The 15 Best 'Holy Grail' Thrift Store Finds We've Seen On Social Media

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Spending an afternoon at a thrift store can feel like a treasure hunt. And it's all the more thrilling when you find a "holy grail" item. But what exactly counts as a "holy grail" item? The truth is that it means something different to every thrifter. For some, it's a rare collector's item being sold for significantly lower than its value. For others, it may be something nostalgic from their childhood that you just can't buy in stores anymore. It may even just be something you remembered your loved one owning years ago. Whatever it is, that feeling of unattainability is what makes a "holy grail" thrift item special. It could be a Le Creuset oval dutch oven, a vintage piece of uranium glass, or a rare set of ceramic dinnerware. After all, beauty is in the eye of the beholder — and every thrifter loves telling the story of their "holy grail" find.

Part of the thrill of finding your "holy grail" item is that you never know when it's going to happen — and social media posts prove this. ThriftTok is full of people sharing their discoveries, from one person posting about how you shouldn't pass up scoring a vintage vanity to another revealing the vintage Art Deco piece you should definitely snag from the thrift store. Even wall art isn't safe from a double-take — some of those weird vintage art prints can be far more valuable than you think. These shared moments show just how much untapped treasure is out there, waiting for the next lucky thrift hunter to find.

Well-known YouTuber @KikiMeetsWorld scored her "holy grail" thrift find when she discovered a reproduction Fire-King Jadeite square baking dish for just $35. Anchor Hocking reissued its popular 1940s Jadeite line in 2000 as homage to the original, and those reproductions have now become vintage in their own right. They're highly sought after today, so if you stumble across one in excellent condition at a thrift or antique store, consider yourself lucky.

In 1989, Lenox released a set of dollhouse-inspired spice jars — a collection of 24, as well as a storage rack. The company has since re-released the set with minor design tweaks and markings to distinguish the modern versions from the originals. TikTokker @spaceypink was lucky enough to score a vintage set (missing just one piece) at her local Goodwill for only $5 — an incredible deal considering a full set can sell for nearly $1,000 on eBay, depending on condition. What an amazing collectible find!

Eva Zeisel was a Hungarian-born designer who created some beautiful ceramics beginning in the 1920s. She did a collaboration with Castleton in the 1940s, and they are highly prized by collectors. Some of her work was even displayed by the MoMA. Her work is definitely worthy of being considered a "holy grail" find. YouTuber @PishPoshReselling was fortunate enough to find a cache of Eva Zeisel pieces at her local thrift store. And what an amazing find it was! Some of the items she discovered are worth quite a bit of money.

Vintage Pyrex has been on many thrifters' radar for years, and stumbling on any of the most valuable vintage Pyrex pieces is nothing short of a miracle. Ordinarily, a couple of Pyrex designs can go for thousands of dollars on eBay. And if you happen to find bowls that have the pattern pictured above, you've likely found one of the more valuable prints. TiTokker @Suhleener was at their local thrift shop and discovered some mixing bowls in this print for just $7.99! This find shows that it pays to know your Pyrex patterns.

The first Italian alabaster marble fruit was hand-carved by a single family in the 1920s and eventually grew into a cottage industry for many artisans. These pieces are now highly collectible, with the most sought-after examples dating from the early to mid-20th century. The most desirable sets feature more subtle, hand-painted colors that highlight the stone's natural beauty. TikTokker @marthrifts found her own "holy grail" when she stumbled across a basket of these unique collectibles at her local thrift store for just $1.99 apiece. What a beautiful addition to any table centerpiece.

Not all "holy grail" finds have to be vintage. Some, like the stunning O&G Atlantic elbow chairs that YouTuber @Julietsfinds spotted at her local thrift store, are just incredible deals. Can you imagine coming across a set of dining chairs valued at $1,600 each being sold for only $50 apiece? Wow! What an amazing find — and a stylish addition to any home.

