14 Retro Household Items That Are Worth a Fortune

Is your home a hidden treasure trove? You may be sitting on rare retro items worth hundreds or thousands of dollars.

We pass down and pass around some of our most common household items. We walk past them everyday, not realizing the value they hide.

Some of the most commonly used items in your household could be a collector’s dream. Are you sitting on a vintage payday? Check your home for these 14 retro household items that are worth a fortune.

1. Persian Rugs

Persian rugs have been a popular feature of home decor for centuries. It’s little wonder. These rugs are handcrafted from a fine combination of silks and wool. Thousands of tiny knots are tied over and over by hand.

Each unique design tells a story of the rug’s history and its origins. Depending on the age of a Persian rug, and its quality, it can be worth hundreds or thousands of dollars.

2. Duck Decoys

In the 1940s and 50s, handpainted duck decoys were a highly collectible piece of home decor. Fast forward to the 1980s, when some of these retro decoys were selling for $190,000.

Is every duck decoy a valuable decoy? No. Age, condition, and manufacturer all play a role. If you have an antique duck decoy that’s in pristine condition and from the right region, you could be looking at a huge payday.

3. Knitting Caddies

Fiber arts like knitting and crocheting have been popular since the early 20th century. These popular pastimes are an art indeed. Feeding the yarn while maintaining your project is a balancing act.

That’s why knitting caddies were so popular. These fabric bags fixed to a wooden frame made knitting more organized and flexible. Now, they can be worth hundreds of dollars to antique collectors.

4. Metal Desk Fans

Like many other mid-century household goods, metal desk fans are highly collectible and valuable. This nondescript small appliance was featured in offices, businesses, and hotels through the 1930s and 1940s.

By the 1950s, most homes had them. Now, a working Emerson or Westinghouse metal fan can earn $150 or more at auction.

5. Classic Peacock Chairs

We all remember glamorous peacock chairs from the 1960s and 70s. These flamboyant wicker chairs featured an oversized back, woven in ornate patterns. The peacock-like appearance of the chairs earned them their name.

Today, these chairs are some of the most popular pieces of furniture on the market. Getting one in good condition can easily cost a collector $1,000 or more.

6. Vintage Floor Screens

It seems like everything mid-century is collectible right now. That’s certainly true of vintage floor screens. These foldable screens were a popular piece of home decor in the 1940s and the 1950s.

Heavily featured in old Hollywood classics, these retro pieces are sought after by trendsetters and antique enthusiasts alike. It’s common for these screens to sell for hundreds or even thousands of dollars when they come to market.

7. Mid-Century Barware

Among the other mid-century pieces, barware remains highly collectible. Enthusiasts are crazy for atomic glassware and classic brands like Georges Briard and Culver Glassware. Color, quality, age, and style all affect price.

However, some mid-century barware sets can be worth thousands of dollars. Individual pieces also hold their value selling for $150 or more at auction.

8. Porcelain Tableware

Porcelain sets have long been a classic piece of dinnerware. These sets of plates, cups, and saucers often feature delicate designs. Floral patterns and rural landscapes are heavily featured.

This fancy tableware isn’t just something for your grandmother’s china hutch, however. Some porcelain tableware sets are highly collectible and sell for hundreds and even thousands of dollars.

9. Retro Ornaments

We all like to feel nostalgic, especially during the holidays. It’s no wonder, then, that retro holiday ornaments are making a comeback. These collectible pieces of your cherished memories could be worth $1,000 or more.

Blown glass ornaments are the most valuable. Next, are plastic ornaments which usually sell for $100 or less. The real goldmine is antique German ornaments. Find some of these in your attic and they could be worth $18,000 or more.

10. Classic Pyrex

Your mom’s old Pyrex collection could be worth a chunk of cash. This retro dishware is one of the most collectible types of kitchenware. A vintage Pyrex butter dish could go for as much as $200. Meanwhile, some of the larger plates sell for $300 or more (each).

The fact that Pyrex is still making these dishes 100 years later seems to make little difference. The Pyrex craze is here to stay.

11. Vintage Cookie Jars

Cookie jars have been a staple household item since the early 20th century. Fast forward to modern times. The retro cookie jar craze has not waned. These little household wonders continue to hold their value.

If you have one of these old-school cookie jars in your house, it could be worth a small fortune. Popular designs from the 1950s and earlier can sell for hundreds and even thousands of dollars.

12. Cuckoo Clocks

Did your grandmother’s old cuckoo clock keep you up at night? Well, those sleepless stays away from home could payoff. Retro cuckoo clocks are extremely collectible today. That means that they can be extremely valuable.

Handcrafted varieties are worth the most, going for $2,000 or more. As always, quality, craftsmanship, and age all go into determining the value of a retro cuckoo clock.

13. Canning Jars

Not so long ago, home canning was a popular activity. Now, the glass jars used for that canning are highly collectible. Canning jars are sought-after decorative pieces.

You will see these jars doing overtime as elegant storage alternatives or trendy wedding centerpieces. Dig up a retro inverted Ball Mason jar and you could find yourself with a $1,000 payout.

14. Vintage CorningWare

CorningWare is one of the most valuable retro items out there. The Wildflower place setting, created between 1977 and 1984, is one of the most collectible patterns.

A complete and like-new version of this set can sell for $10,000 at an auction. Older sets, like those produced between 1871 and 1875, can sell for even more.