What’s hot and what’s not in kitchen collectibles

Kitschy kitchens decorated with vintage cookware and furniture from the colorful eras of the 1930s, ’40s, and ’50s and beyond are captivating not only baby boomers who remember many of these items sitting in Grandma’s kitchen, but also to younger collectors. Whether you prefer the bold primary colors of the post-war years, the softer farmhouse color palettes of the mid-to-late 1950s, or the earthy tones of the 1970s, there are plenty of kitchen items and textiles to choose from. affordable to choose from.

Among bona fide cooking and home décor enthusiasts, there are definite differences in their collecting styles. A buyer may not only be attracted to shapes, color, or patterns from a certain time period, but may also prefer kitchen utensils, figurines, textile planters, advertising, etc. associated with a loved one or a precious moment in his or her life. For example, a collector began accumulating kitchen items after his grandmother’s death. He collected cookware that reminded him of his grandmother’s red and yellow kitchen in Brooklyn, New York, in the late 1940s and early 1950s.

Kitchen appliances, household appliances, ceramics, bowls, cans, jars, textiles in red, yellow, green or blue colors are by far the most sought after colors by collectors. Below you’ll find a smaller group of shoppers, predominantly in areas closer to large metropolitan centers, looking for items in mid-century pink and turquoise. While the funniest atomic age colors just mentioned,
Appealing to a small but loyal group, this period was also known for home accessories produced in softer pastels, a palette very popular today with artisan-style collectors. The last ones are the youngest.
collectors who get as sentimental about the greens, rusts and browns of the ’70s as I do about the reds and yellows of the ’40s and ’50s. If you’re a collectibles dealer, keep this in mind the next time you pass up a drab green bowl at a flea market…the population that will love that “muddy green bowl” is fast becoming today’s collectors .

While the colorful eras draw attention, it doesn’t seem like as many people are hopping on the bandwagon to buy orange and pink flowered kitchen canisters and other kitchen heirlooms from the Hippie generation. Yes, you will see these kitchen items on eBay and other online auctions, but they are not very popular in most antique stores and malls. If you’re really into the Shaggy Sixties, visit thrift stores like the Salvation Army or Goodwill Industries, where you might get lucky and find some of these flower power leftovers.

As you can imagine, color is a big factor for kitchen collectors, but so is unusual style. Today there is a renewed interest in collectibles from the Art Deco period, so keep an eye out for appliances, accessories and furniture that have a distinctive deco design. Even paper collectibles, such as decoratively patterned recipe booklets, are of interest to collectors. While the more expensive pottery associated with the Arts & Crafts movement is not generally considered a “cookie collectible,” styles from this period are making their way into today’s kitchen. In fact, there is a new generation of “art-inspired kitchen collectibles” for the collector with a big budget.

But what about everyday kitchen collectibles, what’s in and what’s not among the average collector? What I find most surprising in answering this question is how different the answer is depending on who you ask. If you do an online search on this topic, you’ll find “popularity” defined by how often a particular collectible is searched on the internet or sold on a specific auction site. Cookie jars are one of those collectibles that are consistently listed in the top ten kitchen collectibles. However, I have found that what is declared as “hot” online is not necessarily what is sold in physical stores.

In addition to unique items, I also find that people like collectibles that they can use, which is why Pyrex sells so well. Pam Kaplan, owner of Preservecottage.com, said the pink “Gooseberry” pattern has been her best seller. I find that Pyrex in all colors works well. Old-fashioned egg beaters and rolling pins are also popular household items because these older models work better than newer products. Sets of tin cans and bread boxes that are colorful. in excellent condition and at a reasonable price they are always appreciated by kitchen collectors. On the other hand, if an object cannot fit in the dishwasher or microwave or is difficult to care for, it will move more slowly. This is why older sets of dishes sit on many store shelves for so long.

Renovation and salvage items (antique stoves, doorknobs, architectural trim, windows) are very “in” right now, as collectors and homeowners alike are mixing old styles with newer kitchens or creating new twists. in vintage themes like “Lodge Style” or “Country Style.” Victorian.” “Country Victorian,” also known as “Romantic Country,” emphasizes the softer, more feminine elements of the Victorian era and removes the heavy, dark components. I’ve seen clients order Victorian sink sets not for their areas vanity to sit on a sink, but for your kitchen tables or counters to create romantic accents.The pitcher alone or sitting on the sink is often used for a fresh or dried flower arrangement.

There has definitely been a trend to “upcycle” collectibles and furniture and incorporate vintage flair into contemporary homes. For example, a sleek painted Hoosier cabinet can add charm to a kitchen with the addition of a computer monitor located on the pull-out baking surface, not the batter bowls. A collection of cleverly arranged white iron stone pitchers can add the perfect touch to an urban chic kitchen condo. A white painted 1940s bookcase can be hung on the kitchen wall to store your favorite collection. Are you noticing?

So if I have to try to answer the question of what do people buy, I would say that they are investing in items that are both functional and decorative. Although it wasn’t easy, I divided my list of what’s hot and what’s not into three categories, (1) Hot kitchen collectibles to keep an eye on (2) Classic favorites (3) What’s not hot in kitchen collectibles (further).

Hot Kitchen Collectibles to Keep an Eye on

Chippy painted kitchen tables, chairs and cabinets, open wall shelves

art deco “everything”

Advertising tins (coffee, tea, spices).

French and European enamel, American enamel with decorative style

Old stoves and appliances

Very fine country items including farm tables, vessels.

Pastel ceramic vases, iron stone, ceramic art.

China items including decorative plates

Original items i.e. polka dot bowls

classic favorites

Cookie jars.

Pyrex

fire king

bakelite

Fiestaware, Py, Holt Howard

Teapots, bowls, spice jars, kitchen sets, salt and pepper shakers.

Colored bed linen, ie tablecloths, kitchen towels, aprons. whimsical potholders

Bread boxes, canister sets, recipe boxes, match holders,

Tools with red or green handles, rollers.

What is not fashionable in kitchen collectibles (more)

picnic accessories

Thermal plastic cups for drinks and ice creams

hammered aluminum

primitives

gray enamel

colonial style household items