Top 14 Indiana Collectibles That Are Skyrocketing In Value
Indiana’s rich history has created a treasure trove of collectibles that savvy collectors are snatching up faster than corn grows in Hoosier fields. From kitchen cabinets to handcrafted glassware, these items aren’t just pieces of the past, they’re investments gaining serious value.
Curious if your home holds hidden treasures? These Indiana-made items could be worth far more than you think.
1. Vintage Hoosier Cabinets
How did these beautiful kitchen workhorses become the darlings of interior designers everywhere? Hoosier cabinets were the original all-in-one kitchen solution before built-ins took over.
These oak beauties originally sold for about $30 in the early 1900s but now command $1,200-$2,500 depending on condition. With their pull-out workspaces, flour sifters, and spice racks, they’re both functional and charming.
Restoration has become something of an art form among collectors, with original hardware particularly prized. I’ve seen bidding wars erupt at auctions over cabinets with intact flour charts!
2. Indiana Glass Company Dishes & Serveware
When light catches those distinctive carnival glass patterns, magic happens in any collection. Indiana Glass Company pieces have tripled in value over the last decade alone.
Their famous carnival glass, milk glass, and depression glass pieces feature distinctive patterns like Harvest Grape, Hen on Nest, and Diamond Point. Collectors particularly seek out the cobalt blue items, which can fetch upwards of $200 for a single candy dish.
It’s amazing to think these everyday objects that once sold for pennies at five-and-dime stores now command serious attention at antique shows across the country.
3. Duncan Glassware (Washington, IN)
Though often overlooked by casual collectors, Duncan glassware represents some of Indiana’s finest craftsmanship. Duncan’s signature sandwich glass patterns have become the silent stars of the antique world.
Their intricate pressed glass patterns from the 1920s-40s, especially the Teardrop and Floral patterns, now command premium prices. What once sold for a dollar might fetch $75-$150 per piece today.
Where can you find these treasures? Estate sales in southern Indiana still occasionally yield Duncan pieces that owners don’t recognize as valuable. I’ve witnessed collectors practically hyperventilate when spotting unmarked Duncan pieces at rural auctions!
4. Antique Ball Mason Jars (Muncie, IN)
Are those dusty blue jars in your basement actually worth something? Ball Mason jars from Muncie aren’t just canning containers, they’re pieces of American industrial history!
The most valuable jars feature quirky manufacturing errors or rare colors. The Buffalo nickel-embedded jars from the limited 1923-1933 runs can sell for over $1,000, while unusual colors like amber or deep olive green command $300-$500.
If you’ve got Ball Perfect Mason jars with square shoulders and the authentic 1880s-1910s script logo, you’re sitting on potential gold. I’ve watched collectors at shows practically tremble when handling rare examples with original zinc lids.
5. Mid-Century Furniture By Tell City Chair Company
If you’re lucky enough to spot Tell City’s iconic maple furniture at estate sales, grab it immediately! Their signature hard rock maple pieces have developed a cult following among mid-century enthusiasts.
Tell City Chair Company’s Andover series, with its warm amber finish and colonial styling, has seen values climb 200% in just five years. Dining sets that sold for $300 in the 1960s now fetch $2,000-$3,500 complete.
This southern Indiana company’s craftsmanship stands out with dovetailed drawers and solid construction that puts today’s furniture to shame. I’ve noticed young collectors specifically hunting for these pieces to anchor their vintage-inspired homes.
6. Early American Pressed Glass From Indiana Makers
Forget diamonds, pressed glass from Indiana’s historic factories might be your best investment right now. These intricate treasures capture light like nothing else in a collection.
Indiana’s pressed glass industry boomed from the 1880s through the 1920s, with companies like Greentown Glass producing patterns that command astonishing prices today. The famous Chocolate Glass pieces from Greentown can sell for $500-$1,200 per item.
What makes these pieces special? The unique chocolate-colored glass resulted from an accidental chemical reaction during manufacturing. I’ve seen grown collectors nearly weep when adding rare examples to their collections.
7. Vintage Indiana Tollware
Originating from the 18th century, tollware involves the painting of metal objects and was a popular craft in Indiana. These trays and boxes are adored for their vibrant hand-painted designs, often featuring florals and pastoral scenes. The charm of tollware lies in its blend of functionality and art.
Collectors are drawn to the unique stories each piece tells, capturing a snapshot of Indiana’s artistic endeavors of the past. The increasing rarity of these items makes them a hot commodity among antique enthusiasts.
