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. Pottery by Rose Cabat
Born in 1914, Rose Cabat was a self-taught studio potter who worked in earthenware and porcelain. Nicknamed “feelies,” her pots were typically small enough (typically less than 8 inches tall) to fit in a person’s hand with a silken glaze that invited touch.
Cabat excelled in blending sumptuous shapes with delicate construction. Her ovoid weed pots (a vase that’s not a normally accepted shape for holding a single stem) feature narrow elongated necks and a glazing technique that allowed natural drips to become part of the design.
The Cabat wordmark is simple and distinctive. Look for CABAT incised in all-caps on the underside of her pieces along with a three-digit production number and two digits for the year.
Rose Cabat’s work is incredibly rare in the wild, though a reseller friend of mine pulled one from a grimy basement here in the Midwest last month. Recently on eBay, this 3-inch weed pot by Rose Cabat sold for $600; and this 5.5-inch gourd-shaped pot sold for $400.
Interested in learning more about Rose Cabat’s work? Check out this appraisal clip from Antiques Roadshow.
2. Denis Vibert lamps
A regional potter from Maine, Denis Vibert was born in 1919. In 1941, Vibert escaped the German occupation of England’s Channel Islands and made it to Canada by 1943.
By 1950, Vibert and his wife, Ruth, had moved to Sullivan, Maine, and opened Pine Tree Kiln near their home. From there, the couple began experimenting with different types of kiln firings, glazes, colors and textures.
Today, Vibert’s pottery — especially his lamps — are popular with collectors. Managing to capture the best of the midcentury aesthetic, Vibert’s forms are sparse but sophisticated. You can find his maker’s mark on the underside of the lamp base. Look for the words Vibert (with an upwardly extended V) and Maine (with a downwardly extended M) inside a rectangular lock-up.
On Etsy, this early Vibert lamp was listed for $999. On eBay, this slightly more contemporary example by Vibert sold for $266.
3. Bill Moss tents
And now for something completely different: tents!
Born in 1923, Bob Moss studied at the Cranbrook Academy of Art and worked as an artist for Ford Times, a monthly lifestyle and leisure magazine published by the Ford Motor Co. In 1955, Moss disrupted the camping industry by designing the first pop-up tent.
Together with his wife, Marilyn, Moss founded Moss Tent Works in Camden, Maine, in 1975. Over the next decade, the company manufactured a range of camping and outdoor products.
A hit with consumers then and collectors now, Bill Moss tents are as prized as old Coleman lanterns and vintage Filson jackets. Recently on eBay, this four-person “Big Dipper” tent sold for $1,200; and this two-person “Starlett” model was listed for $425.
Buyer be where?
It’s one of the most common questions I get: Where’s the best place to sell an old ________? It makes perfect sense. Not everything should be sold at a yard sale and not everyone has enough accumulated stuff to warrant an auction or estate sale.
If there’s a family treasure you’d like to liquidate, reaching the right person — wherever they happen to live — is key. I’ve found the best way to do that is through Facebook Marketplace, via online sites like eBay and Etsy, or through a well-connected consignor.
Pro tip: Marketplace isn’t the only way to sell on Facebook. Many special-interest groups allow enthusiasts to share photos of available items for sale. Working out the details and striking a deal typically happens informally through direct messaging.
Curious about the surprising world of vintage collectibles? Check out my series on hidden treasures in the secondhand market.
