The Vintage Art Deco Piece You Should Definitely Snag From The Thrift Store

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Sustainable shopping is on the rise, and according to Pinterest's 2025 Fall Trend Report, thrifting is more than just a trend for this fall — it's a lifestyle choice that many are taking beyond their closets, opting for secondhand home goods as well as clothing and furniture. Alongside sustainability, art deco style, which was first popularized in 1925 and saw its peak in popularity between the World Wars, is dominating trends this year.

In the United States, the art deco movement is most synonymous with the Empire State Building, a feat of design and engineering that was constructed in 1931, right at the height of the movement. As exemplified by the Empire State Building, art deco employs an elegant balance of geometric symmetry and strong, solid materials like steel, brick, and glass. Rather than vibrant colors, the movement's style relies on dynamic, angular shapes and gold accents, which give both the buildings, fashion, and art of this period an understated but glamorous vibe. Through thrifting vintage pieces, you can capture some of that glamour in your home without the added glamorous cost. The art deco diamond cut crystal champagne cooler has become TikTok's latest sought-after art deco find, and while some go for as much as $300 on eBay, your local thrift store might have a similar piece for less than $25, making it one of the most valuable glass items you should be looking for at thrift stores and estate sales.

You might not have the time or money to pop over to a French flea market in search of true art deco pieces, but you can still find valuable home goods and furniture like the crystal champagne cooler at thrift stores and consignment shops. Art deco pieces often incorporate chrome or brass accents as well as gold, with simpler styles including hammered copper, all of which make for great champagne cooler or wine chiller materials. Look for etched glass with geometric designs and metal accents that replicate the angular faces of art deco architecture.

This isn't the first time art deco style has made a resurgence, so you can find affordable reproductions from the 1970s and 1980s when the style last made an appearance in popular culture. Follow these tips on how to spot valuable, high-end items at thrift stores to distinguish between real art deco pieces and reproductions. If you're willing to do some planning before you start shopping, estate sales are a great place to find genuine art deco home goods.

While popular TikToks have shoppers searching thrift stores for diamond cut glass champagne coolers, you can also dig for something more valuable — an art deco silver-plated ice bucket designed by William Rogers. Rogers, a world-renowned silversmith, died in 1873, but his company, and thus, his patterns, continued production into the 20^th century. A silver-plated ice bucket bearing his makers' mark could sell for around $400 on eBay.

William Rogers' products, which include many hallmarks of art deco style, were sought after in the 1920s and 1930s, and make for great additions to your 2020s home. To determine if a silver piece is a William Rogers, turn it over and look for a makers' mark embossed into the bottom that reads "Wm Rogers Silverware Patterns." For a comprehensive guide to identifying antique silver-plated items, look to Frances Bones and Lee Roy Fisher's book, "The Standard Encyclopedia of American Silverplate: Flatware and Hollow Ware : Identification & Value Guide." Once you welcome that silver-plated ice bucket into your home, make sure to clean it without using any chemicals to preserve its luster.