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

Kitsch kitchens decorated with vintage cookware and furniture from the colorful eras of the ’30s, ’40s, ’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 postwar years, the softer farmhouse color palettes of the mid to late 1950s, or the earth tones of the 1970s, there are plenty of kitchen items and textiles to choose from. affordable to choose from.

Among bona fide home decor and cooking enthusiasts, there are definite differences in their collection styles. A buyer may not only be attracted to the shapes, color or patterns of 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 life. For example, a collector began to accumulate kitchen items after the death of his grandmother. 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, appliances, ceramics, bowls, cans, boats, textiles in red, yellow, green or blue colors are by far the most sought after colors by collectors. Next, you’ll find a smaller group of shoppers, predominantly in areas closer to major metropolitan centers, looking for items in mid-century pink and turquoise colors. While the funniest colors of the atomic age that we just mentioned,
Attracting a small but loyal following, this period was also known for home accessories produced in softer pastel colours, a very popular palette today among craft-style collectors. The latter are the youngest.
collectors who become as sentimental about the greens, rusts and browns of the seventies as I am with the reds and yellows of the forties and fifties. If you’re a collectible 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 turn heads, it doesn’t seem like as many people are jumping 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 an important 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, fixtures, and furniture that feature distinctive Deco-style design. Even paper collectibles, such as recipe booklets with decorative motifs, are of interest to collectors. While the more expensive pottery associated with the Arts & Crafts movement is not generally considered a “kitchen collectible,” styles from this period are making their way into the kitchen today. In fact, there is a new generation of “art-inspired kitchen collectibles” for the collector on a big budget.

But what about everyday kitchen collectibles, what’s hot 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 wear, which is why Pyrex sells so well. Pam Kaplan, owner of Preservecottage.com, said the “Gooseberry” pink 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 perform 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 item can’t go in the dishwasher or microwave or is difficult to care for, it will move more slowly. This is why older dinnerware sets 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 are mixing vintage styles with newer kitchens or creating new twists on vintage themes like “Cottage Style” or “Country Style.” Victorian”. “Country Victorian”, also known as “country romantic”, emphasizes the softer, more feminine elements of the Victorian era while removing the heavy, dark components. I have seen customers order Victorian sink sets not for their areas of 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 “repurpose” collectibles and furniture and incorporate vintage style 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 removable baking surface, not the batter bowls. A collection of cleverly arranged white ironstone jugs can add the perfect touch to a chic urban 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 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 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 (plus).

Hot kitchen collectibles to keep an eye on

chippy painted kitchen tables chairs and cabinets open wall shelves

art deco “everything”

Advertising cans (coffee, tea, spices).

French and European enamel, American enamel with decorative style

Old stoves and appliances

Very fine country items including farm tables, pots.

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 bedding, i.e. tablecloths, tea towels, aprons. whimsical potholders

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

Tools with red or green handles, rollers.

What’s Not in Kitchen Collectibles (More)

picnic accessories

Thermal plastic cups for drinks and ice cream

hammered aluminum

primitives

gray enamel

colonial style housewares