20 Types Of Antiques That Only Get More Valuable Over Time, According To Professionals
Ever wonder why some old items fetch jaw-dropping prices at auctions? Not all antiques are created equal when it comes to investment potential.
Some treasures from the past actually increase in value as decades pass, becoming more coveted and rare. Antique experts have identified certain categories that consistently appreciate, making them smart additions to any collection.
1. Mid-Century Modern Furniture
Clean lines and functional beauty never go out of style! Pieces from designers like Eames, Noguchi, and Saarinen continue climbing in value.
Mid-century modern furniture combines artistic vision with practical use, appealing to both serious collectors and everyday homeowners. The limited production runs of authentic pieces ensure their growing scarcity.
2. First-Edition Books
Literary treasures with historical significance command premium prices. The market particularly favors works with author signatures or interesting inscriptions.
First-edition books from renowned authors like Hemingway or Austen can fetch astronomical sums. Condition matters enormously – books with intact dust jackets, no missing pages, and minimal wear attract the most serious collectors.
3. Fine Art Pottery
Handcrafted ceramic masterpieces from renowned studios gain significant value. Pieces from Rookwood, Grueby, and Newcomb College are particularly sought after.
Fine art pottery represents a perfect blend of functionality and artistic expression. The distinctive glazes, hand-painted designs, and artist signatures make each piece unique and increasingly valuable as similar examples become scarcer.
4. Vintage Advertising Signs
Nostalgic reminders of bygone brands captivate collectors worldwide. Porcelain, neon, and tin signs from the early to mid-20th century command premium prices.
Vintage advertising signs evoke powerful nostalgia while documenting commercial history. Original condition with minimal restoration, vibrant colors, and signs for defunct companies or products tend to appreciate most dramatically.
5. Arts And Crafts Movement Furniture
Handcrafted excellence from the early 1900s continues gaining admirers. Pieces from Stickley, Roycroft, and Greene & Greene workshops represent investment-grade craftsmanship.
Arts and Crafts furniture celebrates honest materials and visible joinery. The movement’s emphasis on quality over mass production means these pieces have enduring appeal to collectors who appreciate their solid construction and timeless design.
6. Vintage Cameras
Mechanical photography tools from legendary manufacturers attract passionate collectors. Leica, Hasselblad, and early Nikon models lead this growing market.
Retro cameras combine precision engineering with historical significance. Working condition examples with original cases, manuals, and accessories command the highest prices, especially rare models or those associated with famous photographers.
7. Art Deco Jewelry
Geometric brilliance from the 1920s and 30s captivates modern collectors. Pieces featuring platinum settings, fine diamonds, and colored gemstones continue appreciating.
Art Deco jewelry represents a distinctive era of bold design and exceptional craftsmanship. Signed pieces from houses like Cartier or Tiffany command premium prices, while even unsigned examples with quality materials and construction steadily increase in value.
8. Ancient Coins
Monetary history spanning millennia offers tangible connections to past civilizations. Greek, Roman, and Byzantine coins with clear details and provenance attract serious investors.
Ancient coins combine historical significance with artistic merit. Their limited supply – no more will ever be made – coupled with increasing collector demand ensures steady appreciation, particularly for examples with historical importance or exceptional preservation.
9. Early American Folk Art
Authentic expressions of American creativity command increasingly high prices. Weather vanes, hand-carved figures, and painted furniture from the 18th and 19th centuries lead this category.
Early American folk art captures cultural history through untrained artists’ works. The naive charm, historical significance, and increasing rarity of genuine examples make them highly desirable to museums and private collectors alike.
10. Chinese Porcelain
Imperial treasures from dynasties past continue breaking auction records. Ming and Qing dynasty pieces with imperial marks or provenance attract global collectors.
Chinese porcelain represents thousands of years of ceramic mastery. The combination of historical significance, artistic excellence, and increasing demand from wealthy Chinese collectors has driven values skyward, particularly for pieces with documented history.
11. Mission Oak Furniture
Honest craftsmanship from America’s early 20th century endures in popularity. Pieces from manufacturers like Stickley, Limbert, and Lifetime continue appreciating steadily.
Mission oak furniture combines simplicity with exceptional construction. The quarter-sawn oak’s distinctive grain, visible joinery, and functional design have attracted generations of collectors, ensuring these pieces maintain and increase their value.
12. Vintage Guitars
Musical investments continue hitting high notes with collectors. Pre-1970 instruments from Gibson, Fender, and Martin lead this emotionally-charged market.
Vintage guitars combine historical significance with practical usability. Players and collectors compete for the same limited supply of instruments with superior tone woods, craftsmanship, and the mystique associated with legendary musicians who played similar models.
13. Antique Rugs
Woven masterpieces from Persia, Turkey, and the Caucasus region command increasing respect. Fine examples from the 19th century or earlier continue appreciating steadily.
Antique rugs combine artistic expression with cultural history. The natural dyes, hand-spun wool, and intricate patterns represent traditions passed through generations. As genuine examples become scarcer, their values continue rising among discerning collectors.
14. Tiffany Lamps
Illuminated art from America’s premier glass studio continues shining brightly. Original examples with documented provenance command six and seven-figure prices.
Tiffany lamps represent the pinnacle of Art Nouveau craftsmanship. The labor-intensive leaded glass shades with nature-inspired motifs required exceptional skill to create. Their limited production and iconic status ensure continued appreciation.
15. Antique Pocket Watches
Mechanical marvels from the golden age of personal timekeeping tick steadily upward. Examples from Patek Philippe, Vacheron Constantin, and high-grade American makers lead this category.
Antique pocket watches combine artistic cases with intricate mechanical movements. Collectors particularly value complicated examples with features like minute repeaters or chronographs, especially those with original boxes and papers documenting provenance.
16. Early Photography
Visual time capsules from photography’s pioneering days fascinate modern collectors. Daguerreotypes, ambrotypes, and early paper photographs continue rising in value.
Early photography captures authentic glimpses of the 19th century world. Historical subject matter like Civil War scenes, Western expansion, or famous figures commands premium prices, especially when accompanied by documented provenance.
17. Antique Maps
Cartographic treasures continue charting a course to higher values. Early maps of America, Australia, and other regions of historical significance attract serious collectors.
Antique maps combine artistic beauty with historical documentation. Hand-colored examples, maps showing geographical misconceptions, or those depicting important historical periods maintain strong appeal to both institutional and private collectors.
18. Early American Silver
Precious metal masterpieces from colonial craftsmen shine in today’s market. Works by Paul Revere, Myer Myers, and other important silversmiths continue appreciating significantly.
Early American silver combines functional elegance with historical significance. Pieces with clear maker’s marks, original engravings, and documented provenance command premium prices, especially those associated with prominent early American families.
19. Antique Watches
Mechanical marvels from prestigious manufacturers continue ticking up in value. Brands like Patek Philippe and Rolex lead the investment-grade timepiece market.
Antique watches combine artistic craftsmanship with mechanical ingenuity. Collectors prize original components, documentation of provenance, and pieces with historical significance or limited production numbers.
20. Native American Artifacts
Cultural treasures from indigenous North American peoples attract passionate collectors. Pre-1900 Navajo textiles, Plains Indian beadwork, and Northwest Coast carvings lead this market.
Native American artifacts represent sophisticated artistic traditions developed over centuries. Their cultural significance, combined with increasing scarcity of authentic examples, drives steady appreciation, particularly for pieces with documented history.
