7 Antiques Pennsylvania Collectors Are Buying And 5 They’re Letting Go

Pennsylvania’s antique scene is buzzing with change as collectors shift their focus toward new treasures. Some pieces are flying off the shelves while others gather dust in forgotten corners.

Understanding these trends can help you make smarter buying and selling decisions in today’s market.

1. Redware Pottery

Collectors are scrambling to find authentic Pennsylvania redware pottery right now. This earthenware with its distinctive reddish-brown color was made by local potters throughout the 18th and 19th centuries.

You’ll notice pieces decorated with sgraffito designs or slip trailing command the highest prices. Functional items like crocks and pie plates are especially popular among serious collectors today.

2. Painted Furniture from Lancaster County

Lancaster County’s painted furniture is having a major moment among Pennsylvania collectors. These colorful pieces feature bold floral designs and geometric patterns that reflect Pennsylvania German heritage.

Blanket chests and wardrobes with original paint are particularly sought after. I’ve seen prices climb steadily as more people appreciate the craftsmanship and folk art beauty these pieces represent.

3. Fraktur Documents

Pennsylvania German fraktur art is attracting serious attention from collectors statewide. These illuminated manuscripts feature birth certificates, bookplates, and religious texts decorated with vibrant watercolors and calligraphy.

Hand-drawn examples from the 1700s and early 1800s are incredibly valuable. Museums and private collectors compete fiercely for well-preserved pieces with bright colors and intricate detailing.

4. Cast Iron Stove Plates

Early Pennsylvania ironwork is capturing collector interest like never before. Cast iron stove plates from colonial foundries display biblical scenes, coats of arms, and dates that tell fascinating stories.

You’ll find these rectangular plates were originally part of five-plate and six-plate stoves. Pieces with clear markings from Pennsylvania foundries like Durham or Warwick are especially prized by historians and decorators alike.

5. Conestoga Wagon Artifacts

Anything connected to Conestoga wagons is flying off antique shop shelves across Pennsylvania. Original hardware, toolboxes, and painted panels from these iconic freight wagons represent American frontier history.

Even smaller items like iron brackets or wooden parts command impressive prices. Collectors value these artifacts as tangible connections to Pennsylvania’s crucial role in westward expansion and early American commerce.

6. Victorian Mourning Jewelry

Pennsylvania collectors are developing a fascination with Victorian mourning jewelry. These sentimental pieces contain locks of hair, photographs, or inscriptions commemorating lost loved ones.

Brooches and lockets made from jet, onyx, or gutta-percha are particularly desirable. I find the craftsmanship remarkable, and collectors appreciate how these pieces reflect 19th-century attitudes toward death and remembrance in Pennsylvania families.

7. Early American Quilts

Handmade quilts from Pennsylvania’s quilting tradition are incredibly hot right now. Patterns like Log Cabin, Double Wedding Ring, and Pennsylvania Dutch designs showcase extraordinary needlework and vibrant color combinations.

Collectors seek quilts with documented provenance and unusual patterns. Condition matters tremendously, but even pieces with minor wear from Lancaster or Berks County families find eager buyers at premium prices.

8. Oak Furniture

Heavy oak furniture is losing favor among Pennsylvania collectors who prefer lighter, more versatile pieces. Massive sideboards and dining sets that once dominated homes now struggle to find buyers.

Modern living spaces simply can’t accommodate these bulky items comfortably. You’ll see dealers offering significant discounts on oak pieces that would have sold quickly just a decade ago, reflecting changing tastes and smaller homes.

9. Depression Glass

Depression glass collections are being passed over by younger Pennsylvania collectors. These colorful pressed glass pieces from the 1920s and 1930s flooded the market as older collectors downsize their collections.

Common patterns in pink and green sit unsold at estate sales. While nostalgic for some, most buyers find the pieces too fragile and impractical for everyday use or display.

10. Brown Transferware

Brown transferware dishes are gathering dust in Pennsylvania antique shops. These Victorian-era ceramics with brown printed scenes once graced every formal dining table but now feel dated and dreary.

Collectors prefer brighter, more cheerful patterns instead. Even complete sets with serving pieces struggle to attract buyers, and prices have dropped considerably as demand continues declining across the state.

11. Brass Beds

Ornate brass beds are being left behind by Pennsylvania collectors seeking simpler bedroom furniture. These Victorian and Edwardian pieces require constant polishing and don’t fit contemporary bedroom aesthetics.

Many people find them too shiny and formal for modern tastes. Dealers report that brass beds linger in inventory far longer than wooden alternatives, even when priced aggressively to move them out.

12. Porcelain Figurines

Delicate porcelain figurines are falling out of favor with Pennsylvania collectors. These decorative pieces, including shepherdesses and romantic couples, dominated gift shops and curio cabinets for generations but now seem overly sentimental.

Younger buyers prefer minimalist decor without fragile knickknacks. Even premium makers like Lladro and Hummel struggle to maintain value as collectors focus their attention and budgets elsewhere.