In California, These 9 Interior Antiques Might Sell For Pennies And These 9? Don’t Even Try

The California antiques market is a fascinating world of highs and lows. Some treasures that once commanded high prices now gather dust in thrift stores, while others have skyrocketed in value. Whether you’re a seasoned collector or weekend garage sale hunter, knowing which items to snatch up and which to pass on can make all the difference.

1. Bargain Find: Vintage Milk Glass

Once a staple in grandma’s china cabinet, milk glass pieces now flood California thrift stores at rock-bottom prices. The market is simply oversaturated with these creamy white decorative items. Grab decorative bowls, vases, and candy dishes for mere dollars; items that cost ten times more when new.

2. Valuable Gem: Mid-Century Modern Furniture

California’s love affair with mid-century modern design shows no signs of cooling! Authentic pieces by designers like Eames, Noguchi, or Herman Miller command astronomical prices. Even damaged examples can fetch thousands, especially in design-conscious areas like Palm Springs and Los Angeles.

3. Penny Pincher: Ornate Victorian Furniture

Heavy, dark Victorian furniture practically begs to be adopted in the Golden State. Bulky sideboards and elaborately carved tables that once defined luxury now sell for a fraction of their original value. Young Californians with minimalist sensibilities simply don’t have space or desire for these oversized relics.

4. Worth a Fortune: California Plein Air Paintings

Early California landscape paintings capture the state’s stunning natural beauty through artists’ eyes. Works by members of the California Impressionist movement like Edgar Payne or Guy Rose regularly sell for six figures. Even lesser-known artists’ paintings depicting iconic California scenery can command impressive sums.

5. Bargain Basement: Crystal Decanters

Remember those fancy crystal decanters everyone’s parents displayed? Now they’re practically being given away! California thrift stores often price these once-prized items under $10. The formal entertaining style they represent has fallen out of favor with younger generations who prefer casual gatherings over formal dinner parties.

6. Golden Investment: Arts and Crafts Movement Pieces

Handcrafted furniture and decorative items from the Arts and Crafts movement maintain strong value throughout California. Pieces by Gustav Stickley or Dirk van Erp command premium prices, especially in craftsman-rich neighborhoods. The movement’s emphasis on quality materials and craftsmanship resonates with today’s sustainability-minded Californians.

7. Practically Free: China Dinnerware Sets

Formal china sets that once represented significant investment now languish in California consignment shops. Complete sets of Noritake, Lenox, or Wedgwood dinnerware sell for pennies on the dollar. Modern Californians prefer dishwasher-safe, casual dinnerware over these hand-wash-only heirlooms that grandma saved for special occasions.

8. Surprisingly Valuable: Vintage California Pottery

Local pottery from California’s mid-century ceramic boom continues climbing in value. Brands like Bauer, Catalina, and Pacific fetch impressive prices, especially in vibrant colors. A single Bauer ringware bowl that might have sold for $5 in the 1990s can now command $100+ from collectors seeking authentic California design history.

9. Bargain Hunter’s Dream: Traditional Grandfather Clocks

Stately grandfather clocks that once represented generational wealth now struggle to find buyers in California. Massive pendulum clocks from brands like Howard Miller often sell for less than $300; a fraction of their original cost. Few modern California homes have dedicated space for these impressive but imposing timepieces.

10. Collector’s Gold: California Wine Country Memorabilia

Authentic vintage items from California’s wine-making history command premium prices from oenophiles. Original signs, tools, and advertising from pioneering Napa and Sonoma wineries fetch substantial sums. Even modest items like vintage corkscrews or wine labels from historic California vineyards can sell for surprising amounts.

11. Practically Worthless: Vintage Encyclopedias

Sets of encyclopedias that families once invested thousands in now practically require payment to haul away. Even leather-bound complete sets from Encyclopedia Britannica or World Book gather dust in California thrift stores. The internet has rendered these once-treasured reference books obsolete in our digital age.

12. Surprisingly Precious: Vintage California Travel Posters

Original travel posters promoting California destinations have skyrocketed in value. Authentic vintage advertisements for Southern Pacific Railroad, Santa Fe, or United Airlines featuring iconic California scenes can sell for thousands. The vibrant graphics and nostalgic appeal make these paper treasures highly sought after by collectors.

13. Practically Giving Away: Collectible Plates

Remember those limited-edition collector plates everyone’s aunt displayed? They’re now practically worthless in California. Bradford Exchange, Franklin Mint, and Hamilton Collection plates gather dust in thrift stores statewide. Despite their ‘limited edition’ status and original high prices, most sell for less than $5 today.

14. Worth Every Penny: Authentic California Gold Rush Items

Genuine artifacts from California’s gold rush era command premium prices from history buffs and museums. Original mining tools, gold scales, or documents from the 1849 period can fetch thousands. Even seemingly modest items like period photographs or letters mentioning gold rush towns have significant historical and monetary value.

15. Barely Worth the Space: Heavy Antique Desks

Massive roll-top and partners desks that once symbolized professional success now languish in California warehouses. These imposing wooden workstations frequently sell for under $100—a fraction of their craftsmanship value. Today’s remote workers prefer lightweight, mobile furniture over these immovable behemoths, regardless of their quality construction.

16. Surprisingly Valuable: Vintage California Maps

Old maps of California counties, cities, and regions have become highly collectible art pieces. Early survey maps, city plans, or topographical charts from the 19th and early 20th centuries command impressive prices. Tech professionals particularly prize detailed maps of Bay Area communities before Silicon Valley’s development.

17. Garage Sale Leftovers: Vintage Sewing Machines

Once representing significant household investments, vintage sewing machines now overflow at California estate sales. Even beautiful Singer machines in original cabinets often sell for under $50. While a few rare models maintain value, most of these sturdy workhorses have minimal appeal beyond their weight in metal.

18. Hidden Treasure: Early California Photography

Photographs documenting California’s early development command serious attention from collectors and institutions. Original works by Carleton Watkins, Eadweard Muybridge, or Ansel Adams fetch premium prices. Even anonymous photographs showing early San Francisco, Los Angeles, or gold country towns can be surprisingly valuable historical documents.