Teepee salt and pepper shakers

In the antiques arena, there are the good, the bad, and the ugly. The ugly, as you may have heard me say at my events, is your first clue to value.

If something is ugly, odds are it’s worth some money! Think of Picasso’s paintings … they are not too attractive, are they? Well, they are expensive. Proved my point. And like anything else, the antiques and collectibles markets fluctuate. Some things are popular with shoppers and some things aren’t as trendy right now.

Have your collectibles seen better days? Here are three categories of objects that are on the down swing at the moment. Hold off selling these now and wait for the markets to rebound.

1. Made in Occupied Japan figurines

These small scale nic nacs were produced after World War II and are marked “Made in Occupied Japan.” The United States and its allies occupied Japan from 1945 until 1952 and these little ceramic figurines were produced in an effort to help the rebuilding efforts after the war. Many people have these items and while the tea sets and other ceramic items hold their value well, the figurines–made in very large numbers and distributed worldwide–are now valued at about 10 dollars for a 3 inch tall item.

2. Salt and pepper shakers

Salt and Pepper shakers

The most collectible salt and pepper shaker sets are those which are intact. Travel souvenir salt and pepper shakers do not have the same collectible interest that they had back in the 1950s and 1960s. So many people who collect salt and pepper shakers and read this post will not be happy, but the truth is the truth. Today, these salt and pepper shakers have fallen into the category of souvenir junk and they are not easy to re-sell.

3. Vintage exercise videotapes

The work-out videotapes dating back to the 1980s show up at flea markets and yard sales, but old tapes by Jane Fonda, Richard Simmons, Denise Austin, Tony Little, and Kathy Smith are not breaking a sweat with collectors. Most of these exercise celebs are still working out but their VCR tapes are flabby on the re-sale market.

As an expert Ph.D. Antiques Appraiser, I am always studying the antiques market. Wondering what you should buy or sell now for the best return? Read my blog for updates and subscribe to get updates in your inbox. I can also review your item an provide a detailed report on it using today’s markets as a guide. Submit pictures now.