The Elegant Kitchenware Brand You'd Be Lucky To Score At The Thrift Store

Thrift stores are full of surprising items. On an unlucky day, you find some truly strange things, while on a good day, you find true treasure. This definitely holds true for kitchenware. Sure, there are some basic kitchen essentials you can always find at your local thrift for affordable prices, but there are also some luxurious brands that can be found occasionally. One such brand is Sambonet. You may not recognize the brand by name, but it has a long history and is widely appreciated for its elegance and high quality. Just in case you are lucky enough to find some Sambonet at the thrift, you should know more about the brand, the items, and the value, so you know what you're buying.

Sambonet is an Italian kitchenware company that was established in 1856. Initially just a flatware company, Sambonet expanded internationally over the years and began to create serveware, cookware, and even home decor items. Although it is not necessarily a household staple in the United States, Sambonet kitchenware can be found in high-end hotels and restaurants in both the United States and Europe. The combination of aesthetic appeal and quality craftsmanship makes the pieces highly respected but also highly expensive to buy new. For reference, a new five-piece flatware set consisting of one table fork, one table knife, one dessert fork, one dessert spoon, and one teaspoon costs $90. Vintage and secondhand sets can be more affordable, depending on the exact style and items, but the best deal comes if you are able to find a discarded set or individual item at a thrift store.

Perhaps the most difficult part of shopping for Sambonet at a thrift store is spotting it. The brand's style is typically fairly minimalist, which may make it easy to accidentally skip over. If you pick up a piece, though, the quality should be noticeable. Even secondhand, the pieces are likely to be found in relatively good condition, as they are made of durable stainless steel and sterling silver. Since the company began with flatware and often sells in larger sets, you're most likely to find their chic cutlery secondhand. As for the look of the items, you will need to have an eye for variety, as Sambonet has created designs that are minimalist, retro, contemporary, and more. If you are looking for a more definite sign of the brand, many Sambonet items have a maker's mark on their undersides, typically just the word "Sambonet" or "Sambonet Italy."

Once you have identified a Sambonet piece and purchased it, you get to decide whether you want to sell it or keep it and use it yourself. Online, used items often sell for prices similar to those of new items. Even better, you can upgrade from the most affordable dinnerware and kitchenware from Costco to the more sophisticated Sambonet in your own home. All things considered, even the best vintage kitchenware should always be checked for lead before use. Silver-plated items, especially particularly old ones, could contain lead as a result of different regulations and practices of the time.