With 30 years of reselling under my belt, I’m the go-to guy when friends need a quick appraisal. And over the years I’ve noticed a recurring phenomenon: The vintage items most people consider valuable usually aren’t, and the things they want to toss are often hot collectibles.
Here’s why: Many of us get our idea of what’s valuable from our parents. But markets change, and new collectors have different tastes.
What disregarded treasures are hiding in your home right now? The answers might surprise you. In this series, we’ll explore hot collectibles you might already own.
1. Henredon furniture
Founded in Morgantown, North Carolina, Henredon has been a staple in high-end American furniture since 1945. Most early pieces were handcrafted, but demand eventually outpaced the company’s ability to produce. In the late 1980s, all production moved overseas.
Much of the company’s success can be attributed to Dorothy Draper, one of America’s first internationally known interior designers. A fan of Henredon’s craftsmanship, Draper began working with the company to launch new lines of furniture featuring playful designs and richly colored upholstered details.
Though Henredon’s furniture production stopped in 2018, it appears the brand may be slowly coming back to life. The Henredon website currently shows a few modular pieces for sale via Costco.
Henredon pieces are well marked. Look for a paper label or brand that’s burned directly on the wood that reads, “Henredon Fine Furniture” or “Heritage Henredon.”
This vintage Asian-inspired Henredon buffet recently sold on eBay for $2,495, and this small nightstand by Henredon sold for $375.
Even vintage hardware from Henredon furniture can bring handsome prices; this single campaign-style brass drawer pull sold for $89.99 on eBay.
2. Wallpaper remnants
One of my projects last summer involved wallpapering a small hallway in my home. Because I needed only one double-roll of wallpaper, I explored high-end remnants for sale on eBay. The prices were shocking (and, as a thrift-shopper, inspirational).
Twenty-nine feet (not quite one double roll) of Scalamandre Chinoise Exotique wallpaper recently sold for $450 on eBay, and this single roll of Ananas Tropical by Schumacher sold for $300.
Even mid-level wallpaper brands hold their value — and, in the case of discontinued patterns, may dramatically increase in value. Check your closets for leftover rolls of traditional wallpaper (pasted or unpasted). The following makers are popular in the resale market:
- Cole & Son
- Thibaut
- Morris & Co.
- Kenneth James
- Ralph Lauren
- York
3. Nichols rugs
Have you noticed the poor quality of new rugs? Even mid-priced options are filled with synthetic fibers and made to be thrown away in a year. My search for something better led me down a rabbit hole of vintage rugs made by the Nichols company (sometimes referred to as Nichols Super Chinese Rug Company).
Established in Tientsin, China, in 1924, Nichols rugs infused traditional Asian motifs with an art deco aesthetic.
Founder Walter Abner Burns Nichols centered his business on American export and often made custom rugs upon request. Each was produced using state-of-the-art color-fast dyes. Saturated colors like cranberry, deep purple, golds and greens retain their vibrancy decade after decade.
The most common Nichols label was made of silk. The graphic shows a figure riding a flying carpet and reads, “Nichols Chinese Magic Carpets.”
On eBay, this 2-foot-by-3-foot Nichols rug sold for $395. And on Etsy, this 6-foot-by-9-foot Nichols rug is listed for $1,200.
Mad for trad
Sure, as a design aesthetic, midcentury has been having a moment (ahem … for the past 15 years), but traditional isn’t dead. This month’s featured items could all be found in the comfortable environs of our parents’ or grandparents’ homes.
There’s a strong and growing market for the subtle elegance of richly patterned wallpaper, well-constructed solid wood furniture and deep-pile floral rugs. Maybe it’s a long-overdue response to stark minimalism or a need for our homes to feel more personal and a little more luxurious.
Discover scores of other hidden treasures by exploring my deep dives into valuable vintage items.
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