While plenty of vintage items are worth holding onto at all costs and some are even surging in popularity, there are others that have had their time in the sun and are now falling out of favor, according to experts. Below, vintage experts reveal six vintage and antique pieces that were once in high demand but are no longer garnering as much attention from shoppers and collectors. Now here at Country Living, we always believe that if you love something, it is always in. So, if you still enjoy any of these items, by all means search them out or hold onto them in your home! But, if you’re looking to part ways with them for some cash, we advise not getting your hopes up!
Milk Glass
Vintage glassware remains popular for the most part, but according to Laura Brock, the founder of House of Hanbury, white milk glass in particular is no longer in demand. “I can barely give it away,” she says, though she notes its popularity in the past. “White milk glass was once highly sought after from the 1980s to the early 2000s due to cottage and farmhouse decor trends,” Laura explains. “People sought out entire collections for their homes, similar to buying complete china sets.”
Today, collectors are shopping with more intention, Laura says, forgoing entire sets for individual pieces that speak to them and their style. “The average milk glass bud vase is overlooked while pieces with character, unusual forms, or exceptional detailing are still sought after,” she says. However, while white milk glass isn’t garnering as much attention these days, colored milk glass is still quite popular, especially the blue, green, and pink colorways, Laura notes.
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Vintage Haldon Group Ceramics
Chelsea Spits, the founder of Park Avenue Co., has noticed a decline in interest for vintage Haldon Group ceramics—“particularly the striped pieces,” she says. In the past, Chelsea explains, platters via the maker that could go for $200 to $300 are no longer selling for such high amounts. Why might this be the case? “Modern ceramics are producing equally charming pieces, and with stripes and other charming details seemingly everywhere, you’ve got what you need without the scarcity and vintage price tag,” she explains.
Bombay Company Brass Bunnies
Another brand-specific item that seems to be falling by the wayside, in Chelsea’s view? Brass bunny figurines from Bombay Company, particularly the sleeping bunny model. “I’ve seen these go for extraordinary amounts, but the market just isn’t there anymore,” she says. “Sellers on auction sites and through private listings are still holding on to those higher price points, but buyers aren’t following—people just don’t want to pay $300-plus for a sleeping bunny shelf sitter!” Plus, Chelsea adds, it’s easy to come across ceramic versions of the bunny in the $40 to $50 range on Etsy, which makes people even less inclined to shell out for the brass originals.
Vintage Silver Plate Set
People no longer feel inclined to purchase vintage silver plate sets, instead settling on one or two pieces that they feel drawn to most, says Laura. “Large tea sets, matching flatware, and coffee urns are especially hard to sell,” she says. “However, people often purchase single pieces that offer character, decorative appeal, and usability.” In fact, these items are often styled beyond the kitchen or dining room. “A silver-plated champagne bucket can double as a vase, and a silver-plated sugar bowl can hold cotton balls, sugar packets, or even an air plant,” says Laura.
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Matching Furniture Sets—Especially Midcentury Modern
When it comes to vintage furniture, matching sets are also a no-go for today’s buyers, notes Kate Pearce, the founder of Kate Pearce Vintage. “Today’s buyers are really drawn to more collected interiors that feel layered and personalized, and matching sets are really the antithesis of that,” she says. Midcentury modern dining furniture specifically is an especially tough sell. “So many people are living with smaller footprints, and even young homeowners with larger homes are opting to forgo a formal dining room altogether,” says Kate. “The demand for those large and formal, matching midcentury dining sets is not what it used to be.”
RELATED: 5 Vintage Furniture Pieces You’ll Never Regret Buying—According to an Antiques Lover
Early-2000s Tuscan-Style Decor and Furnishings
Tuscan-style designs are seen as totally passé in all forms, says Ariene Bethea, the founder of Dressing Rooms Interiors Studio. “This includes heavy, wrought-iron accessories, grape and vineyard motifs, faux-finished furniture, oversized scrollwork, and mass-produced Mediterranean-inspired pieces that were widely popular during the housing boom years,” she says. “The decline largely comes down to changing taste—today’s buyers tend to gravitate toward more collected, personal interiors rather than heavily themed decorating styles.” However, if you must go the Tuscan route, Ariene adds, at least ensure that you’re not purchasing anything mass-produced.
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