The Unique & Valuable Thrift Store Find That Adds So Much Personality To Your Kitchen

When you're strolling through the thrift store and come across quirky finds, you may not want to pass them up — they could be worth something. One of the quirkiest finds is the vintage majolica turkey-shaped soup tureen. What makes these unique, aside from the turkey aspect? Well, if you've ever come across one, it may have made you take a second look due to its shape — a flamboyant turkey simply hanging out on the thrift store shelf in the kitchen section. These turkeys are perfect for holding autumn soups at Thanksgiving dinner and beyond. These vintage dishes add personality to your kitchen and dining table. Even without the soup inside, they make beautiful centerpieces. There are many ways you can decorate with pottery in your home, so you never even have to put food in your turkey soup tureen if you don't want to.

These kitchen items have a rich history, and each is truly a work of art in its own right. Before we dive into the history, a brief explanation of what a tureen is may be helpful: it is a dish used to serve stew and soup, with a lid. Most often, they come with a serving spoon. When hunting for them in thrift stores or vintage shops, you may be lucky to find the dish with its lid, but it might be missing the spoon. Even without a spoon, some turkey-shaped tureens fetch around $20 or more on eBay, while others, with or without a ladle, can go for as much as $250.

Majolica pottery has a long history dating back to the 13th century, when Hispano-Moresque pottery was in production. Still, it wasn't until the 16th century that the term would be used to describe all tin-glazed ware. It seems that in the 1850s, majolica pottery began to gain worldwide attention, and its quirky designs were taking over kitchen counters, often as decorative items rather than servingware — and this is where our feathered friend came in, all ready for the autumn festivities. It was at this time that these earthenware pieces became increasingly popular, probably because of their kitschy design — they could truly brighten a room. These old-school kitchen essentials easily double as decor.

If you're hunting for some authentic majolica turkey soup tureens, your best bet is to look for the manufacturer's name on the piece. One of the most widely known makers is England's Minton & Co. Wedgewood is another name to look for among English manufacturers, as is George Jones. American makers to keep an eye out for include George Morley & Co and Chesapeake Pottery. With the return in popularity of decorative kitchen countertop decor you can find at the thrift, including faux fruit, there are sure to be some modern knock-offs of these festive turkeys. So, checking the bottom for a manufacturer stamp will help you ensure you're finding authentic vintage pieces.