How To Spot A Vintage Planter That Is Stunning And Valuable

As people downsize from their original homes and new homeowners renovate them, original furnishings and accessories are ending up in thrift stores. Mid-century modern design enjoyed a resurgence in popularity in the late 1990s, but devotees of the vibrant colors and clean lines of the style never really let it go. Look closely, and you'll spot a timeless Eames lounge chair or an Arco floor lamp, mid-century modern furniture worth thousands, in magazines' glossy design photo spreads. Everyday items that regular people use, like planters and dishware, are as important as the publicity-hogging furniture and arguably just as significant. Snagging a valuable vintage planter when you're looking for a stunning design piece requires knowing how to spot the real deal.

Mid-century modern design is characterized by clean lines, geometric shapes, and vivid colors, with its roots in nature. Man-made and natural elements were combined in furniture, decor, and architecture. Many pieces, like the iconic stylized atomic starbursts found in wallpapers and accessories like lamps, imagined the future. Vintage planters will have at least some of these attributes and minimal embellishment. Look for earthy colors, natural materials like clay or ceramic, and simple shapes with some heft. Turn the planter over to check for a maker's mark; it's the only sure way to tell whether a pot is vintage or a knockoff if you find it at a thrift store. Gainey Ceramics pots fetch high prices — a speckled-glazed green planter crafted in the 1960s carries a $1250.00 price tag. Look for "Gainey Ceramics Inc" stamped on the bottom.

You won't always have a maker's mark to verify that a planter is authentic mid-century modern. Many are unsigned, and many are production pieces, mass-produced planters based on the original design. The production pieces are as desirable as originals, though rarely as valuable. If you're buying from a reputable dealer, they may be able to provide provenance, the record of ownership that proves that a planter is original. Usually, you'll follow your own instincts, backed by research on mid-century modern design. Buy things you like, and you won't be disappointed if you discover the planter isn't valuable or a contemporary copy.

There are a few things to watch out for. Some vintage planters you find at thrift stores, like the charming and collectible work of Willy Guhl, are potentially dangerous. Guhl used a material called Eternit that contained asbestos, a harmful product that causes major lung problems. Guhl originals sell for thousands of dollars and can be safely used and displayed if the asbestos is contained. Another thing to keep in mind is the difference between mid-century, an era, and mid-century modern, a style. A house built in 1950, for instance, could be a simple ranch or a futuristic wonder. Be aware that some planters came with mid-century modern metal stands. If you find one, try to determine if the stand is original; it adds value.