8 Vintage Kitchen Items From Grandma’s Home Now Worth Significant Money

Remember those long afternoons in Grandma’s kitchen, watching her pull amazing meals from well-worn pots and pans? Those same kitchen treasures sitting in cabinets and cupboards today might be worth far more than you’d imagine. Believe it or not, your grandma’s kitchen cupboards might be housing a small fortune. From timeless cast iron pans to vibrant mid-century casserole dishes, vintage kitchenware is still loved by many and can be surprisingly valuable today. A dish you find at a thrift store for a few bucks might fetch a hundred dollars on eBay, as long as you know what to look for.

Let’s explore the hidden gems that could be sitting right under your nose.

Sterling Silver Flatware Sets

That fancy silverware your grandmother only brought out for special occasions could be sitting on a goldmine. Brands like Gorham, Wallace, and Towle can fetch $800–$8,000+ for full sets, depending on the pattern and weight. Even mismatched pieces can bring $30–$80 each. The key is identifying genuine sterling silver, which contains at least 92.5% pure silver.

While it definitely depends on the brand, grandma’s vintage sterling silver flatware shouldn’t be overlooked. It could be worth its weight in, well, silver. Look for hallmarks and maker’s stamps on the back of pieces to verify authenticity.

Vintage Pyrex with Rare Patterns

Pyrex sells at a range of price points. A green “Spring Blossom” butter dish and lid sold for $20.99 in December 2024. Compare this to a rare orange “Barcode” casserole dish that sold for $1,995 in November 2024, or a rare “Butterprint” dish featuring the Lady on the Left that sold for approximately $2,850-$2,995. The most valuable pieces date from the 1950s and 1960s when Corning used stronger borosilicate glass.

One of the rarest Pyrex patterns, the Duchess pattern was released in 1959 as a promotional item for Stanley’s hostess parties. The pattern features a beautiful, 22K gold floral scroll on a pale pink milk-glass background, a genuine compliment to the name! A complete set with all the additional items can be worth $1,000 to $3,500, even more with the original pink box.

There is a difference between PYREX and pyrex labels on cookware. If the marking features the Pyrex brand in lowercase, this means it was made after 1998 and is most likely soda-lime glass. Any piece you find stamped in all capital letters is bound to be more valuable, not only because it’s made from better material, but also because it’s older.

Cast Iron Cookware by Griswold and Wagner

One of the most trusted kitchen tools is the cast iron skillet, and those made in the 19th and 20th centuries are coveted by collectors and cooks alike. These versatile pans, which can be used on a stove, in an oven or over a fire, improve with age if taken care of, and they can typically be refurbished. Griswold, Wagner and Chicago Hardware are brands to look for, with some listed on eBay for $1,200 and a special spider design listed for $8,000.

Rare Griswold pieces with unique designs can command high prices, with some exceptional pieces reportedly selling for thousands (via Southern Living). That particular skillet was a one-of-a-kind piece made by Griswold Manufacturing, hence the high value placed on it. But even for less rare items, Griswold’s cast iron is among the most valued. The manufacturer is among the factors that go into determining cast iron’s worth, along with condition, size, age, and type of cookware.

Fire King Jadeite Dishware

If grandma loves colorful design, chances are she might have jadeite glassware lying around. These iconic green mixing bowls were once a staple in Americana kitchens, and some pieces in pristine condition fetch hundreds. We love their cheerful color, which evokes a playful yet timeless feeling, and of course reminds us of being in our grandmother’s kitchen.

Fire King jadeite can sell for as little as $5 or as much as $1,000, and pristine limited-manufacture pieces can go north of $5,000. But collectors looking for vintage wares, or owners looking to sell theirs, can distinguish older jadeite by the manufacturer’s mark (three companies were primarily responsible for jadeite in its early period and heyday), embossed patterns, and, for early jadeite from the 1940s-1950s, a black-light glow due to the uranium present in some pieces.

Vintage Coffee Grinders

Small home mills were first made about 1894 but lost favor by the 1930s, according to antiques experts at Kovels. The renewed interest in fresh-ground coffee has produced many modern mills and grinders, so be sure yours is truly an antique. Original antique coffee grinders represent a time when everything was done by hand.

Have an old coffee grinder lying around that you never use? Vintage coffee grinders, like this one on Etsy, can end up selling for up to $1,700. Bonus: If you sell your valuable grinder, you can buy a fancy espresso maker instead. Wall-mounted and tabletop models from the late 1800s and early 1900s are particularly sought after.

CorningWare Casserole Dishes

Of all the various vintage cooking vessels that could be hiding in plain sight within your kitchen, vintage CorningWare pieces are especially valuable. In particular, though, you want to keep your eyes peeled for the “Spice of Life” patterned pieces. CorningWare, made from the innovative Pyroceram material introduced in 1958, remains popular among collectors due to its versatility and ability to withstand thermal shock. While Pyroceram was eventually replaced by stoneware, vintage CorningWare dishes are still highly sought after. Some coveted designs include the Spice of Life range, which features vegetables, greenery, and the words “L’Echalote La Marjolaine,” and the Cornflower range, which has a classic blue floral design; both can be worth a couple of hundred dollars.

However, if you find a piece with a unique design, it could be worth thousands! Some rare pieces with unique designs can command premium prices among collectors.

Vintage Tea Kettles and Copper Pots

Many collectors appreciate the ornate patterns and colors of kettles made from copper, brass or silver that may also be part of a vintage tea set. Prices for kettles vary based on age, design and manufacturer. A Victorian spirit kettle that could easily fit within a sterling silver antique tea set is listed on eBay for $5,845, and a Victorian Georg Jensen tea kettle is listed on 1stDibs for $19,143.

Antique tea kettles, especially those made from materials like copper or brass, or those with ornate patterns, often attract collectors and fetch a substantial price. Prices vary widely based on age, design, and manufacturer, but rare or high-quality pieces can command thousands of dollars. Georg Jensen tea kettles can command several thousand dollars, with prices varying significantly based on age, condition, and specific design.

Vintage Salt and Pepper Shakers

Salt and pepper shakers are inherently a fun item to collect. They come in all kinds of ridiculous designs and shapes nowadays, but it turns out that the real treasure-worthy catches are the throwback shakers. For instance, a set of vintage owl salt and pepper shakers from the 1940s can end up going for over $1,000. You just never know.

Novelty shakers from the mid-20th century, particularly those featuring animals, popular culture references, or unique artistic designs, have become highly collectible. Sets with their original packaging or unusual themes like advertising characters can command premium prices among collectors who appreciate these small but charming kitchen accessories.

Your old kitchen items, or those of your parents or grandparents, may hold more than great stories. Based on the brand, age and condition, they may also be worth a lot of money. The next time you visit Grandma’s kitchen or sort through inherited belongings, take a closer look at these seemingly ordinary items. What appears to be simple cookware could actually be your ticket to unexpected treasure.