Forget the dining room or even the bedroom: the most significant space in the house is undoubtedly the kitchen. After all, we have many special moments, cook, eat, and spend precious time with family and friends. The kitchen can also be packed with valuable hand-me-downs, lovely plates, say, or exquisite glasses from late relatives, on top of that. And whether or not we know it, we could be in our pantries hosting old things that may be worth an enormous amount of money.
Check Out This Vintage Crockery And Figurine That Are Most Sought After By Collectors
Sentimental Value
You will have to make a big decision if you notice anything like this in your kitchen. Does that particular piece’s sentimental value overshadow the future wealth that it might bring in? And if “no” is the answer to that question and you eventually decide to sell, an eager buyer is very likely to be waiting to snap up your prized possession.
Sentimental Value
Kitchenware
Yeah, for virtually everything of worth, including kitchenware, there are collectors out there. And if you need some quick cash, it’s probably worth searching through your racks to see if you’ve got any money-spinners just collecting dust.
Kitchenware
Listen on eBay
In particular, such goods in today’s market may be worth eye-watering amounts. Indeed, on eBay, one such crockery piece was classified at a whopping $20,000 in January 2020. But when you clean out your kitchen, what exactly should you be looking for? And why are they so collectible?
Listen on eBay
Treasured Possessions
Most of us go on to collect a lot of things over the years, wardrobes full of clothing, maybe, or the value of books for a whole library. But of course, these often treasured belongings can ultimately take up too much space if we overindulge. And there will come a time when we need to make a major decision if that happens.
Treasured Possessions
A collection
A clear-out may be in order, as tricky as it may seem, particularly if huge piles of stuff threaten to take over the house. Of course, then we need to decide what we want to hold and what we can get rid of when that moment comes. And as we looked at all the items we’ve gathered over the decades, we were able to find a few lost gems tucked away.
A collection
Goodwill
As old things can be unintentionally moved to the back of cupboards, the kitchen may be the room that harbors the most secrets in that regard. But don’t just go to Goodwill for all of your old crockeries. You see, you might have some bits that are worth a lot of money only on their own.
Goodwill
Mason Jars
Some kinds of ball mason jars, for example, could carry in a large amount. And if you’ve got any green-and-amber ones, you might be lucky, because they’re especially valuable. It is estimated that the rarest mason jars could have brought in at least $400 each.
Mason Jars
For an avid cook
But in your kitchen, there is another item that may be worth even more than that, especially if you are a devoted cook. After all, if you enjoy spending time cooking up recipes, there’s a fair chance you’re going to have many resources to do it with.
For an avid cook
Cookie Cutters
Perhaps, then in the kitchen, you’ll have some cookie cutters. And, yes, if you are able to sell them to an avid collector, they too will pull in plenty of cash. For example, the coveted “Heart in Hand” cutter is worth over $1,000.
Cookie Cutters
Anything for baking
Meanwhile, other types of cookie cutters can fetch up to $500 per package. It could then be an idea to keep hold of something you’ve previously used for baking when you have a clear-out of your cupboards. But these are definitely not the only secret gems that might reside in the kitchen.
Anything for baking
Stand Mixers
Stand mixers were known to pull in a decent amount of cash for vendors, too. For instance, if you have a KitchenAid, it may sell for more than $100. And, naturally, you should usually avoid the temptation to throw it away if you have a product like that in your house.
Stand Mixers
Cocktail Shakers
On the other hand, whether you’re part of a Cosmopolitan or Old Fashioned, then you might also be wearing a precious ornament. You see, vintage cocktail shakers, especially those with eye-catching designs, are very popular with collectors.
Cocktail Shakers
Expensive Shakers
For example, one shaker from 1936 is believed to be valued at nearly $4,000. And if you have a piece from the 1920s that was made to look like a lighthouse, then you really are in luck. If it’s in good shape, the specific object is said to be worth close to $24,000.
Expensive Shakers
Cutlery
However, if you’re not a cocktail lover, there might be something else that is worth a lot of money in your kitchen. After all, regardless of our respective eating patterns, we all use cutlery while sitting down at home for meals. And the utensils themselves are made of durable metal, in most cases.
