You've heard stories about legendary flea market finds—the rare pieces of art or heirloom jewelry that were purchased for a few bucks and fetched millions in resale. But what about flea market staples that are actually every day gems, often hidden in plain sight? They won't turn you into a millionaire overnight, but they're still worth a considerable chunk of change, making these items great investments—if you know what to seek out.
We asked designers about the housewares, furniture pieces, and decor items that are known to make frequent cameos at flea markets—and that can be worth a lot of money if they're in good condition. Ahead, 10 items the experts say are worth a second look whenever you’re shopping second-hand.
Tramp Art Pieces
A classic American craft, Tramp Art is a style of folk art that involves creating frames, boxes, and other decorative items using whatever found wood was available—often cigar boxes or shipping crates. Popular in the late 19th and early 20th century, "tramp art" got its name because of the (probably mistaken) belief that many of the people who practiced this craft were homeless wanderers.
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The ornate style of woodworking involves the meticulous carving and layering of found wood, or other utilitarian objects like nails and Popsicle sticks. At first glance, some of the ornate pieces could be mistaken as school art projects. But look closer and you’ll see these boxes, frames, and wall pockets are intricately notched and chipped. According to Avery Cox of Avery Cox Design in Austin, Texas, they're coveted icons of outsider art that have become increasingly difficult to find—which means you should absolutely snap a good one up if you see it.
When evaluating Tramp Art trinkets, Cox recommends looking at an item's level of complexity and material type to determine whether you've stumbled upon a valuable investment piece. (Carved wood is valued higher than those aforementioned Popsicle sticks.) Tramp Art can easily be worth several hundred dollars, but you might become too attached to sell any examples you find. That's because they add character and warmth to a contemporary setting. As Cox says, "We love a Tramp Art box on a kitchen counter for holding things like tea or spices."
Majolica
Antique Portuguese Pottery Palissy Style Majolica Lobster Wall Dish Plate, 1900
Antique Portuguese Pottery Palissy Style Majolica Lobster Wall Dish Plate, 1900
Colorful, glazed earthenware characterized by three-dimensional flora and fauna, majolica is a centuries-old pottery practice that can feel playful when incorporated into design. (Think: A lustrous platter with a raised lobster or a sardine box with fish finials). Majolica is durable and strong, particularly the Palissy ware style introduced at the 1851 Great Exhibition in London and named for the French ceramicist Bernard Palissy. Today, platters can sell for $1,000 to $6,000 a piece, Cox says.
Victorian majolica gets its bright colors from a tin glaze that contains lead, so you won't want to use these for serving. Try hanging majolica pieces on walls where there’s not much space (think: above doorways; on narrow walls) or in a place where you can create a grouping if you're lucky enough to score a few of these eclectic pieces. "They also work very well on plate stands or mixed into a bookshelf or hutch," Cox says.
Pendleton Blankets and Throws
Beloved for 130 years, Pendleton blankets are comfy, wool classics with recognizable stripes and geometric patterns, often inspired by Native American designs. When shopping flea markets, look for the iconic Pendleton tag sewn onto the blanket to denote authentic pieces, says Karen Nepacena, owner and principal designer at Destination Eichler in the San Francisco Bay area.
While new Pendleton blankets cost $189 on up, the retail price of vintage Pendleton throws start around $150, with many blankets going for a few hundred dollars and some rare, vintage ones going for even more on resale sites. Among the most sought-after designs is the classic Glacier National Park Blanket featuring four simple lines in green, red, yellow and black, Nepacena says. "Pendleton has been creating blanket collections in honor of National Parks since the early 1900s. This particular design for Glacier National Park was the very first of its kind, which makes sourcing a vintage version even more special," she adds. "The simplicity of the stripe design is timeless and this blanket design fits great into any style home. After dry cleaning, these vintage blankets are great for sofas or folding across the bottom of the bed."
Plycraft Vintage Lounge Chair and Ottoman
1960s Mid-Century Modern Plycraft Eames Style Cha…
1960s Mid-Century Modern Plycraft Eames Style Cha…
The iconic mid-century modern living room staple, an Eames Lounge Chair and Ottoman is a $6,500 investment. Released in 1956 and inspired by English club chairs, the recliner's timeless design is meant to evoke the feel of a worn-in baseball mitt. While you're not likely find one of these mid-century mainstays lounging in a flea market, Nepacena says you could very well come across a similar style manufactured by the now-defunct company Plycraft at the time to mimic the Eames chair. Look for the manufacturer markings underneath the seat; the Plycraft pieces can still fetch a few thousand dollars. "Even if the upholstery is no longer in good shape, there are many furniture restorers that can help bring these pieces back to life," she says.
