaurants, train companies, and hotels made regular use of it.
Some examples, like this small 5″ pitcher have a charm all their own, sometimes with pretty designs and always a glossy finish. Its curves are gentle and the weight of the pieces feels great in your hand. This one sold on Etsy for $23. From my booth I would expect to get just $8-10 for it.
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7. Yellowware
While sales of yellowware has slowed down recently, I’ve been experimenting with selling pieces on eBay. This pair of custards with the cute floral design and white stripes sold on eBay in 2024 for $75.
Related Articles:
- Yellowware Guide
- Yellowware Price Guide (get access to the Member Library when you SUBSCRIBE to my weekly newsletter)
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8. Unique Planters
I picked up these two 3-foot long beauties at a garage sale for just $5. Crazy right?!! They sold fairly quickly from the porch at the antique mall where I have a booth for $90 for the pair.
I had planned to price them at $50 but the owner of the mall at the time recommended $100 given their spectacular size and detail. I’m so glad I did and then took the $90 offer.
Related Article:
- How to Start Selling From an Antique Booth
- Antique Booth Business Tips & Forms (get access to the Member Library when you SUBSCRIBE to my weekly newsletter)
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9. MCM Jewelry
I dabble in MCM collectibles because I’m attracted to the cool designs. I sell most pieces on Etsy and eBay since MCM tends not to sell well from my primarily farmhouse antique booth. This pretty faux tortoise (plastic!) pendant necklace sold on Etsy in April 2025 for $45.
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10. MCM Catherineholm
I love Mid-Century Modern (MCM) decorative items like these enamel bowls by renowned designer Catherineholm. This set of aqua bowls in the lotus pattern sold on eBay for $102 in 2019.
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11. MCM Record Cases
The story is much the same for this amazing psychedelic record case that I picked up at a Salvatioin Army. Labeled “Platter-Pak” and likely made in the 1960’s, it sold on eBay in 2021 for $100.
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12. MCM Barware
I squeeled with delight when I came across this Lucite ice bucket shaped like an ice cube in my favorite Ithaca (NY) thrift store: Ithaca ReUse Center. With its ice cube knob and ice tong handle it couldn’t be anymore fun.
For whatever reason, at the time I decided to sell it on Facebook Marketplace, where a happy customer paid $75.
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13. Crewel Wall Art
I picked up this large, crewel-work wall art, dating to the 1970’s, in western PA for a song. I’d seen other sellers claiming to make good money off pieces like this, but I hadn’t experienced it for myself, yet.
I thought this piece with the pretty hot air balloons sailing across a blue sky would make a good first attempt. It sold from my antique booth for $35 in early 2025.
Related Article
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14. Safety Glasses
I’ve sold safety glass similar to these in the past on Etsy for about $25. What surprised me about this pair was that the brand (American Optical, A0) and model (Flex Fit) made them quite a bit more valuable. They sold for $43 on Etsy in June 2025.
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15. Occupational Journals
When I first bought this 1950’s era journal, kept by and obstetrician, I listed it on Etsy. However, after listing it for a total of 8 months without a sale, I decided to list it on eBay, where it sold for $54 in 2024. This is the first, but hopefully not the last, experience selling occupational journals like this one.
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16. Handwritten Recipe Journals
I discovered a couple of years ago how sought after antique, handwritten recipe journals are, but I’m still surprised at the prices they can achieve. This 1940’s example sold on Etsy in 2024 for $43.
Related Article
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17. Interesting Handmade Items
Every now and again I come across an interesting item that I can imagine a possible reuse for. In the case of this handmade, small animal carrier, I could envision it being used as a greenhouse. Do you see it too? It sold from my antique booth in 2023 for $61.
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18. Average Cutting Boards
Cutting boards, like this one, remain popular with farmhouse style collectors and decorators. When leaned against a wall, their patina and wonderful shapes make a great backdrop for other collectibles. I sell larger, older examples on Etsy and smaller, newer ones from my antique booth.
