6 Random Thrift Store Items Worth WAY More Than You'd Think
As an antiques and collectibles editor here at Country Living, I've sourced my fair share of secondhand finds and done deep dives into the various miscellany that keeps passionate collectors constantly on the hunt. For some things, like antique beekeeping tools, their patina and provenance makes it easy to see why they warrant multiple dollar signs. But, in my research, I've been tickled to also uncover additional ephemera that is sneakily worth way more money than I ever would have guessed. The next time you hit up a thrift store, flea market, or antique show, keep your eyes peeled for these six pieces, which can bring in top dollar when paired with the right buyer.
Pyrex Butter Dishes
Originally created for industrial use, thermal-resistant Pyrex moved to the kitchen in 1913 when Bessie Littleton asked her husband, a Corning Glass Works scientist, to bring home a piece for her to use for baking. Known for their colorful designs, the brand’s covered butter dishes make for an especially sweet display. Produced in only eight patternways, midcentury pieces in mint condition typically bring in between $40 and $70 apiece, though the exceedingly rare brown ivy leaf Sandalwood dish (not shown) can run up to $500.
Perpetual Calendars
Patented as an automatic wristwatch mechanism by Patek Philippe in 1889, perpetual calendars display a properly paired weekday and date, no matter the year. Manual versions became popular desktop accessories in the early 1900s and are seeing a resurgence today thanks to younger generations’ penchants for flip phones and other analog devices. Stately Edwardian wooden turn knob styles (bottom left) of the era can be worth up to $1,000, while midcentury brass pieces can fetch close to $200.
Fishing Creels
With a concave side that rests on a fisherman’s back and an angled, slotted lid to insert his catches, creels have been documented as far back as the Middle Ages but fell out of everyday use once catch-and-release laws were introduced in the 1950s. Handwoven from split willow and reinforced with leather by Oregon tanneries, these portable baskets often pop up today in lake house decor. Baskets from the 1880s through 1930s can fetch close to $3,000 when associated with known leatherworkers such as A.E. Nelson (top right). Simpler creels from later decades don’t skimp on value, though, and can be worth between $50 and $300 each.
Spirit Levels
Invented in 1661 by French scientist Melchisédech Thévenot, the spirit level uses a bubble suspended in liquid to assure straight lines. (Nonfreezing alcohol was often used instead of water, hence the name.) Produced in an abundance of styles and sizes, vintage levels typically ring up between $5 and $150, depending on age, condition, and whether or not a brand name is discernible. Serious enthusiasts, though, seek out pristine brass-buttressed rosewood levels by Stanley and Stratton Brothers (bottom center) from the late 19th and early 20th centuries, which can be worth well over $1,500.
Ceramic Match Strikers
Also known as pyrogenes, these pretty pieces graced the tables of almost every French bistro around the turn of the 20th century. Filled with matches to light cigarettes—or, occasionally, cigarettes themselves—the graphic pieces featured ridged bases or necks for sparking flames and also served as strategic advertisements for aperitifs and other spirits. Today, they’re a prime find for candle lovers and Francophiles alike, and can be worth up to $400 apiece.
L.L. Bean Tote Bags
2024 marked the 80th birthday of the L.L.Bean Boat and Tote, which was originally created in 1944 and first marketed as a way to transport huge blocks of ice home when errands such as that were necessary. Our editors do a fair share of online vintage shopping, and we've been seeing a serious resurgence of these sea-salted bags from the 1970s and 80s thanks to the trending cottagecore and fisherman aesthetics. Some are selling for as much as $600!
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