12 Interior Antique Items From The 1900s That Are So Cheap (And 5 That Are Completely Worthless)
I used to glance at my grandma’s old furniture and knickknacks and think, It’s just old stuff. But lately, I’ve started to wonder, could some of it actually be worth something?
Turns out, a lot of home pieces from the early 1900s are still around today, and some fetch serious cash at auctions. Others are surprisingly budget-friendly for collectors or just plain sentimental.
And yes, a few are best left behind. If you’ve ever been curious about what’s valuable and what’s not, it might be time to take a closer look at grandma’s junk.
1. Cast Iron Coat Hooks
These sturdy little hooks once lined the walls of early 20th-century entryways, porches, and mudrooms. Often made from cast iron and shaped like animals, hands, or scrolls, they blend function with timeless style.
Surprisingly, you can find antique cast iron hooks for just $10-30 each. Their rugged charm and solid construction make them popular for restoration projects, DIY furniture upgrades, or simply adding vintage flair to a modern hallway. Bonus: They’re easy to mount and incredibly durable.
2. Embroidered Doilies and Table Runners
Hand-stitched by countless homemakers in the early 1900s, these delicate linens once graced every table and dresser in the house. With floral embroidery, lace trim, and even monograms, each piece reflects hours of detailed craftsmanship.
Today, you can score these vintage textiles for just $5-25 apiece at estate sales and antique shops. While undervalued on the market, they remain perfect for upcycling into pillow covers, wall art, or layered vintage decor. Their low price and historical charm make them a great entry point for antique lovers.
3. Pressed-back wooden chairs
Pull up a seat of history without emptying your wallet! These charming chairs feature decorative pressed patterns on their backs, commonly found in oak or maple varieties.
Often selling between $50-150 each, these sturdy pieces were mass-produced during the early 1900s for middle-class homes. Their abundance means you can still find them at reasonable prices in antique shops nationwide.
4. Oak washstands
Before built-in bathrooms became standard, these functional pieces held washbasins and toiletries in bedrooms across America. Many survive today, offering practical storage with historical charm.
Typically featuring a backsplash, drawer, and cabinet space, oak washstands can be found for $100-300. Their versatility makes them perfect as bathroom vanities, entryway tables, or even quirky kitchen islands in modern homes.
5. Milk glass vases
Gleaming with timeless elegance, milk glass remains remarkably affordable despite its vintage appeal. These opaque white vessels were wildly popular during the early 20th century for displaying flowers in middle-class homes.
Whether featuring hobnail patterns, smooth surfaces, or delicate ruffled edges, most pieces can be purchased for $15-40. Their versatility fits nearly any decor style, from farmhouse chic to eclectic maximalism.
6. Vanity brush sets
Imagine the elegant ladies of yesteryear at their dressing tables with these beautiful grooming accessories! Typically crafted with silver-plated or celluloid handles, vintage vanity sets included hair brushes, mirrors, and combs.
Despite their ornate appearance, most sets from the early 1900s sell for $30-75 today. The intricate embossed designs and romantic aesthetic make them perfect for display or even gentle use in contemporary bedrooms.
7. Wooden radio cabinets
When stripped of their outdated electronics, these architectural beauties find new life as statement pieces. The empty shells of early 20th-century radio cabinets offer gorgeous woodwork with art deco or mission-style influences.
Ranging from $75-200, these cabinets can be repurposed as liquor bars, display cases, or unique storage solutions. Their rich history and craftsmanship far exceed their modest price tags in today’s market.
8. Sewing machine tables
Freed from their heavy cast-iron machines, these elegant wooden bases offer surprisingly affordable charm. The ornate treadle tables that once powered Singer and other sewing machines now serve as distinctive side tables or desks.
Many homeowners repurpose them with new tops while preserving the vintage wrought iron base for a perfect blend of history and function.
9. Etched glass serving trays
Raise a glass to affordable elegance! These delicate serving pieces feature intricate etched designs ranging from floral motifs to geometric patterns, often accented with silver-plated frames or handles.
Despite their sophisticated appearance, most etched glass trays from the early 1900s sell for just $25-75. Their refined aesthetic elevates any entertaining space, making them both functional and decorative additions to modern homes seeking a touch of vintage glamour.
10. Tole-painted trays
Hand-painted with rustic charm, these metal treasures bring color and character to any space. Tole painting—decorative folk art on tinware—flourished in the early 20th century, creating functional art pieces that have stood the test of time.
Found for $30-90, these trays typically feature floral motifs or pastoral scenes on black, green, or burgundy backgrounds. Their weathered patina tells stories of generations of use while adding authentic vintage flair to contemporary walls and tables.
11. Mahogany plant stands
Elevate your greenery with these stately pedestals that once showcased prized ferns in Victorian parlors. Crafted from rich mahogany with turned legs and occasionally marble tops, these stands bring architectural interest to any room.
Surprisingly affordable at $40-125, they’re versatile enough to display sculptures, lamps, or of course, your favorite houseplants. The slender profile makes them perfect space-savers in apartments or as accent pieces in larger rooms.
12. Decorative wall plates
Hanging history doesn’t have to break the bank! Decorative plates from the early 1900s add instant character to blank walls with their hand-painted scenes and gilded edges.
Collectors appreciate their variety of makers including Limoges, Nippon, and American pottery companies, making them perfect for creating eye-catching gallery walls with historical significance.
13. Mass-produced ceramic figurines
Grandma’s precious knickknacks might hold sentimental value, but dealers won’t give you a dime for them. Those ubiquitous ceramic figurines—shepherdesses, children with animals, and dainty flowers—flooded early 20th-century homes as affordable decorations.
Manufactured by the thousands in Japan, Germany and America, these pieces lack the craftsmanship collectors seek. Despite their age, most remain virtually worthless due to their commonplace nature and typically damaged condition.
14. Beaten-up steamer trunks
Despite their popularity in Pinterest-worthy decor, damaged steamer trunks from the early 1900s hold little value. Once essential for transatlantic voyages, these bulky storage pieces were manufactured by the millions for middle-class travelers.
When missing interior components, showing water damage, or suffering from broken hinges, these trunks become worthless to serious collectors. The market is saturated with these heavy pieces, making them difficult to sell regardless of their apparent vintage appeal.
15. Incomplete silver-plated flatware sets
Mismatched and incomplete, these tarnished remnants of once-proud table settings have virtually no resale value today. Silver-plated (not sterling) utensils were mass-produced for middle-class households throughout the early 20th century.
When pieces go missing or patterns fade from excessive polishing, these sets become essentially worthless.
16. Faded needlepoint footstools
Once a showcase of Victorian ladies’ handiwork, these small upholstered stools have lost both their luster and value over time. Typically constructed with basic wooden frames and covered with hand-stitched fabric, they’ve rarely survived in good condition.
Faded colors, worn fabric, and outdated designs make these pieces virtually worthless in today’s market.
17. Chipped souvenir ashtrays
Once ubiquitous in American homes, these commemorative smoking accessories have become the definition of worthless antiques. Produced as cheap souvenirs from tourist destinations or promotional items for businesses, they were never high-quality to begin with.
Now bearing chips, cracks, and faded designs, these ashtrays hold zero appeal in a non-smoking world.
