The Retro Chairs You Might Find At The Thrift Store That Can Be So Valuable

All valuable thrift store finds don't necessarily look flashy at first glance. Sometimes, what looks like a basic metal bar chair, hidden in a corner, scratched and scuffed from years of wear and tear, might actually be an unexpected collector's item. Eagle-eyed shoppers will recognize Emeco bar chairs from miles away. Not only are they a great way to upgrade your seating area with a stunning vintage find, but they're also worth a pretty penny.

Emeco barstools are unassuming metal chairs with a retro feel and a bit of industrial flair. Uninformed shoppers often overlook them, but collectors and avid thrifters love them. Alone, one of these stools can retail for around $500, and if you're lucky enough to find an entire set, that number reaches the thousands. They're old-school but non-traditional, and they embrace the best of industrial decor. Part of their value comes from how incredibly strong and durable Emeco's products are: their 'Navy' aluminum chairs were originally designed for Navy battleships. No wonder old models are still intact and showing up in thrift shops today.

Emeco, which stands for Electrical Machine and Equipment Company, is an American furniture company that dates back to 1944. Their metal chairs are made in Pennsylvania, by hand, and with recycled aluminum. New models of Emeco chairs are still being produced, but they retail for thousands of dollars. If you're lucky, you might find an old Emeco chair sold for pennies at an estate sale, thrift shop, or on eBay. If you find one, you can hold on to it knowing you've got a collector's item in your house, or you can resell it to a collector who knows its value.

Authenticating your latest thrift find can be difficult, but not with Emeco chairs. There are clear and simple ways to check whether the bar chair you're looking at is an original or a copy. The Navy Chair 1006, the designer's most famous chair, is stamped at the back of the seat with the name "Emeco." Pretty straightforward, right? The brand also has a very detailed guide that allows you to compare the make of a chair with what Emeco produces, including welding, finishing, and tubing elements.

There are several types of Emeco bar chairs that you might encounter besides the basic Navy Chair 1006, including the Navy stool with a wooden seat, or the Navy Officer Stool, which is upholstered. Some models have armrests, while others have simpler backless bar-stool designs. In any case, Emeco chairs all have one thing in common: the welding is very smooth. The aluminum tubes "melt" into each other smoothly, without the excess buildup that you typically see in welded pieces. If you've found a chair with the emblem and the smooth welding, but you're still not sure whether you're sitting on a true Emeco chair, you can always ask an expert vintage furniture authenticator or appraiser for help.

Now, if you find what looks like an Emeco bar stool but doesn't have the stamp and shows signs of being counterfeit, don't worry. If you like the look of the chair and have a tighter budget, no one says you can't scoop some of these Emeco-inspired chairs and use them. They're likely to be much less durable, but they can still be a nice addition to your home. Just make sure you don't pay a premium price for a knockoff.