With 30 years of reselling under my belt, I’m the go-to guy when friends need a quick appraisal. And over the years I’ve noticed a recurring phenomenon: The vintage items most people consider valuable usually aren’t, and the things they want to toss are often hot collectibles.
Here’s why: Many of us get our idea of what’s valuable from our parents. But markets change, and new collectors have different tastes.
What disregarded treasures are hiding in your home right now? The answers might surprise you. In this series, we’ll explore hot collectibles you might already own.
1. Furniture by Arthur Umanoff
Born in New York City in 1923, Arthur Umanoff’s design career began at the esteemed Pratt Institute in the borough of Brooklyn. He preferred to work with iron and leather, using these coarse and heavy materials to design surprisingly refined and minimalist furniture.
Umanoff’s pieces regularly appeared in publications such as House Beautiful and Better Homes & Gardens magazines throughout the 1950s and ’60s, and his partnerships with major manufacturers including Howard Miller helped establish him as a tour de force in midcentury design.
Though Umanoff died in 1985, his work lives on in the permanent collections of New York’s Museum of Modern Art, the Smithsonian and countless homes around the world.
On Etsy, this iron and leather Umanoff wine rack is listed for $260, and on eBay, this set of three barstools sold for $150.
2. The Ericofon
