With 30 years of reselling under my belt, I’m the go-to guy when friends need a quick appraisal. And over the years I’ve noticed a recurring phenomenon: The vintage items most people consider valuable usually aren’t, and the things they want to toss are often hot collectibles.
Here’s why: Many of us get our idea of what’s valuable from our parents. But markets change, and new collectors have different tastes.
What disregarded treasures are hiding in your home right now? The answers might surprise you. In this series, we’ll explore hot collectibles you might already own.
1. Stiffel lamps
A family-owned company that’s still going strong today, Stiffel Lamp Company was founded in 1932. Since its inception, the company has produced lighting products that last generation after generation. The company’s long history combined with its commitment to quality means that its products hold their value.
You can find the Stiffel mark in two places on original, intact lamps: First, look at the lampshade harp. The Stiffel name is etched into the metal where the finial screws into place to secure the shade. The second mark, an adhesive label, can be found near the lightbulb socket.
The classic forms that Stiffel produces transcend design trends and appeal to millennials as much as they appealed to baby boomers. This Stiffel lamp with blue crackle glaze recently sold on eBay for $375, and this brass four-light floor lamp sold for $595.
2. Cesca chairs by Marcel Breuer
Sometimes, a piece of ground-breaking design quickly filters into homes everywhere — both in its original form and in less expensive knock-offs. Marcel Breuer’s Cesca Chair is one such design phenom.
Born in Hungary in 1902, Breuer studied, and later taught, at the renowned Bauhaus school in Germany. His designs revolutionized the aesthetic of the time by blending new materials and forms to create objects that celebrated industry and technology.
Originally, Breuer’s Cesca chair — a deceptively simple cantilevered chair with tubular chrome legs — was produced by an Italian manufacturer named Gavina. When Knoll acquired Gavina in 1968, it put Breuer’s chair front-and-center, increasing production and making it available to the masses.
Cesca chairs come in many variations. Some have a cane back and seat, some are upholstered in wool, some have arms and some don’t. The manufacturer’s paper label can be found on the underside of the seat and will read “Knoll International.”
Like Stiffel lamps, the Cesca chair has never gone out of style. On eBay, this set of six chairs recently sold for $595. And on Etsy, this single Cesca chair is listed for a $628.78.
3. Halloween cards and decor
We Americans go wild for Halloween. The National Retail Federation estimated that total Halloween spending would reach $12.2 billion in 2023 (up from $10.6 billion in 2022). That’s a lot of candy, costumes and fake blood.
And that splash of cash makes big ripples in the resale market too. Buyers are gobbling up a dwindling stock of vintage postcards, wall decorations, masks — even old trick-or-treat bags. At a yard sale in 2022, I picked up a small booklet of Halloween party ideas from 1929. I paid 25 cents for it and promptly flipped it on eBay for $90.
It might be time to take a second look at that stack of totes in the garage marked “Seasonal.” Recently on eBay, this pair of 1920s-era tin noisemakers sold for a scream-worthy $1,827. If that doesn’t give you goosebumps, this set of cardboard Halloween wall decorations will. They’re listed for $850 on Etsy.
Wallflower power
This month’s assortment of vintage valuables have one thing in common: Few people would give any of them a second look. In the homes they occupy, they’ve faded into the background — utilitarian chairs, beautiful but unassuming lamps, and holiday decorations that are dragged out for a week or two year after year.
For me, the fascinating part of collecting and reselling is the quiet power of time. Decades pass, tastes change (then change again), and supply runs short. One day, you wake up to discover outdated has become retro and you’re surrounded by little treasures everywhere.
Curious about the weird and wonderful world of collectibles? Check out my series on hidden treasures in the secondhand market.