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. This edition focuses on European brands.
1. Digsmed teak kitchenware
In spite of my 35 years as a professional picker and reseller, I became aware of the Digsmed brand only last week. Those decades of ignorance speak to how rare Digsmed objects are (or at least that’s what I’m telling myself).
The Danish company was founded by Flemming Digsmed sometime in the 1960s, and it closed in 1975. Beyond this basic information, few details about the company’s history are available online.
Digsmed appears to be a contemporary of better-known Dansk — using high-end design to shape teak and glass into timeless household objects.
The Digsmed mark can be found on the underside of each piece. Look for an image of a simplified Viking helmet combined with the words “Digsmed, Denmark” and a manufacturing date or product number.
Recently on eBay, this wall-mounted rotating teak spice rack sold for $349, and this teak and glass lazy Susan sold for $129.95.
2. Glass electrical insulators
For many, glass electrical insulators are the perfect entry into the field of antique collecting. They’re fairly plentiful, most are low-priced, and they make a striking windowsill display. But a few of these hefty glass chunks are different from the rest — true rarities with “electrifying” resale prices.
First, a bit of background: Glass (or sometimes porcelain) insulators were used to prevent current loss during electric transmission on power lines and telegraph/telephone lines. Some resellers mislabel insulators as conductors, but they were never used for this purpose (glass is a terrible conductor of electricity).
Insulators can be identified by their CD, or consolidated design, number. This one- to three-digit number specifies the shape and profile of the conductor. In the resale world, value is driven by rare CD numbers, the maker and the color.
Here are a few collectible insulators and recent sale prices on eBay:
- This CD 145 insulator by H.G. Company in yellow-amber sold for $2,400
- This CD 269 insulator by Oakman in light aqua sold for $1,200
- This CD 19 insulator by McLaughlin in multicolored slag glass sold for $565
- This CD 162 insulator by Hemingray in blue sold for $355
Are you a glass insulator super-fan? Check out the National Insulator Association for insulator history, identification resources and galleries.
3. L.L. Bean Boat and Tote bags
Founded in 1912 by Leon Leonwood Bean, L.L. Bean is a family-owned business headquartered in Freeport, Maine. Outside of Maine, the company operates 47 retail shops and 10 outlet stores across the nation.
In 1944, L.L. Bean added to its long line of iconic outdoor products with the release of The Ice Carrier. This generously proportioned tote bag was offered in canvas or leather and designed to haul ice and wood.
Somewhere along the line, the bag was renamed the Boat and Tote, and its uses were expanded upon by new generations of both rural and urban customers.
Today, L.L. Bean’s Boat and Tote is still a top seller. On eBay, this early L.L. Bean Boat and Tote bag from the 1960s recently sold for $864.89, and this large red canvas Boat and Tote sold for $699.99 on Etsy.
Want to learn more about the surprising world of vintage collectibles? Check out my series on hidden treasures in the secondhand market.
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