Is Vintage Barware Still In? [A Barware Guide]

From MCM cocktail shakers to beautiful glassware and adorable swizzle sticks, vintage barware puts the “fun” in functional!

Whether you’re a fan of classic cocktails or simply appreciate the beauty of well-made objects, exploring the world of vintage barware promises a journey into an enjoyable (and valuable!) collectible.

To answer the question, Is vintage barware still in? I must give a resounding Yes! Not only does it sell like crazy on eBay, but the desire for attractive glasses, ice buckets, and drink shakers will never go out of style.

Enjoy this vintage barware guide, perhaps with a cocktail or glass of wine in hand!

Is vintage barware still in? Yes! And here's a Barware Guide

Table of Contents

Background
Glassware
Decanters
Ice Buckets
Cocktail Pitchers
Shakers
Tools

Personal Experience

My parents bought the local liquor store in my small Upstate New York town when I was 12. From that point on, alcohol became an intrical part of our lives. Not only did we have it in our home, but once I turned 18 (the drinking age back then), I began to work in the shop.

Our supply at home was kept in a handsome oak refigerator that my father had refinished. It held wine, whiskey, and an assortment of glassware. It looked very much like this. It’s the sort of piece one dreams of!

While my sweet husband and I are not big drinkers ourselves, we do enjoy a glass of wine with dinner or a gin and tonic out on the deck. And I certainly appreciate both fine and fun barware, both to use and to sell. Let’s dive in, shall we?

Background

As we learned from television shows like Mad Men, the 1950’s and 60’s are remembered for alcohol consumption.

Drinking at work, often the norm, began one’s day, and then drinks at home or at a cocktail party ended it.

The accessories for this lifestyle reflect the trends of the time ranging from bright and colorful to sleek and sophisticated.

Glassware

Can’t have drinks without glasses, right? Here are just a few that I’ve picked up over the years.

Vintage MCM cocktail glasses with gold leaves

This type of shorter glass has many names: rocks, old fashioned, lowball, etc. This attractive MCM set of six, nicely decorated with gold and white leaves, is valued at $45-55.

Vintage Libbey Gray smoke optic swirl wine glasses

I love a smokey glass! This set of six gray smoke wine glasses by Libbey, date to the 1970’s. Value: $25-35

vintage etched glass tumblers

I picked this set of tumblers up recently for our personal use (for the moment anyway!) since I aim to add more pieces to our current collection. These etched and footed examples in clear glass are valued at $20-25.

Decanters

If you really want to up your barware game, then I suggest picking up a decanter or two.

Gorgeous waterford chrystal decanter

My dear aunt gifted us this gorgeous Waterford crystal decanter when we married back in 1995. That makes it vintage right?!! Value: $75-125

Vintage glass decanter with swirl pattern

This clear glass decanter with attractive swirl pattern could yeild $15-20.

Ice Buckets

MCM ice cube shaped lucite ice bucket

When I cam across this ice cube shaped ice bucket at a thrift store I laughed out loud, and then I quickly placed it in my cart(!).

I identified it right away as something special: a Lucite ice cube with ice tong handle, worth $75-95.

Vintage lucite ice bucket with handles

Not nearly as valuable as the previous Lucite example, this simpler bucket nonetheless has charm of its own with its wonderful cylindrical handles. Value: $20-25

Vintage American Fostoria ice bucket

You may recognize this pattern as Fostoria’s American; it was all the rage mid-century. Now-a-days you can pick up common pieces like plates and bowls for a pittance, but others like cake stands and punch bowls have retained some value.

Here you see one version of their ice bucket: round with a chrome handle. Value: $30-40

vintage italian hammered aluminum ice bucket

Hammered aluminum objects don’t hold much interest for today’s collectors, but because of the ongoing love for barware, this hammered ice bucket (made in Italy) would likely garner about $25-30.

I always say, if you love the stuff, buy it! Enjoy it! Have fun buying at reduced prices.

vintage silver plated champagne bucket

Lastly, we have a silver plated champagne bucket, which makes any celebration that much more festive. Value: $30-60

Cocktail Pitchers

Not all cocktails are meant to be shaken, some are meant to be stirred.

vintage hobnailed drink mixer

This elegant cocktail pitcher with matching glass stirrer would add sophistication to any bar. Value: $25-35

MCM vintage drink mixer with black and gold decoration

This MCM example, missing its stirrer, has interesting black and gold decoration and a very small pouring lip (left). Value: $20-25

Tall st. germain drink mixer

This stately cocktail pitcher is still available on the St. Germain website. On the secondary market expect it to go for $12-18.

Shakers

Hazel Atlas MCM Drink Shaker with Recipes 32 oz

A favorite of drink shaker aficionados, this colorful MCM example by Hazel Atlas easily brings $20-30. Holding 32 oz., the drink recipes on its sides makes for easy beverage prep.

MCM 32 oz Drink Shaker with recipes in red

Here we have another shaker, not so colorful as the previous, but with recipes adorning its outside as well. Value: $25-35.

1940's etched glass 32 oz drink shaker

Moving in a more elegant direction, this etched glass shaker, also 32 oz., dates to about the 1940’s or 50’s. Value: $30-50.

1970's vintage green plastic drink shaker

And finally, moving in the opposite direction, an olive green shaker in plastic from the 1970’s worth about $10-12.

Tools

When almost anything in life grows in popularity, all kinds of related tools and gadgets rise up to make that passtime more pleasurable. Establishing a cocktail/wine bar is no different!

