Check The Thrift For These Rare Vintage Planters That Could Be Worth A Small Fortune

If you're the type of person who gets a little thrill every time you spot a dusty gem at the antique market, you might want to keep your eyes peeled for one specific treasure known as Gainey Ceramics planters. These are mid-century beauties that are more than just stylish — they could actually be worth a small fortune.

Gainey Ceramics planters look a bit unassuming, so you might find them tucked behind other old pots at your local thrift store. They are typically cylindrical and glazed, featuring clean lines and solid colors without any patterns. They have small drainage holes concealed at the bottom, and some of them come with matching saucers. While they look simple, don't be so quick to discard them for their minimalist shape. They might be your ticket to a serious collector's jackpot. Online, some simple pots resell for between $100 and $400 each, depending on the size, color, and condition. Unique, large, and well-preserved versions can go for over $1,000.

Gainey Ceramics was a family-owned American company based in California that was known for crafting iconic pots for over 60 years. The company closed down and stopped production in 2013, but its pots never went out of style. The rise in popularity of mid-century modern interior design combined with the company's closure has propelled Gainey Ceramics pots and planters to collector's item level. For as long as mid-century modern design doesn't go out of style, these rare vintage planters will continue to be a hit. Look for them to resell or to bring a bit of vintage charm to your home.

So how does one go about finding a Gainey Ceramics pot? To successfully buy antique furniture for your home, it's necessary to know how to identify authentic pieces. To make it easier, real Gainey Ceramics pots are usually marked with the brand's name, so if you flip one over and read "Gainey Ceramics La Verne Calif USA" on the bottom, today is your lucky day. These stamps can be carved into the actual pot or stamped on. If you're buying from eBay or other online resellers, make sure to ask for a photo of the bottom of the piece.

If a pot is sold as a "vintage Gainey Ceramics" but doesn't have any stamps at the bottom, it might be harder to tell whether it's a real collector's item. Pots in that exact style without the stamp at the bottom are referred to as "Gainey-style" pots because they look similar to the original and might even be from the same time period, but were produced by another company.

If you'd like to use vintage ceramics as decor, Gainey-style pots can be a good choice, regardless of the manufacturer. Just make sure not to pay the big bucks for an imitation, especially if you can find an authentic Gainey pot for the same price. If you're looking to resell the piece, then it's best to stick to something that's easily identifiable. So next time you're at the thrift shop, make sure to flip these pots over and look for that valuable "Gainey" branding.