The Highly Valuable Dishware Brand To Get At The Thrift Store (If You're Lucky Enough To Find It)

Thrift stores are a truly magical place. Sure, you have to sift through a whole lot of cheap and broken items, but sometimes, you find real treasure. Whether it's a cashmere sweater among the t-shirts or a real painting among the prints, there are all kinds of items that are valuable both in your home and in case you decide to resell them. Along with the other vintage decor you should never leave behind at the thrift store, you should always closely inspect the ceramics. You may find one of the pieces made by Gertrud and Otto Natzler, which are incredibly valuable.

The Natzlers were an Austrian couple who made ceramics together first in Europe and, after moving in 1938, in the United States. Their workshop was established in Los Angeles, California, and they were thought to have made over 20,000 vessels over the course of their lives. Each ceramic was thrown by Gertrud and glazed by Otto, so they are all individual and handmade. The pieces were notable for their mid-century style, thin walls, elegant shapes, native clays, and innovative glazes with unique textures and colors. The Natzlers' contributions were valuable at the time of creation, and they continue to be highly sought after today. Online, pieces sell for thousands of dollars, but if you are extremely lucky, you may find one of the couple's award-winning ceramics in an average thrift store. In order to keep an eye out for these pieces, it helps to know how to identify them, and if you are fortunate enough to find one, you'll want to know what to do with it.

There are many authenticity tests to try before buying an item at the thrift store that can help you identify a ceramic by Gertrud and Otto Natzler. First, you'll want to look for some of the characteristics of the Natzlers' works so you can pick out candidates on the shelves. The Natlzers made a wide variety of styles and shapes, but the thin walls and styles of glazes are quite distinctive. The material was earthenware, so the pieces should be opaque and a bit coarse. The styles of glaze include Pompeii, lava, reduction, iridescence, melt fissures, crater, and crystalline in all sorts of colors. Once you find a piece that looks like their style, you can check for a maker's mark. Gertrud and Otto used a variety of marks over the years, but most feature a variation of their first-name initials and their last initial or last name in full on the bottom of the piece.

If you do happen to find one, you can get the item appraised. Authentic Natzler pieces in excellent condition can sell for roughly $2,500 to $7,500. Alternatively, you can keep the gorgeous ceramic for yourself, but you may want to get it insured. Gently clean the ceramic by wiping it with a soft, dry brush or microfiber cloth. If the ceramic isn't chipped or cracked, you can also use lukewarm water and mild soap. Once clean, you can implement some styling secrets that make thrifted vintage ceramics the centerpiece in your home.