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Thrift stores and flea market shelves are filled with towers of dusty cups and mismatched martini glasses, but among the clinking rubble are sparkling crystal coupes worth a pretty sum, hefty highball glasses coveted by collectors, and silver shakers that glitter like jewelry and boast eyebrow-raising value. To help distinguish between what’s truly collectible and what to pass on, we asked vintage experts to sound off on surprisingly valuable barware.
Culver Glassware
Culver is known for its 22-karat gold designs, which turn everyday cocktail glasses into exciting conversation pieces. The brand still makes designs today, but its older pieces are especially collectible.
“The glassware is just beautiful and iconic,” says Erica Vevurka, vintage expert, interior designer, and founder of Dogwood Interiors. “Valencia is one of the most popular patterns; it’s gold with a jewel-tone green color. There’s also another gorgeous pattern, Shoji, that is like gold bamboo and is highly sought after.”
Along with numerous designs—including some holiday or seasonal motifs—the brand makes a variety of glass types, including highballs, lowballs, and even wine glasses. Depending on the pattern and age, Vevurka says the value ranges from $15 to $50 per glass, with some of the rarer patterns fetching even more.
J.A. Henckels Cocktail Shakers
If you come across a cocktail shaker made by J.A. Henckels, you might as well go out and buy yourself a lottery ticket to keep cashing in on that luck. “There are lots of amazing vintage cocktail shakers that are as fun as they are striking, and some of the best were made by J.A. Henckels, the same German company known for its cutlery,” says Julie Muniz, vintage curator and home decor expert.
She says that during the machine age—the late 1920s through 1930s—the company produced shakers in iconic shapes like airplanes and zeppelins. While there are many replicas, authentic pieces are marked with the German patent number and can be valued for several thousand dollars.
“The airplane model is particularly fun,” she says. “The wings detach as functional pocket flasks, and the tail unscrews to house hidden shot glasses. There’s even a muddler and funnel. Super ingenious and definitely a conversation piece.”
Majolica Barware
For barware that steps outside of the expected, majolica settles squarely in the spotlight. Whereas many pieces are made from crystal or glass, Majolica is a style of earthenware pottery with jewel tones and whimsical forbes, says Bruce Littlefield, a vintage expert and author of Garage Sale America.
The most sought-after brands that produced barware include Minton, George Jones & Sons, Holdcroft, and Sarreguemines. Victorian-era pieces are particularly valuable, though midcentury pieces are collectible, as well.
Whether it’s a pitcher shaped like a parrot (perfect for a Tiki setup) or a bright red aperitif set that doubles as high art, Littlefield says this collectible clay art adds a certain élan to any home.
“After years of minimalism, these playful forms and vibrant colors are suddenly hot,” he says. “Look for vivid glazes, maker’s marks, crisp molded details, and no major cracks or repairs.”
Values range from around $100 for more common pieces to several thousand dollars for rarer Victorian examples by top makers, particularly figural pitchers, ice buckets, and complete sets in excellent condition.
Fostoria Glassware
Americana collectors revel in the beauty of Fostoria, which produced iconic thick and solid-colored goblets and stemware. This American-made glass manufacturing company was in business from the late 1800s until the 1980s, and the pieces range from hefty and colorful to dainty and minimalist.
“Many patterns were produced in multiple colors, which makes collecting them especially fun,” Vevurka says. “My favorite part about Fostoria is that it isn’t fussy, and you can stick it in the dishwasher. It’s also one of the vintage glassware brands I come across most often at thrift stores and estate sales.”
Generally, she says the glasses are valued between $5 and $25 each, depending on the pattern and color.
Genuine Crystal
Another classic barware item that’s highly collectible is vintage crystal, which is often hiding among a sea of glassware at thrift stores and antique markets. To spot the valuable stuff, you just need to know what to look for.
“For crystal versus glass, I always start with flicking the glass. Crystal tends to sing and sound more like a bell, whereas glass has more of a thud,” Vevurka notes. “Some makers—like Waterford, Baccarat, and Orrefors—are marked, although the mark can be hard to see.”
Signed pieces by these brands can easily sell for $50 to $100 a stem, and sometimes much more, Vervurka says. However, she adds that some of the most covetable crystal pieces haven’t been signed at all, but are covetable because they’re beautiful and the quality is obvious.
One shopping tip: Marquis by Waterford is the brand’s later, lower-priced line, and it’s not as valuable. Vevurka says that traditional Waterford crystal tends to hold steadier value, especially in classic patterns like Lismore, which is one of its most popular patterns.