This 6.5″ x 13.5 board fell more into the latter, smaller and newer category, but it had a nice shape and patina, so I decided to give it a try on Etsy. I’m so glad I did because in 2024 it sold for $38! From my booth it would only have sold for much less, somewhere between $18-25.
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19. Linens
Years ago vintage and antique linens stopped selling well from my antique booth. I know other sellers in different parts of the country haven’t experienced this trend, but unfortunately I have. Unfortunate because I love old linens!
In 2022 I decided to give them a try on Etsy, and I’m so glad I did! I’ve been selling them steadily, including this set of 10 napkins that sold in March 2025 for $42.
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20. Flags
Over the years I’ve discovered that flags, like this one, sell well on eBay. In fact, I once sold one to someone in Spain for a great deal of money.
You can often pick them up at garage and estate sale for less than $5. This nicely aged one, made by the Valley Forge Flag Co. (5 x 9′), sold on eBay in 2024 for $89.
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21 – 23 Perfume
I sell perfume and perfume-related merchandise on both Etsy and eBay. How to explain which bottles I decide to sell on which platform is hard to explain.
I will say this, the more obscure the perfume (like Bain D’Or below) I typically list on eBay, which has a much larger audience than Etsy. I also sell newer perfumes there as well.
If a perfume fails to sell on one platform, I typically relist for sale on the other and in most cases, it sells successfully.
At a townwide garage sale, not too long ago, I came across a galvanized tub filled with bottles of this Bain D’Or bath oil for 50 cents each. Boy do I kick myself now for not scooping up each and every one.
Turns out this rare, discontinued product has some followers. One of them paid $113 on eBay in 2022 for the two that I did (thankfully) pick up.
Believe it or not, last year I scavenged a small crate of perfume from the side of the road. Inside I found several worth selling, including this bottle of Burberry, which sold for $55 on Etsy.
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Just in case you aren’t convinced that people will buy vintage perfume, used or new-old-stock (NOS), this 2 oz. bottle of Oleander by the Lili Bermuda Perfumery sold on Etsy for $79 in 2024.
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24-25. Christmas Decorations
Not too long ago, I decided to buy a Santa figure like this one because I thought it had a vintage vibe and would look great on a table or tree top. It’s mounted on a cone of plastic sheeting so I know it’s meant for a tree top.
Since it only cost a dollar, I was willing to put in a little effort to see if one of these 1980’s Santa’s would sell on Etsy, and it did! This one sold for a whopping $38 last year.
Since my experiment with selling these began in 1922, I’ve sold a total of five. I always buy them when I see them for $5 or less.
Related Articles:
- Christmas Decoration Collecting Guide
- Christmas Decoration Price Guide
- 30 Christmas Decoration DIY Projects to Make & Sell
25. Christmas Decorations
I tend to avoid putting newer items in my antique booth, but I thought this metal deer candelabra was handsomely rustic. What do you think?
In any event, I decided to give it a try in my booth and happily, it sold quickly for $79 last year.
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Other Articles I Think You’ll Love
Conclusion
Did any of these items and their selling prices surprise you?
I highly recommend taking chances and selling new-to-you vintage and antiques when you come across them for reasonable prices. We sellers should be continually testing the market in this way in order to grow our businesses and make more money!
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I’d be so happy if you’d pin this image to your favorite Pinterest board!!
Just recently returned to selling antiques and I’m finding the marketplace to be slightly different. Knowing where to begin, developing a following, and learning what sells where is quite the undertaking.
My friend recommended following you and this article again confirms I can learn and affirms my ideas are not off base. I have a tendency to venture into the unusual and I love mid-century (it’s a nostalgic thing) so thanks for sharing your knowledge with us all! (The butter pats are my favorite subject; I adore them and want them to be cherished by others too.) – LoriKay
I’m so glad this article affirmed your instincts LoriKay. So glad you discovered my website and have found it helpful 🙂