Cutlery
Antique Silverware
However, if you have an antique silver collection of knives, forks, and spoons, then you can have to do some thought. Yes, polishing the cutlery can well pay off all the time spent, as silverware of this kind will attract plenty of online big-money offers.
Antique Silverware
Value of silverware
One silverware collection on eBay is priced at just under $2,000 as of January 2020. With their respective sellers asking from about $400 to nearly $1,000, several other collections also have high prices on the auction platform. If you have excess silver cutlery in your kitchen, you might make some serious cash, then.
Value of silverware
Kettles
On top of all that, in today’s collectors’ market, those kettles are still very valuable. Vintage items are of course highly sought-after, and that’s good news for you if you want to sell them. That said, the price your kettle can get can depend on the type of material it is made from.
Kettles
Swedish-style copper
You see, back in the 1800s, kettles were made predominantly from metals such as copper, cast iron, and steel. And that makes them valuable; in April 2019, one “Swedish-style” example of copper was said to be worth around $150. But that probably isn’t it.
Swedish-style copper
Reed & Barton
In reality, a Reed & Barton silver kettle from 1889 could bring in just under $4,000. But even if a more than the century-old piece is not squirreling away, you may still have something exceptional in your possession-something, in fact, that has the potential to bring serious cash in the future.
Reed & Barton
CorningWare
For instance, take old CorningWare dishes. These too, can be recognized instantly for their elegant painted patterns. But while the aesthetics of CorningWare may be appealing, that’s not the only reason why these kitchen items have been so common in the past.
CorningWare
Corning Glass Works
A new concept for a cooking product was created at the back-end of the 1950s by the Corning Glass Works company in New York. Then the company developed products that could withstand “thermal shock” using a glass-ceramic substance called Pyroceram. And if you’re curious what that word means, it’s actually very easy.
Corning Glass Works
Pyroceram
For example, if you take something from your freezer and instantly put it in the oven, thermal shock defines the moment when an object undergoes a dramatic temperature change. And it can risk cracking and shattering if a piece of kitchenware experiences the process. That was not intended to be a concern, though with Pyroceram products.
Pyroceram
No damages
Indeed without suffering any harm, CorningWare dishes could be moved from place to place. For those who spent a lot of time in the kitchen, the products’ versatility would have been very beneficial then. But despite this, the glass-ceramic pots didn’t instantly catch on.
No damages
It took a while
In fact, it took another decade or so before consumers began to appreciate it after CorningWare’s inception in 1958. And from there, for the next 30 years or so, CorningWare dishes stayed on the market ahead of their discontinuation in 2000.
It took a while
Stoneware
Even after that, the brand still had a presence on store shelves, as stoneware products were manufactured at the turn of the century under the CorningWare name. Then in 2008, the glass-ceramic items came back at last. And even taking the eight-year gap into account, it is believed that since the late 1950s, more than 750 million CorningWare units have been made.
Stoneware
Check your cupboards
All in all, then there’s a fair chance that your kitchen cupboard may still have some CorningWare in it. You may also be using it for cooking tasks right now, considering its adaptability. But you may want to hang on to putting your next saucepan in the Pyroceram dish, as it might be worth a pretty penny.
Check your cupboards
Certain Patterns
Specifically, individuals have been targeting items from CorningWare that show certain patterns. If you have one that is particularly important, you can clean it up and consider selling it. But why exactly has CorningWare become so important all of a sudden? Ok, glass enthusiast Dean Six has a possible theory.
Certain Patterns
CorningWare Craze
As he’s the author of a 2014 book entitled Mid-Century Modern Glass in America, Six also knows his things. And while talking to the Australian magazine That’s Life!, the writer gave his opinion on the CorningWare craze. For 2019.
CorningWare Craze
An antique for 7000 dollars
Six told the publication, “One piece of CorningWare, in a pattern not widely produced, sold on eBay recently for $7,000. It was a 1970s product that fizzled.” Then the specialist turned his attention to the collectors themselves, sharing some insight into why the dishes would be wanted.
An antique for 7000 dollars
Collecting Boomers
“Collecting is often what you remember [from your past],” Six explained. “Which is why [CorningWare] is big now, because [the] baby boomers are buying back what they grew up with. Boomers are decorating with these pieces in their homes.” But the $7,000 dish isn’t even the most expensive one on offer.
