20 Antiques to Sell in 2020

Antiques are a considerably good investment. The challenge, though with them, is the fluctuating trends due to evolving tastes. Meaning you’ll need to constantly keep an eye on what’s on-demand and what isn’t. 

Interestingly, every new decade brings out people’s nesting instincts as they look to spruce up their living spaces. 

This year, the trend has been intensified by the pandemic, with restrictions requiring people to shelter in their homes. Home improvement and gardening accessories are, therefore, currently a hot item.

This factual piece features the most popular antiques of the year. You can also find out how antiques are valued by checking out this article.

What antiques are selling in 2020

Antiques from the roaring 1920s are a hot trend. It’s predicted that tastes in antiques will change this year onwards. Millennials’ desire to own unusual, one-off, and privately-commissioned pieces is bringing a resurgence in traditional antiques. Art deco furniture, home accessories, and silverware are selling fast this year.

20 most on demand antiques in 2020

Previously, an antique was classified as an item over 100 years old. However, fashion, home decor, and design styles evolved, interest in antiques somehow waned.

In 2009, the Winter Show, a high-end New York antique fair, relaxed their rules to include (antiques) as objects manufactured up to 1969, adjusting to incorporate the fashion for mid-century furniture. Later, in 2016, they set no minimum age limit because mass-produced cheaper contemporary imitated designs were more in demand.

1. Art deco accessories

Art deco is a style that became ubiquitous during the 1920s and 1930s. It’s characterized by bold colors, geometric patterns, rich metallic looks, and it’s all about glamour, elegance, luxury, and excitement. 

Some of its elements are:

• Art Deco clocks are small wall and desk clocks that reached peak popularity in the 1930s and ’40s. Most cost under $50, but higher value models by Westclox and Telechron can reach nearly $1,000 in value. 

• Sunburst mirrors are highly sought after by minimalists and over the top interior decorators. They’ve been around since the 1920s and will possibly continue growing in value. They’re made using quality materials and intensive labor that adds time-consuming details that can hardly be found in commercially produced ones. Typical prices range between $ 800 – $2000.

• French furniture 

This furniture was produced in the 18th century in French smaller cities and the countryside.

The Parisian monarchy and court commissioned hundreds of luxurious and elaborate pieces and imposed the Rococo style, also known as Louis XV, and later Louis XVI. Today, these are the styles commonly associated with French furniture history.

To check its authenticity, look for: 

• Dovetailing quality craftsmanship in woodworking, used to hold together different parts of the same piece of furniture. Dovetail joints have been employed in furniture for centuries but be wary if the lines and edges are perfectly straight as this could mean a reproduction. 

• An authentic piece is made with different pieces of wood, especially in places not visible to the eye. If the wood is the same as the rest of the piece, it’s probably a reproduction.

• Watch out for pieces that have been made to look old as opposed to being old.

• Search for labels, stamps, or manufacturing tags that can tell when and where a piece was made. Furniture companies and makers often listed their names, locations, and year of production.

Authentic furniture can be worth thousands of dollars or even more if it’s 100% original.

2. Art glass 

Glassware from the late 19th century to mid 20th century is considered the best of glassmaking hence one of the most popular eras to collect in the market.

Art glass is the result of innovative work by glassmakers who experimented with new techniques and designs at the turn of the 20th century. Their artistry gave way to an assortment of handmade objects like vases, bowls, bottles, paperweights, and even marbles.

Some of the most notable art glass comes from Louis Comfort Tiffany’s award-winning and famous line of “Favrile” iridescent glassware. Pieces from this top-shelf company often go for thousands of dollars on the market.

Art glass collectors also favor works from Steuben Glass Works, which featured colors like gold, brown, red, and green in their iridescent glass. Durand vases, in particular, are famous for their “King Tut” pattern of coiled glass that ranges in price from $2,000 to $3,000.

