The notion of “vintage IKEA” might sound a bit silly, given how temporary much of the company’s furniture feels. Then you realize that the retailer has been around for nearly 75 years, and yes, there are some IKEA pieces that are indeed worth thousands of dollars to collectors, but probably not the coffee table you’re currently resting your beer on. [More]
antiques
Man Caught On Camera Stuffing Antique Brass Statues Down His Pants
By 8.4.15
Here at Consumerist, we aim to bring you the freshest coverage of people stuffing store merchandise down their pants to steal it. While for some reason the most common item that ends up down shoppers’ trousers is packages of meat, other items ranging from a chainsaw to puppies using this method, police are looking for a man who was caught on camera stuffing two brass statues down his pants at an antique store. [More]
Man Finds Literal Treasure Chest In Dresser Bought At Estate Sale For $100
By 5.13.15
We’ve heard of people finding rare baseball cards hidden inside photo albums, a $3 piece of pottery at a tag sale that’s worth $.2. million, or otherwise happening upon other valuable artifacts when buying other items at rummage and garage sales. But the dream of finding hidden treasure came true in a very literal way for one surprised estate sale buyer. [More]
10 Things We Learned About What Goes On At The Antiques Roadshow
By 3.25.14
For nearly 20 years, PBS’s Antiques Roadshow has provided ample hours of addictive TV watching as regular folks cart in their old stuff — art, furniture, clothing, toys, firearms, etc. — for professional appraisal by a slate of experts in these fields. But how does the show pick which stuff gets on the air? How do the appraisers know so much? And what happens after someone’s inherited trinket is valued at tens of thousands of dollars? [More]
Yard Sale Proves Fruitful For Man Who Found First Dated Baseball Card In Photo Album
By 2.6.13
Anyone who’s ever picked through a garage sale, yard sale or antique store can relate to the thrill of finding something unexpected and desirable amid the heaps of broken old toys and worthless junk. And sometimes, the best finds of all stay hidden even after the transaction has been made. That was the case for an antique picker in Maine who found what could be the first dated baseball card tucked away in a photo album. [More]
If You Need A Cingular Wireless Prepaid Card, Check Out ThisWalgreens
By 8.10.11 — Updated: 7.19.13
Are you a time-traveler from 2007 in need of minutes for your prepaid Cingular cell phone? You’re in luck! Tipster Peter found this card on the AT&T Wireless rack at his local Walgreens, noting that all of the $50 cards on the rack were antiques from Cingular. [More]
Antique Piggy Bank From eBay Stuffed With $133 In Cash
By 7.7.11
Shawn bought this antique piggy bank on eBay for $13.50. Adorable, isn’t it? What was even more adorable was what he found when he pulled out the original cork: $133 in cash. That’ll do, pig. That’ll do. [More]
Cross Honors Lifetime Warranty, Repairs Priceless Antique Pen
By 7.1.10
Andy always carries his father’s old 50-year-old Cross pen. It’s the only everyday item he has that belonged to his father, and he was devastated when it broke. He contacted Cross to see about getting the pen repaired, and the company sent it back: the same pen, good as new, in a spiffy little case. [More]
UPS' "Professional Packaging" Destroys Antique Car
By 6.13.09
UPS ruined this antique 1953 Willys Aero Wagon concept studio model by shipping it in three boxes taped together with packing peanuts and bubble wrap. UPS claims they can “pack almost anything,” and that their “certified packing experts” “specialize in fragile and high-value items, including antiques.” Whoops!
State Farm: This 1963 Chrysler Newport Is Not An Antique, Unless You Give It A Fresh Coat Of Paint. What?
By 7.13.08
Humphrmi’s 1963 Chrysler Newport has antique license plates, meaning he can’t drive to or from anywhere other than car shows, shops and parades; but State Farm won’t insure the car as an antique unless it gets a new coat of paint. “You have to paint the car,” they said, to avoid a 33% higher premium. Does this strike anyone else as insane?