Collecting Boomers
Cornflower
The real winner is CorningWare, which has the distinctive and most easily identifiable Cornflower design that can produce a lot of cash. Understandably, however from the rarer ranges come some of, the more costly parts available.
Cornflower
“Floral Bouquet”
Items featuring the “Floral Bouquet” pattern were sold until being discontinued between 1971 and 1975. Likewise, after seven years on the market, the’ Wildflower’ left shelves in 1984. And as a result of the relative scarcity of these ranges, pieces in those patterns could bring in about $10,000 each today from ardent collectors.
“Floral Bouquet”
Vintage CorningWare Blue Cornflower Casserole Dish
The figures do not stop there, however. One item, labeled as a “Vintage CorningWare Blue Cornflower Casserole Dish,” was priced at $12,000 on eBay in January 2020. As we mentioned earlier, in the same month, another CorningWare product was classified on the website at $20,000.
Vintage CorningWare Blue Cornflower Casserole Dish
CorningWare pieces on eBay
On eBay, there are many other CorningWare bits with prices in the thousands, too. However, of all those on offer, two stand out in particular for the eye-watering figures they might get. And the first of these can be found in the Wisconsin city of Baraboo.
CorningWare pieces on eBay
RARE Vintage CorningWare 1960 to 1970 La Marjolaine Collectible
The collection is described as a “RARE Vintage CorningWare 1960 to 1970 La Marjolaine Collectible.” And three dishes were stacked on top of each other in the picture accompanying the eBay listing, each featuring tomato, mushroom, and pepper drawings.
RARE Vintage CorningWare 1960 to 1970 La Marjolaine Collectible
A collection for $25,000
In total, the particular set was valued by the seller at just under $25,000. But that’s not the priciest package on eBay to be found yet. Another consumer is looking to unload their CorningWare goods from Columbia, South Carolina, as of March 2020, and the price they are demanding for the items is incredible.
A collection for $25,000
Roast Pan
Specifically, a CorningWare roast pan for cooking and a teapot that apparently serves six people have been listed by the South Carolina seller. And except for the distinctive blue floral pattern that marks the Cornflower collection, both of these parts are entirely white.
Roast Pan
CorningWare for 32,000
So, how much is the value of these items? Well, a cool $32,000, according to the person who has placed them up for grabs on the auction platform. And while for those unique pieces of CorningWare, there hasn’t been a taker yet, such an enormous amount means it’s worth digging through your own cupboards-just in case.
CorningWare for 32,000
Teapots
Yes, there may be cause to rejoice if you still own a CorningWare dish or even a teapot, mainly if these products are in excellent condition. After all, if you find a collector who’s willing to buy it only one example can help you pay for a nice getaway.
Teapots
Other Collectibles
But of course, CorningWare isn’t the only collectible out there nor the only one in your home that might be hanging. For example, if you or your loved ones have a few antique figurines on display, then you should check their value, as these may also earn you substantial amounts of money.
Other Collectibles
Figurines
You will want to get it out and dust it off if you have one of these figurines in a box in the attic. You see it turns out that today some of these adorable ornaments are worth more than you would suppose. But what are these figurines, exactly, and why did they become so valuable?
Figurines
1939
Well, the story starts on New Year’s Day, 1939, when Samuel John Butcher, the future founder of the figurines, came into the world. He was the middle child of five, born in Jackson, a city in Michigan known as the place where the Republican Party first got its start. And it seems that Butcher’s family did not have two cents to rub together during his childhood.
Figurines
Butcher
He and his loved ones resettled in Redding, California, not too long after Butcher’s birth, though. Subsequently, the boy spent a lot of his time there drawing, as he hid in the dining room under the table to sketch and draw. But Butcher did not forever conceal his ability; in fact, it soon became evident to those around him.
Butcher
Papers from a garbage dump
And even though Butcher’s folks had a hard time finding the money for drawing pads, that did not stop the young man from following his passion. Instead, to find a way to outfit himself, he put his thinking cap on and consequently found paper that a nearby factory had discarded in a garbage dump.