Gainey Ceramic Planters
What may look like a simple ceramic planter could be a very expensive one, especially if the marking "Gainey" is on the bottom, says Nepacena. The Southern California pottery brand suspended its ceramics manufacturing a decade ago after 60 years in business, but the glazed handcrafted planters remain in high demand, and, Nepacena says, can sell for hundreds of dollars per piece.
"Use them to plant a succulent grouping or to house an indoor plant such as a rubber plant or snake plants," she says. "They look great in any space, whether an apartment, balcony or inside the house."
Pyrex
From retro-kitsch butter trays to colorful mixing bowls, vintage Pyrex pieces are having a major moment with nostalgic collectors hunting down the brand they remember from grandma's kitchen. While a stray Pyrex bowl isn’t usually worth much on its own, full sets and sought-after patterns tend to be high in value.
Pink Daisy and Snowflake pieces, for example, were the first patterned dishes to be released using a new screen printing process in 1956. Today, they're among some of the most beloved patterns, with resale values of these pieces often over $100.
"Once you start with one piece, you will start to recognize the pattern in other shapes and sizes and over time can collect multiple to make a whole set," Nepacena says.
English Pine Dressers
Large 19th-Century English Country Pine Dresser
Large 19th-Century English Country Pine Dresser
Nineteenth-century dressers made out of English pine wood easily sell for $2,000. But you’ll often find these honey-toned pieces in the $500 range from people who don’t realize what they have, says Anastasia Casey, founder of IDCO Studio and Design Camp.
To gather details on a dresser, slide open the top drawer and look for a manufacturer's stamp, Casey says. Anything pre-1900's is likely too old to be stamped, but the older an item, the more it will be worth. If you find a drawer that's stuck, no worries! Casey suggests rubbing coconut oil or a bar of soap along the edge of the drawer for an easy fix.
Scandinavian Dining Chairs
Mid-Century Scandinavian Teak Dining Chairs - Set of 6
While they come in a variety of styles, you'll recognize these for their classic Scandi minimalism and clean design. Modern ones in a set of eight or more are the most difficult to find, Casey says, so they'll hold the most value.
And you don't have to have a Scandi home to incorporate these gems into your own decor. "I love these dining chairs paired with something more traditional for a layered look," she says.
Travertine Furniture
Famous examples of travertine can be found on the Colosseum in Rome or the Getty Center in Los Angeles. This slightly pitted limestone is formed by mineral deposits from natural springs, giving it a nice range of coloration, from creamy ivories to peachy pinks.
In the home, you're most likely to see this natural stone in a tile format. But travertine coffee tables, consoles, side tables, pedestals, and dining tables are hot items at vintage stores and flea markets these days, says interior stylist and vintage expert Leah Ashley.
Prices can be anywhere from a few thousand to tens of thousands depending on the size and quality of the piece, Ashley says. And provenance matters, too: The prices go up even more if an item is from Italy, so ask the dealer what they know about the origins of the piece.
Stoneware
Stoneware is one of the most ancient forms of ceramics. To create stoneware, clay is fired at much higher temps than it is to make porcelain or earthenware. The end result is durable, utilitarian pieces like bowls, pitchers and crocks have lasted for generations, says Ashley. She thinks they're liable to last for many more, too: "I love to collect stoneware and display it on open shelving in my kitchen," she says.
Many stoneware pieces are highly collectible and valued at anywhere from $100 to $100,000. Generally, these pieces are stamped by the manufacturer, which can help you in an initial Google search to find out information on authenticity and value.
Love shopping for one-of-a-kind finds? Check out these stories next:
- 7 Items You Should Always Buy Vintage, According to Designers
- 9 Things You Should Always Buy at Estate Sales, According to Designers
- Yes, There's a Difference Between Vintage and Antique—Here's How to Use Each in Your Home, According to Designers
Brittany Anas is a former newspaper reporter (The Denver Post, Boulder Daily Camera) turned freelance writer. Before she struck out on her own, she covered just about every beat—from higher education to crime. Now she writes about food, cocktails, travel, and lifestyle topics for Men’s Journal, House Beautiful, Forbes, Simplemost, Shondaland, Livability, Hearst newspapers, TripSavvy and more. In her free time, she coaches basketball, crashes pools, and loves hanging out with her rude-but-adorable Boston Terrier that never got the memo the breed is nicknamed "America’s gentleman."
