4 min readThe trinket cup runneth over at secondhand shops, flea markets, and estate sales, and there’s certainly value in picking up the quirky little thing just because it makes your heart happy. The best part? Some of those unassuming baubles are actually surprisingly valuable. Think hundreds or thousands of dollars for a teeny figurine, gorgeous clocks that double as a statement piece and asset, or coffee table books that can garner five figures.
To help you suss out what’s worth buying, and what could score you serious cash, we tapped antique experts to (hypothetically) dive deep into the dusty corners of antique and thrift shops. Below, they highlight five trinkets that are actually worth a lot of money—plus how to identify a gem when you find one.
Porcelain Shard Boxes
At first glance, a petite porcelain shard box may look like an easy item to pass on by, but those who know the history swipe them up right away. Porcelain shard boxes are artisanal pieces named as such because they’re made with small fragments of porcelain, often from broken or damaged pieces, set into the box.
“Many feature pieces of Chinese porcelain, which is where you get those really beautiful patterns,” explains Erica Vevurka, vintage expert, interior designer, and founder of Dogwood Interiors. “Most examples you’ll find today were produced in the 20th century and are considered vintage rather than antique, and they come in so many beautiful porcelain patterns, from your classic blue and white to more figural designs.” Value depends on the artistry and quality, though many fall between $50 to $100, with outliers garnering several hundred.
Mid-century Clocks
Mid-century clocks are increasingly harder to come by, increasing their inherent value. This era was known for producing items with a sort of timeless atomic aesthetic, and clocks check every box: sculptural, nostalgic, and an accessible way to score an iconic brand-name design. Even people who don’t care about clocks care about these clocks, says Bruce Littlefield, a vintage expert and author of Garage Sale America.
“Many of the iconic forms—starburst, ball, atomic—trace back to George Nelson, whose playful designs for Herman Miller turned everyday wall clocks into modernist icons,” Littlefield says. “A 24-inch burst of brass spokes does more for a room than many paintings because they bridge styles, from minimalist to maximalist, and become an instant focal point, nicely anchoring a room.”
Especially valuable mid-century clocks are made from real brass or solid wood, and have a nice heft to them. Littlefield says to check the back or underside for labels or stamps from Herman Miller, Howard Miller, Seth Thomas, and Westclox. They can easily fetch around $500 a piece, with broader values ranging between $75 to $2000.
Miniature Figurines
You may want to take a second look at Grandma’s figurine collection—and you should definitely use a keener eye when poking through the shelves at the local thrift store or antique market. Some mini figurines aren’t worth much at all, but some are collectibles that command top dollar.
For example, Vevurka calls out Herend’s hand-painted animal figurines and miniatures. “Herend has been a luxury porcelain maker for nearly 200 years, and that’s really due to the level of detail and craftsmanship,” she says. “Painters train for years before they’re able to master the signature hand-painted fishnet pattern you see on so many Herend animals, which are highly collectible.”
Other examples include retired Swarovski figurines, Meissen porcelain (which dates back to the 1700s), and bronze-cast figurines by makers like Franz Bergman and Karl Hagenauer. Price points can vary widely, from around a hundred dollars to well over a thousand, depending on the maker, size, detail, and rarity.
Coffee Table Books
The book section is one many skip over when visiting antique shops, but the potential here is pretty remarkable. To narrow your search, Littlefield suggests honing in on coffee table books. Aesthetically, a big and glossy book serves as a beautiful decorative object, but they can also be cultural artifacts and, in some cases, a valuable asset—especially if the book is out-of–print, a first-edition, or early printing.
“Out-of-print titles, especially from the ’60s through the ’90s, capture entire eras of fashion, interiors, and photography. I love them because they add height, color, and personality to a room in seconds,” Littlefield says. “They’re collectible because once they’re gone, they’re gone. I find that fashion, interiors, photography, and pop culture age best, and big names equal big interest.”
Think iconic photographers, designers, or fashion houses, such as Helmut Newton, Richard Avedon, Annie Leibovitz, Vogue, Chanel, Taschen, and Rizzoli. Good condition counts here; you want intact dust jackets, clean pages, and intact spines. Littlefield says that everyday books can bring in $50 for styling value alone, with covetable titles bringing in several hundred to several thousand.
Limoges Trinket Boxes
Limoges trinket boxes became popular in the United States in the 1980s and ‘90s when European collectible giftware became the thing to gift and display. However, Limoges porcelain actually dates back to the late 18th century. They’re made in Limoges, France, from kaolin clay, a material that’s prevalent in the area and fires beautifully.
“Artists hand-paint them with tiny, tiny brushes, creating really detailed, often very charming designs,” Vevurka says. “They’re highly collectible because there are so many different versions of Limoges, and if there’s something you want to commemorate, I guarantee there is a corresponding Limoges box to go with it.”
She says that when you’re shopping for one, you’ll often see markings like “Limoges France” and “Peint Main” (which means hand-painted). You’ll also notice the metal mounts and hinges are added after firing, which is part of what gives each box its personality. Vervurka tells us most Limoges trinket boxes sell between $75 to a few hundred dollars, with more intricate or rare examples going higher.