3. Vinyl records

If you thought to use vinyls as placemats or decor, hold that thought. They’re riding high, and you’re probably holding onto some of these valuable stocks.

Factors that determine value are:

• The record’s age: Age plays a role in a record’s value, but it’s not a key determinant.

• Artist – A famous artist will guarantee its value.

• Rarity of record – The harder it is to find, the more sought after it will be.

• Is it sealed? – If it’s never been played or unsealed from its original jacket, the value ostensibly goes up, all factors withstanding.

• Has it been autographed? – If it’s signed and you can prove authenticity, you’re onto something.

• Label’s matter – The label that’s on the record itself is a big deal.  

• Condition – This is possibly the most important factor in determining a record’s value. Collectors are looking for records in the best possible condition, with little to no wear and tear. The best ones are in mint condition, with no scratches, and have the original pristine jackets.

Examples of high-value vinyls are: 

• The Doors – Morrison Hotel’s original pressings are worth $1100 
• Miles Davis – Kind of Blue mint copies valued at $1500
• Del Shannon’s Runaway With album is about $2000

4. Tools

From planes and saws to levels and hand drills, antique hand tools are a source of pride for core collectors. Depending on the condition of the tool and its type, a good tool can be worth a few hundred to almost $3,000. 

If you’ve got any of these or any other in good condition, there’s a market for functionality or decor accessories that will quickly lap them up.

Source for information on the possible value of your antique tools from a well-respected antique tool price guide. Another unique resource is Union Hill Antique Tools: Union Hill is a site dedicated to antique tools and collectors. They have articles on specific tools as well as information on buying. 

5. Toys

Toys are a constant antique collectors favorite.

Why?

People are heavily vested in the toys of their youth, and they continue to increase in value. Toys, particularly from 1960 to 1990s, are more in demand. See examples below of high-value old toys.

• Beanie babies According to an eBay buying guide, some of the most profitable beanie babies include Peanut the Royal Blue Elephant ($1,500-$5,000), the Victorian-style Old Face Teddy Bear ($2,000), and Chef Robuchon ($7,353.51), a bear dressed like the Michelin-starred French chef Joël Robuchon. That said, most of them aren’t worth a lot.

• Super soakers toy pistol The mighty Monster XL can sell for between $150 – $250, for example, while the classic Super Soaker 50 is worth around $35 – $60

• LEGO, complete sets are worth a lot of money. Some of the Star Wars Lego sets can sell for thousands, such as the Ultimate Collector’s Millennium Falcon, which has previously sold for $4522 (originally bought for $407).

• The Taj Mahal set could also get you over $1190, while the Cafe Corner is apparently worth over $2380.

6. First edition books

Napoleon Hills’ complete set of “The Law of Success” on eBay could be worth $1,550,000. First editions are sought-after by book collectors. Furthermore, a first edition signed by the author will have even greater value. To determine their value check a site like Biblio.

A first edition of Bridget Jones’s Diary could be worth $375, with a signed copy potentially sells for as much as $660.

Irvine Welsh’s gritty modern novel filled with heroin addiction, crime, and poverty in Scotland is a cult classic, helped by its hugely successful film adaptation directed by Danny Boyle. A first edition uncorrected proof copy featuring Welsh’s signature can currently fetch up to $3,500.

Geroge Orwell’s Animal Farm in superb condition, and first edition is worth $12,500.

Here’s a piece on how to sell old books online. 

7. Christmas ornaments 

With the influx of non-durable mass-produced Christmas ornaments, there’s a demand for authentic decor prop. Anything handmade that’s been handed down generations could be worth up to $500.

• Putz houses and Santa Claus figures are worth about $50 – $200.

• Jingle bells from the 1960s can fetch $200

• Mica snow empty boxes are valuable because of their unique designs. Unfortunately, the fake snow inside was found to have asbestos thus was discontinued. 

• Ornament hangers from Shiny Shiny Brite and Doubl-Glo could fetch $10.

