The reflex to declutter is a powerful one, and few things feel more satisfying than clearing an attic of pieces you've long since forgotten exist. But that battered lamp, those mismatched forks or that wooden cabinet you've always found rather gloomy may be worth considerably more than you realise.
We asked antiques experts what they'd urge you to look twice at before letting it go. Their answers range from childhood Lego languishing unused, to the very furniture your grandparents couldn't wait to be rid of – proof that yesterday's unwanted hand-me-downs have a habit of becoming today's coveted finds.
Here are five vintage and antique pieces worth rescuing from the donation pile.
1. Antiques for storage
"The demand for utility-focused antique and vintage home goods has surpassed the demand for decorative home goods," says Nick Smith, antique specialist owner of Smithers. This could mean dressers, armoires, sideboards and storage pieces rescued from old offices, shops or studios.
"Resale value has increased especially for apothecary cabinets with a lot of drawers. They would be listed at £200–£400 each five or six years ago. Now, a cabinet in good condition, with the original drawer handles and a good amount of the original cabinet finish, is listed at a substantially higher value."
Pay particular attention to if your pieces are dark wood.
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"There's a noticeable shift to darker woods. Buyers still want sleek lines and furniture that's substantial without being bulky, but they want the warmth of mahogany, stained oak or rosewood," says Kayleigh.
2. Kitchenware (and silverware in particular)
"With silver prices at a high, it's worth rifling through the cutlery drawers to check for hallmarks," says Kayleigh. "Don't worry if your pieces are mismatched, dented or otherwise broken because silver is always worth its weight. A part set of Victorian cutlery just sold for £1,900, whereas a similar set sold for just £460 three years ago – this is all down to the silver price."
Nick agrees: "I wouldn’t overlook sterling silver serveware. It has often been under appreciated, but I believe changing trends in hosting and silverware heirlooms may gradually change that."
"Don't just check your cutlery drawer, raid your cupboards too," advises Kayleigh, "younger generations are eager to get their hands on copper pans, butter dishes, enamel storage canisters and Pyrex. Rare Pyrex variations like a set of bowls in the Butterprint pattern in pumpkin orange can sell for over £1,000 to a collector."
3. Anglepoise lamps
Easily overlooked as ordinary desk lamps destined for the charity-shop pile, Anglepoise designs carry a pedigree that belies their humble appearance.
"Anglepoise lamps may look unassuming, but they can be more valuable than people realise," says Kayleigh. "These are a genuine design classic, invented by engineer George Carwardine in the 1930s, and early examples can be worth serious money – particularly the original 1227 model. Check the base and shade for the Herbert Terry maker's mark, and look for original Bakelite fittings."
4. Vintage Lego
That lego sitting in your attic from Christmases long forgotten may be considerably more valuable than you realise.
According to Selling Antiques, "a niche but growing market exists for vintage toys from the 1960s through to the 1990s. This demand is driven by nostalgia, with collectors seeking items they remember from their youth."
"Lego is popular with adult collectors who are willing to spend money to get what they want," adds Kayleigh Davies, an antiques specialist at Auctionet. "And because the brand retires sets frequently, sometimes sets that are only a few years old may have increased in price.
"The Star Wars Cloud City playset was released in 2003 and sold for £99.99, but sets have been reaching prices up to £6,000 in the last couple of years. The Boba Fett minifigure alone can be worth £1,000."
5. Mid-century furniture (still)
The clean lines and warm timbers of mid-century pieces have been firmly back in vogue for years now, yet plenty still slip through unrecognised.
"When I started my career, many people clearing out houses were throwing mid-century furniture onto bonfires as it was so out of fashion and cheap," says Kayleigh. "Lots of people who grew up with these pieces think of it as old-fashioned and don't realise it's in demand. An Ercol room divider, affectionately nicknamed 'Giraffe' by collectors, can sell for £700. This is double what they were fetching a decade ago."
Rachel Edwards is the Style & Interiors Editor for Country Living and House Beautiful, covering all things design and decoration, with a special interest in small space inspiration, vintage and antique shopping, and anything colour related. Her work has been extensively translated by Elle Japan and Elle Decor Spain. Rachel has spent over a decade in the furniture and homeware industry as a writer, FF&E designer, and for many years as Marketing Manager at cult design retailer, Skandium. She has a BA in French and Italian from Royal Holloway and an MA in Jounalism from Kingston University. Follow Rachel on Instagram @rachelaed
