While plenty of vintage items are worth holding on to at all costs and some are even surging in popularity, others have had their moment and are now falling out of favour, according to experts.
Having said that, if you love something, then it is always worth giving it pride of place in your home. But if you’re looking to cash in on a few vintage and antique pieces gathering dust in your attic, the five below might not fetch the price you're hoping for.
1. White milk glass
Vintage glassware remains popular for the most part, but according to Laura Brock, founder of House of Hanbury, white milk glass has become almost impossible to sell.
"People once sought out entire collections for their homes, similar to buying complete china sets," Laura says. But today's market has shifted entirely – “I can barely give it away," she adds.
Collectors are now shopping with more intention, Laura says, forgoing entire sets from 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."
2. Silverware sets
People no longer feel inclined to purchase whole sets of vintage silverware, 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.
3. Matching furniture sets (especially Midcentury)
When it comes to vintage furniture, matching sets are a no-go, notes Kate Pearce, the founder of Kate Pearce Vintage. "Today's buyers are really drawn to more collected interiors that feel layered and personalised, 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," adds Kate. "The demand for those large and formal, matching midcentury dining sets is not what it used to be."
Sophie Salata, head of brand at Vinterior has noticed a similar trend. "Pieces like low teak sideboards, minimalist Scandinavian coffee tables, or simple ladder-back dining chairs were once the fastest to sell. But because they’ve been such a staple for so long, they can now take a little longer to find the right buyer. They’re still timeless designs, but people are increasingly looking for pieces that feel a bit more distinctive."
4. Traditional collectibles
"Many traditional collectables are also continuing to decline, and this is partly because of taste and partly because of space," says Kayleigh Davies, antiques specialist at Auctionet and former expert for Cash in the Attic. "While one generation may have a strong connection to an item, it could be meaningless to the next."
Items such as commemorative plates, Toby jugs and Royal Doulton Ladies that may have sat pride of place on our grandparents' mantlepiece no longer make sense in modern homes.
"One of the problems we face with items sold as collectables is that if everyone is keeping things mint and boxed, we never get the kind of scarcity and rarity we see with items that become collectable more organically," Kayleigh adds.
5. Crystal serveware
Cut glass and crystal – decanters, punch bowls, matching stemware sets – have become one of the more dramatic casualties of the changing antiques market. Prices have reportedly hit rock bottom, with too much supply chasing too few buyers and even once-prestigious names such as Waterford now struggling to find buyers.
The underlying problem isn't really taste but occasion – the formal dinner party that once demanded a dedicated glass for every course has all but disappeared, taking the market for the glassware with it.
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Sarah Lyon is a New York City-based freelancer who produces interior design, travel and lifestyle content. Her work is featured in outlets including Apartment Therapy, Architectural Digest, MyDomaine, The Washington Post and The New York Times. Plus, her personal spaces have appeared on Apartment Therapy, The Everygirl, Houzz and more.