Papers from a garbage dump
Drawing for the Lord
But art wasn’t the only driving force for Butcher. He still had confidence, you see in truth, he gradually became convinced that his ability to draw should be dedicated solely to the Lord. And after graduating from high school, those skills were good enough to land Butcher a position at an art college.
Drawing for the Lord
A miracle scholarship
Butcher eventually earned a scholarship to study at the College of Arts and Crafts for himself, even though that meant moving to Berkeley from home. He met his future wife while pursuing his studies, though. Butcher then set out on his vocation after completing his studies, sharing gospel stories through photographs. By working as a janitor, he even made ends meet.
A miracle scholarship
A ten-year commitment
Butcher subsequently agreed to take up a position in Grand Rapids, Michigan, at the Child Evangelism Fellowship, which became the start of a ten-year engagement. And he would eventually make his break as an artist after a period in shipping when the fellowship offered him a position in his art department.
A ten-year commitment
Precious Moments
Meanwhile, at some point, Butcher began drawing distinctive pictures of cute teardrop-eyed girls. He called these “Precious Moments” drawings and gave them as gifts to friends and family. The same drawings would also find another use as Butcher revisited the idea of using art to spread Christianity, this time through a popular TV show for children.
Precious Moments
An unforgettable encounter
And while at the fellowship, Butcher met Bill Biel, who would become a business partner and a friend. The two subsequently set up the Jonathan & David company, which featured Butcher’s Precious Moments’ creations on posters and cards. An invitation to a Christian booksellers’ conference in Anaheim, California, however, eventually led to the pair’s business split in 1975. Biel and Butcher had a stand at the event to show off what they could do, an opportunity that would end up changing the lives of both men.
An unforgettable encounter
They hit the market
Indeed, retailers flocked to the pair as they struggled to get their names down to carry their peers’ goods. Biel and Butcher also had to help other vendors take orders when they were swamped by enthusiastic booksellers. The great start didn’t mean they had it done, though to keep food on the table, they still had to take on other jobs.
They hit the market
Two businessmen
Well, then it’s probably fair to say that Butcher and Biel were not smooth businessmen. And when Biel had the concept of adding porcelain bisque drawings of the Precious Moments, the duo realized their lack of practice. But while the friends had neither the nous nor the cash needed to make their idea real, they would meet a company that had both in 1978.
Two businessmen
A generous offer
Enesco Corporation offered to convert a piece of Butcher’s art into a figurine that year, you see. Upon glimpsing his daughter Tammy having a talk with an uncle, he drew the piece “Love One Another.” And it’s safe to say that Butcher was happy with the result, as he obviously cried with joy after seeing the sample. In loving the work, the artist was obviously not alone, either because the piece is still being made to this day.
A generous offer
God Loves A Cheerful Giver
Another daughter, Debbie, provided the inspiration for another figurine: “God Loveth a Cheerful Giver.” When she was younger, before rehoming the animals, she used every cent she had to take pets from the local veterans. And maybe the continuing success of the piece is a testament to the ability of Butcher to catch the spirit of Debbie.
God Loves A Cheerful Giver
Original 21
In addition, 21 figurines based on Butcher’s sketches were made by the end of 1978, later to be known as the “Original 21.” And they met a welcome that Butcher floored. To let him know that his work had resonated with them, people even wrote emotional letters to the artist.
Original 21
Teardrop eyes
And just a look at a figurine of Precious Moments goes some way to clarify its appeal. Of course, there are those signature teardrop eyes that rest on adorably angelic faces. The paintings each represent their own stories, too which makes them interesting on more than just a surface level. Therefore, all the figurines might be perfect for a nursery, and they may even be something a child might hold even after they’ve grown up.
Teardrop eyes
2,500 figurines
Then, eventually, the range of Precious Moments grew to over 2,500 figurines. And the ornaments began to be collected by people all over the world, sometimes teaming up with those who joined the hobby. Meanwhile, at its height, the official club had half a million members; tens of thousands of people are still part of it today.
2,500 figurines
He made a bold move
However, Butcher did not only stick to sketches and figurines. You see, he made the bold move in 1989 to open an attraction in Carthage, Missouri, influenced by his famous works of art. And since then, Precious Moments Park has been visited by around 400,000 people every year. Some might also find themselves drawn in by the centerpiece of the park, a beautiful sanctuary that is partially based on the Sistine Chapel of Vatican City.