Sometimes, a single feature on a piece of antique furniture can be the biggest clue to a "holy grail" find. TikTokker @graceful_designs_diy recently spotted a hidden gem at her local thrift store. Using her knowledge of antique woodworking techniques, she was able to recognize that an unassuming chest was more than just a worn piece of furniture. She points out that if you find pin-and-cove joinery on a thrifted piece, it was likely made before 1900 — and you've just discovered something truly worth taking home.

Just as interesting and collectible as uranium glass is its lesser-known cousin, cadmium Depression glass. These pieces are just as unique and can be quite valuable, depending on their pattern and style. The difference? Under a black light, cadmium glass glows bright red, orange, and sometimes yellow, rather than the bright green or yellow glow of uranium glass. As with any collectible glass, it's safe to handle, but be cautious with chipped pieces. TikTokker @rosenhill.vintage scored an amazing deal on cadmium glass at a thrift store, paying far less than their typical market value.

It's no secret that midcentury modern everything is trending right now. Furniture from the 1950s and '60s is especially popular. Finding a vintage piece at a thrift store priced well below its value is truly an amazing score. When YouTuber @theMCMhunter came across a Heritage Henredon solid walnut side table for $24.99 at his local Goodwill, he just knew he had stumbled on a "holy grail" piece — the table is valued at almost $4,000. That's why it's important to know your vintage designers, and to keep an eye out at thrift stores for incredible deals.

Thrift stores are full of unique art pieces, but one man's $10 find turned out to be priceless. Per the @Localish YouTube channel, Andy Robbins discovered a watercolor painting that immediately caught his eye. He recognized it as being from the 1800s — turns out he had stumbled on an important piece of American history: A rare William Dorsey painting from 1864. Dorsey, known for capturing black culture during the Civil War in the Northeastern U.S., preserved history through both painting and scrapbooking newspaper clippings. Robbins donated the piece to a local museum, ensuring it will be shared for generations.

If you're a foodie, you probably know the best cookware brands by heart. So, when TikTokker @rvchick1968 found a Le Creuset Dutch oven at her local Goodwill for $12.99, she knew it was a steal. An oval turquoise Le Creuset Dutch oven can sell for anywhere from $375 to $475 in department stores — and for good reason. Le Creuset is known by cooks and bakers alike as a top-of-the-line cookware brand. Scoring one of these high-end pieces at a thrift store for a fraction of the price is an absolute dream.

This PeDe Dutch wall-mounted coffee grinder is a truly amazing find! TikTokker @feral.sara managed to score a working one at her local Goodwill for just $11. Not only is it a piece of vintage Dutch history, but it's also an incredibly useful kitchen tool. Vintage coffee grinders are often far more durable than modern plastic models, and wall-mounted grinders like the one she found can fetch upwards of $100.

Hollywood Regency Lotus lamps are all the rage on social media right now, and TikTokker @honeycottageshop found her "holy grail" lamp for only $15! These lamps come in many shapes, colors, and styles, and some are worth more than others, of course. The original lotus lamp was designed and distributed in the 1980s in California by Anthony California, Inc. If your lamp has a 'Made in China' sticker, it is most likely a reproduction.

Uranium glass is always a fun thrift store find, and many collectors are on the hunt for their own personal "holy grail" piece. It's easy to spot thanks to its unique composition — made with uranium dioxide, which makes it glow under black light. That's why when TikTokker @Carlimarieee discovered a horse figurine with the telltale yellow-green tint, she knew she had found something special. She purchased it for $4.99, and the same piece was selling on eBay for around $150.

The late 1960s were a time of bold design and fashion, and many items drew inspiration from nature — most famously mushrooms, though psychedelia likely played a major role in this trend. Mushrooms appeared everywhere in homes then — on cookware, clothing, and even lamps. So, when YouTuber @EclecticVintageThrifter and her husband discovered a vintage 1960s Gilbert SoftLite mushroom lamp at their local thrift store, they knew they had found something special. At $4, it was a true "holy grail" piece, especially since these space-age lamps can sell for up to $400 on eBay.