• Shiny Brites are old, brightly colored ornaments that came to America in the 1930s from Germany. Individual ornaments can go for around $10, and sets can go for more, especially if they have the original packaging.

8. Perfume bottles 

19th-century glassblowers turned perfume bottles into pieces of art. So, if you’ve got antique ones from way back, they could be worth a good sum of cash. Anything designed by Lalique is valuable.

Max Factor can fetch $30+, same for the first mass-market perfume bottles. Today’s special edition perfumes are also valuable, jumping in value by nearly ten times in one year alone.

In 1907, René Lalique, the famous jeweler, and designer first commercial branded scent bottle.

If you’ve got anything from the New England Glass Company or the Boston & Sandwich Glass Company, it could be worth thousands of dollars.

9. Silver flatware

Although sales are at a standstill, high-end pieces can still fetch hundreds to thousands of dollars. This especially if they’re from big-name brands like Tiffany’s and George Jensen.

To sell at these rates it must be a complete set and older. Tiffany rides high because it used British grade 92% silver, which is also the US sterling standard in part because Charles Lewis Tiffany personally lobbied Congress to make it so.

10. Outdated technology

Some old technology could be worth a ton because collectors are ready to part with good money for these items that are probably lying in a basement somewhere.

• Texas instruments speak and spell goes for $50 – $100

• Sony TPS – L2 walkman can fetch $300 -700

• Entertainment exercise bike and Nintendo games from $1899 – $2683

• Original Iphone can cop $15,000

• A Xerox alto $30,000

• Apple I, the first macintosh $30,000

11. Textiles 

There’s a resurgence in antique clothing. Jeans, sneakers, and outwear lead the pack, but high-end dresses and hand-bags are also close behind. Dealers are reporting excellent returns, and it doesn’t stop at clothing. 

There are rugs, quilts, and tapestries. Handwoven Persian rugs are appreciated significantly over a long time. If it happens to be over 100 years, the better for it. Pricing is based on size, material, knot-density, condition, and design.

When it comes to valuing antique textiles, the factors below should standout:

• Bigger is often better, though too big may not be ideal.
• Must be in perfect condition, and if unused, even better.
• Rare and older increases the value
• High-quality material is a plus. 
• The country of origin also counts. French, Czech, Madeira, Italian, and English usually have better work than Chinese. But old Chinese (pre-1930) is better than later Chinese. 
• Designs matter. Figural items often command more than florals but only to a collector who likes figurals. Rarer flowers command slightly more than common flowers such as roses or chrysanthemums, which were all the rage in the American market in the 1940s and 1950s, and the Irish linen manufacturers flooded the market with chrysanthemums.
• Check the value on eBay’s “completed listings” because most buyers are the end-users.  

Find out more about selling vintage clothing in this article.

12. Music instruments 

Antique music instruments, especially guitars, are worth a fortune.

These instruments are usually considered antiques if they’re 75 years and above, have full documentation, and are in completely original condition.

The materials used, craftsmanship, and attention to detail all have a bearing on how desirable the guitar will be in the market.

Brands like Gibson, Fender or Martin from the 60s and earlier have been known to fetch thousands of dollars.

13. Baseball cards

The love for baseball cards is purely driven by nostalgia. Those sporting moments are filled with happy memories that can stay with you for a lifetime. Fathers especially want to share these memories with their children.

What makes it valuable?

If the baseball card is in good condition, was signed by a famous player, and has a date, it can fetch thousands of dollars or even millions if it’s that outstanding.

14. Mid-Century Modern furniture and accessories

This look is currently everywhere. The look is distinctly represented by Knoll tables, Eames, Bertoia, Cherner, or Saarinen chairs. This period broadly describes architecture, furniture, and graphic design from the middle of the 20th century (roughly 1933 to 1965, though some would argue the period is specifically limited to 1947 to 1957).