He made a bold move
Aiming big
Yes, Butcher aimed highly for his own design, which he himself crafted. The chapel contains thousands of feet of murals portraying Bible stories from both testaments, as well as a celebration of inspirational kids whose lives have been cut short. Visitors will also enjoy lovely stained glass windows fashioned in hundreds of colors.
Aiming big
1998 Enesco
So perhaps predictably, the chapel provides the backdrop for hundreds of weddings a year. And this relation is not at all a recent one between Precious Moments and weddings. In 1998, Enesco chief Eugene Freedman told the Chicago Tribune that more than two million wedding cakes had already been crowned with the range’s “The Lord Bless and Keep You” figurine, which represents a newlywed couple.
1998 Enesco
More than 100 Million Revenue
And Precious Moments once did massive business, with the collection taking in hundreds of millions of dollars in sales, as that incredible total indicates. Yet there were going to be speed bumps. The figurines began to sell a little less well, meaning that Enesco finally stopped manufacturing them. Therefore, Butcher’s own firm, Precious Moments, Incorporated (PMI), had to change tack after that bombshell.
More than 100 Million Revenue
Becoming a manufacturer
Yeah, PMI had to expand to the capability of being able to step in for Enesco within three months. This meant becoming a producer and shipper of goods very quickly; in addition, the company needed to have the infrastructure to support the design and production of figurines for Precious Moments.
Becoming a manufacturer
Facing a legal action
And this was not to be PMI’s only challenge, as the company would face legal action from country singer Shannon Clemmons in 2008. She argued that her idea for a line of Christian characters had been taken by the corporation and given no credit for it; luckily, however, Clemmons’ lawsuit proved unsuccessful for PMI.
Facing a legal action
Unstoppable
Even, it seems that these problems did not bring a permanent halt to the work of PMI. You see, it also produces up to 40 new statuettes four times a year according to the company’s official website. All of this means that the set of Precious Moments has expanded and as we have noted, thousands of designs have now been made. That said there are no longer any types of figurines being made.
Unstoppable
Raising the value for collectors
And when PMI finishes selling a figurine, the mold is often literally broken. The company may suspend a specific model on other occasions by stopping its production for a certain period of time. However, all these processes have an interesting result: they render a number of figurines scarce, thus raising their appeal to collectors of Precious Moments.
Raising the value for collectors
Precious Moments Marketplace
With that said, it is probably not too shocking that on the internet there is a busy Precious Moments marketplace. And the prices can easily run into hundreds of dollars for small items, too. In one instance, a figurine you might buyback for $15 in the day could now be worth as much as four figures.
Precious Moments Marketplace
Original 21
The statuette in question is one of the “Original 21”: the “God Loveth a Cheerful Giver” previously mentioned. The figurine is no longer manufactured today, meaning it can only be purchased second hand. And while the model normally sells in the low hundreds, if you’re lucky, you can just hit the jackpot.
Original 21
2000$ for a piece
Paul Burton, speaking for Woolvey Fine Antiques & Collectibles, told Today in 2017 that he had seen “evaluations placed on [“God Loveth a Cheerful Giver”]… in excess of $2,000.” However, Burton was slightly dubious that such an amount would eventually be received by any figurine. “He added, “I do not think I have actually seen any ornament] sell for more than half of that, but in that price range they are still occasionally listed for sale.
2000$ for a piece
Should be in Good Condition
Nonetheless, your figurine would need to be in tip-top shape if you want a chance at the big bucks. That can also be better said than done, as the porcelain bisque used to manufacture objects from Precious Moments is vulnerable to chipping or cracking. Three-quarters of the value of the piece will cost you even a tiny flaw; something bigger and almost all the gains would likely be lost.
Should be in Good Condition
Dirty is better than chipped
Luckily, it is easier to patch a dirty figurine than a chipped one and a thorough cleaning will make your piece more attractive to prospective buyers in turn. With a makeup brush, you can dust the job and give it a wash with mild soap as long as you don’t get water into the statuette. And while this may prove a difficult task, it may nevertheless prove worthwhile, especially if the model you have is normally prone to cracking.
Dirty is better than chipped