Swizzle Sticks

Probably the most joyful element of ones bar, swizzle sticks come in all sorts of fun shapes.

Set of dophin glass swizzle sticks

Glass dolphins promise to add delight to any drink. This set of eight swizzle sticks would likely bring $20-25.

Set of plastic whistle swizzle sticks

These plastic swizzle sticks featuring working whistles were a surprise when I came upon them at a thrift store. Researching them I found them in abundance. Value: $12-18

package of plastic swizzle sticks with whistles

Here’s how they would have been found back in the 1950’s in their plastic packaging. Value: $25-30

Plastic lobster and colorful glass swizzle sticks

The (plastic) lobster swizzles come from a famous local restaraunt (that closed recently): Jack’s Oyster house. Figural sticks like these are definitely fun. Value for each: $1-2

Those on the right are newer glass examples. Value for each: $2-3

Black Velvet & Canadian Mist plastic swizzle sticks

These branded sticks–Black Velvet and Canadian Mist–would have been gifted by distributors to bars with the intent that they be used in drinks served with this alcohol. Value for 8: $1-2

Openers

I recommend picking up interesting openers whenever you come across them as they are pretty highly collectible. I think of them as “man cave” collectibles and men aren’t typically shy about spending on their interests.

Four drink openers: Molsen, horse, MCM, Tiki
  • Molsen opener: $15-20
  • Horse opener: $12-15
  • MCM wooden opener: $10-12
  • Wooden Tiki opener: $12-18
Collection of metal drink can openers

I have to admit, I don’t know much about these standard metal openers. I would imagine that the the etched name of the manufacturer and/or advertiser makes the difference(?).

In any event, I don’t typically pick them up unless super cheap. (These were bagged together for a dollar.) My thinking is they are each worth $1-2.

Misc

three drink jiggers with red/orange info

Jiggers (for measuring alcohol) take the guesswork out of mixing cocktails. These colorful examples would sell for $3-4 each.

Colorful drink sippers NOS NIB

These cute drink sippers could easily be used as swizzle sticks, right? Value NIB: $18-25

Vintage drink stirring spoons

I’m loving all three of these vintage bar spoons with twisted handles. The top version is of course the most practical with a jigger on the end of it’s handle. Each are valued at $8-12.

MCM drink stirring spoon and cork screw with wooden handles

Here’s another bar spoon, though shorter and with a wooden handle, along with a wooden-handled cork screw, both dating to the mid-century. Value for each: $5-8

Vintage ornate ice tongs

What’s an ice bucket with some ice tongs? These ornate tongs are worth $12-15.

NOTE: Diane, in the comments below suggests that these are in fact Victorian coal tongs. Using them to pick up ice is certainly a great “upcycle” since coal is no longer in common usage.

Vintage Mr. Bartender drink pourer set

This interesting boxed set of drink pourers branded Mr. Bartender sell individually on eBay for about $15-20 each. This set of five along with a jiggered pourer (bottom) would likely sell on eBay for $35-45.

Set of barware accessories: salt & pepper shakers, corkscrew, bottle opener

This unusual mid-century set of pipe-shaped bar tools serves also as salt & pepper shakers. Value: $20-25

Antique enamel alcohol labels: bourbon, gin, rye

This set of three lovely decanter labels is a favorite find of mine. Made of enameled metal with pretty floral design they date to the early 1900’s. The trio is worth $40-60.

Where to Sell Vintage Barware

If you sell in an antique mall, I recommend giving vintage barware a try there first. Since sales vary widely from state to state and even region to region, it makes sense to see how these items do in your booth.

If you find barware to be slow selling from your booth, I definitely recommend going with eBay as your next sales venue. Looking at ebay sold listings prior to listing your own will show you how well barware does and at what price point.

If you sell on Etsy alone, don’t dispair, barware sells well there as well, though I do think it sells faster on eBay. Please, let me know in the comments if you have experience selling barware on any of these platforms.

Conclusion

Did you enjoy this collection of vintage (and occasional antique) barware? I do think, as I mentioned, that it’s a very fun category to both collect or sell. What do you think?

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Is vintage barware still in? Yes! Here's a barware Guide

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8 Comments

  1. Lots of great info, Diana. I have to admit I just bought 2 plastic swizzle sticks with lobsters on the ends with the intentions of making 2 lobster dinners for the dollhouse people! These lobsters would probably be 3 pounders!

    1. Ha! I bet you come across them regularly living in Maine, Kathy. They are definitely perfect for your dollhouses!

      1. Hi Diana,
        Thank you for sharing! I always learn something new from your interesting blog posts. I sell a lot of barware at vintage markets. I have a display piece that I dedicate to barware displays and the men always shop from there. The most popular sellers are glass decanters, MCM trays, lowball glasses and unique pieces like stemless champagne toasting glasses. Thanks for all you do!
        Cheers!
        Patti

        1. Yay, that makes me so happy to hear that you enjoy my blog posts Patti! Thanks for the insights regarding barware that sells well for you–good to know-

  2. Hello, The Ornate “ice tongs” appear to be Victorian parlor stove coal tongs. I had a similar tong that I used in my basement pot belly stove. The extra details along the sides are heat sinks to keep the handle cool. It probably was from a set with a matching small shovel.

  3. Thanks for a great article. I sell exclusively on Etsy and have sold a ton of vintage barware… most from the 50’s, 60’s and 70’s – since that era is my shop specialty. I get very good prices but it has dropped off a bit in the last few years. Champagnes and Coupes are still popular, especially if you can get really good photos of the beautiful cut designs 🙂

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