According to curbed.com, an original Eames molded plywood folding screen, which had been out of production, was worth as much as $10,000 in 1994. In December 1999, a George Nelson Marshmallow sofa sold for an unprecedented $66,000. A year later, two George Nelson “pretzel” armchairs sold for just over $2,500 a piece, while a 1965 George Nakashima cabinet sold for $20,700.

15. Antique branding

• Enamel advertising signs and posters

Some people may be drawn to the antique theme for home or event decor. Finding the perfect antique advertising sign would therefore be high on their priority list. Some examples are Coca-Cola branding, which could fetch thousands of dollars.

• Soda crates 

These branded crates that started off as small-batch medicinal recipes are also a fantastic decor accessory. An antique crate can today fetch you $200, while a one from the 50s or 60s goes for $20.

16. Militaria and artefacts from WWII

When World War II ended, veterans and collectors eagerly bought, sold, and traded their war artifacts. Helmets, medals, Lugers, field gear, daggers, and other pieces of war material filled parcels and duffel bags comprised some of these items.

When the war ended, German and Japanese soldiers traded with the occupation forces. A Luger was worth several packs of cigarettes and a helmet, just one pack. A Japanese sword was worth two boxes of K-rations, an Arisaka bayonet for a Hershey’s bar.

Over the years, these values have remained proportionally consistent. Today, that “two-pack” Luger might be worth $5,000 and that one-pack helmet, $1,500. The Japanese sword might fetch $1,200 and the Arisaka bayonet $95.

Though values have increased dramatically, demand has not dropped off a bit. In fact, WWII collecting is the largest segment of the militaria hobby.

17. Garden related

With the continued pandemic and restrictions, gardening and landscaping is on an upsurge. From plant stakes worth $18, hand gloves for $12, planters for $24 to watering cans at $35, there’s no shortage of antique gardening accessories to sell.

Further, there’s outdoor furniture like antique wicker and mid-century modern pieces topping many lists. Mid-century patio furniture such as folding rope-chairs, iron frame butterfly chairs, and hoop-chairs are highly sought after, with demand outstripping supply in many cases.

18. Art

For antique art to be valuable, it must be the original work of a recognized artist. That is original paintings, sculptures, drawings, and photographs.

Beyond the frame, look for balance in the composition, colors that complement each other, and subject matter that’s beautiful and/or interesting.

The art piece must be in impeccable condition and have proof of ownership, dimensions, date, title, medium (the materials it’s made of), chain of ownership, and more.

Work from a certain period in the artist’s life, for example, might be more valuable than that from other periods. The same could be said for working in a medium or size that was not the artist’s norm.

19. Antique barware

The return of the bar cart as a “decorative, nice piece of furniture” is a trend to watch. TV shows set in the 50s and 60s have contributed to a demand for retro and antique styles.

A good number of people are rediscovering the simple joys of sipping a frosty cocktail, prepared at home.

Some of the most beautiful shakers were designed during the Art Deco era. Libbey, Federal Glass, Hazel-Atlas, and Culver glassware companies produced amazing stuff. Today these pieces can fetch anything from $15 to $1,500.

20. Concert and movie posters

There has been a marked growth in the sales for concert and movie posters this year. They’re now considered valuable art pieces with cultural significance. Demand for rare posters in good condition is on the rise.

Values vary but even very rare or collectible posters can be found in the $400.00 to $2,000.00 range. A poster is considered vintage if it is at least twenty-five years old and is an original advertising print. Additionally, framed posters are more desirable and bring in the higher end of the $100-$1,000 range.

Infamous artists can rake in thousands of dollars.

If you’re thinking about selling your antiques online, consider listing on Sheepbuy. On the basic tier, you can have up to three active listings at any given time, free of charge. You also won’t pay a commission on sales. For more information on Sheepbuy’s tiers, click here. 

Conclusion

There you have it, the 20 antiques to sell in 2020, and where to sell commission-free. These are hot commodity items that, if you take time to understand how they’re valued and what buyers and collectors are looking for, you’ll make some good profits.

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