Fun fact: Tollware was initially created to mimic more expensive imported goods, making it an affordable luxury for many households.
8. Retro Formica Kitchen Tables (1950s–60s Indiana-Made)
When chrome meets colorful Formica, magic happens in the collecting world! Indiana’s furniture factories produced thousands of these cheerful kitchen sets that now command serious attention.
The chrome-trimmed tables with boomerang or atomic star patterns in turquoise, yellow, or pink can sell for $700-$1,200 for complete sets. Indiana manufacturers like Kuehne and American Dinette led production during the mid-century boom.
These nostalgic pieces carry powerful emotional connections for many collectors. I’ve noticed young families specifically seeking out these tables to create retro kitchen spaces, driving prices steadily upward over the past decade.
9. Hand-Carved Oak Buffets & Sideboards
Did you know Indiana’s furniture heritage rivals that of any state? The hand-carved oak buffets from 19th-century Indiana workshops showcase craftsmanship that modern furniture can’t touch.
These magnificent pieces feature quarter-sawn oak with intricate carvings of acorns, lions, and grapevines. Once available for under $100 in the 1970s, quality examples now regularly command $3,000-$7,000 at auction.
The weight alone tells you something special, these solid pieces often require four strong people to move! I’ve watched collectors run their hands over the carvings with reverence, appreciating details that took craftsmen weeks to complete by hand.
10. Vintage Enamelware From Indiana Hardware Stores
This humble kitchenware, once stocked in every Indiana hardware store, now commands collector bidding wars at auctions. Enamelware’s nostalgic charm captures something essential about Hoosier practicality.
The white enamel pieces with blue or red trim, manufactured by Indiana companies like Vollrath and Columbian, have skyrocketed from yard sale prices to $75-$200 per piece. Coffee pots and unusual items like child-sized cookware sets are particularly valuable.
Hence the growing interest in what was once considered disposable kitchenware. I recently watched a complete set of blue-rimmed mixing bowls sell for $450 to an eager collector who’d been searching for years.
11. Ceramic Lamps By Indiana Pottery Studios
Are those distinctive ceramic lamps illuminating more than just your room? The Overbeck Sisters’ pottery studio in Cambridge City created some of Indiana’s most valuable collectibles.
Their distinctive Arts and Crafts style lamps, featuring nature motifs and matte glazes, now sell for $2,000-$5,000 each. Even lesser-known Indiana pottery studios like Muncie Clay Products have seen their lamp values triple in recent years.
What makes these pieces special is their handcrafted uniqueness, no two are exactly alike. I’ve watched interior designers at auctions outbid each other frantically for these ceramic treasures that perfectly complement today’s craftsman revival homes.
12. Antique Indiana Quilt & Textile Pieces
Though often overlooked for flashier collectibles, Indiana’s textile heritage represents some of the most valuable Hoosier artifacts today. These hand-stitched treasures tell intimate stories of Indiana’s past.
Amish and Mennonite quilts from northern Indiana counties can fetch $2,500-$8,000 depending on age, condition and pattern complexity. The Double Wedding Ring and Lone Star patterns from pre-1930 are particularly valuable.
It’s remarkable how these practical bedcoverings transformed into wall-worthy art. I recently witnessed a bidding war between museums for a documented Civil War-era Indiana album quilt, with the final price exceeding $12,000.
13. Farmhouse-Style Pie Safes & Jelly Cabinets
When rustic charm meets practical design, these humble Indiana kitchen pieces become surprising investment stars. Pie safes and jelly cabinets were essential for food storage before refrigeration became common.
Authentic 19th-century examples with punched tin panels featuring hearts, stars, or eagles can sell for $1,200-$3,500. The most valuable pieces retain their original milk paint finishes in blue, red, or green.
Where once these items were relegated to barns or painted over, they’re now centerpieces in designer homes. I watched a simple pine jelly cabinet with its original red wash sell for five times the auction estimate to an eager collector from California.
14. Art Deco Mirrors & Vanities From Indiana Craftsmen
If walls could talk, these glamorous Art Deco pieces would tell tales of Indiana’s surprising role in Jazz Age design. The geometric lines and waterfall styling capture a distinctive American moment.
Indiana furniture makers embraced Art Deco from 1925 to 1940, creating distinctive vanities and wall mirrors that now sell for $800-$2,500. The most valuable feature figured walnut veneers and original hardware.
This unexpected Hoosier connection to high style surprises many collectors. I recently watched a complete bedroom set from an Indianapolis manufacturer sell piece by piece for over $4,000 total, with the vanity alone commanding $1,200.
