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The Most Common Valuable Collectibles in Your Home You May Not Know About

May 04, 2012 | view archive

Ordinary people all over the world may have antiques and other items that are extremely valuable and do not even know they have them. Most of these treasures will be sold at auction to the highest bidder. Maybe you are one of these people.

Wouldn't that be nice?

We all know about the usual collectibles that increase in value like stamps, coins, comics and baseball cards. A perfect example of this is the New York Yankee, Babe Ruth baseball card from 1933, Goudey #53, which, according to the SMR price guide from April of 2005, was worth $110,000. But, what else can be worth money? Antiques and arts are some other items to consider. Some of these items can be worth very large sums of money.

Antique Jewelry

Any kind of designer jewelry that has been signed by designers, such as Van Cleef, Tiffany, Cartier or Arpels, is valuable. In addition, jewelry that has a specific recognizable style, such as Art Deco, is also considered valuable.

Antique Quilts

Antique quilts that are hiding in your attic could also be a valuable piece of your treasure. In fact, a quilt sold for $264,000 in 1991 at Sotheby’s. It was a Civil War-era quilt. It is now known as the ‘Reconciliation Quilt.’

Pottery & Porcelain

Hutschenreuther German Hand Painted Porcelain Vase sold in a past Antique Helper auction

Eighteenth century, European figurine collectibles and anything reminiscent of the period in which it was made, meaning figures designed with period costumes are valuable. These valuable collectibles can also be from the 1960s or 1970s.

China

Many fantastic English companies produced china in the 1800s. Unfortunately, most of their pieces have been forgotten. Minton China, from the 1800s, brings top dollar at the auctions. It is common for one of these Minton China pieces to bring $4,000 or more.

Some of the more valuable Minton China looks like enameled stoneware and are usually quite large. These pieces are especially valuable. Look for that old china that has been sitting in your grandmother’s china cabinet for the last twenty years. You may find an English treasure to behold.

Paintings

Luk Chuntao Lotus and Bird Watercolor Scroll Painting sold in an Antique Helper's February 2012 Auction

One thing we should all know is to check our paintings/pictures prior to getting rid of them. We have all heard the stories about people with a painting that ends up being worth tons of money. Remember this the next time you go to throw out that ugly, old painting that has been collecting dust in your basement.

Antique Furniture

At a Sotheby’s auction in late 2010, a Thomas Chippendale commode sold for $5,980,438, which made it the world’s highest-priced piece of English furniture. A commode is a chest of drawers with a gracefully curved front; sometimes it also has shaped sides and is said to resemble 'French' furniture taste.

So, if you are considering sending that hand me down figurine to the nearest consignment shop or selling it in your upcoming garage sale, you may want to think again. Some of your things may be more valuable than you thought!