The Valuable Thrift Store Find That Could Be Hiding In The Mug Section

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If there is one item that is sure to be on the shelves at the thrift store, it is coffee mugs. Savvy collectors know that this section can actually hold a couple of gems if you know what to look for. Hidden among the countless "World's Best Dad," business logo, and snarky saying mugs could be some serious vintage treasures. One that you should be looking out for is Feltman Langer mugs, also known as Americaware. The most valuable of the Feltman Langer mugs shouldn't be too hard to spot: the postmodern Memphis Group Peter Shire mug. Noticing it shouldn't be difficult, as it will most likely be the strangest mug you've ever seen, with its triangle shape, circle handle, and contrasting bright colors, it stands out like a sore thumb.

Feltman Langer was the originator of the wide-based travel mug that became popular in the 1980s. It was perfectly suited for taking on the morning commute, with its promise of keeping your coffee in your mug (this was long before cup holders in cars were a thing). By the 1990s, the company changed its name and began to focus on mugs better suited for cup holders that were beginning to come standard with vehicles. Around this time is when they started selling city, state, and destination locations, which became extremely popular. They have now become one of the top sellers of souvenir style mugs. If you're looking for the most high-value mug to collect, the postmodern mug designed by Peter Shire is a vintage ceramic piece that would work well as decor for your vintage inspired home design (and it has the best resale value).

While it's true, many of the Feltman Langer no-spill mugs are very collectable and can fetch a higher price than what you most likely will pay for them at the thrift store, the most valuable design is truly a prize find. The signature design can sell for in the hundreds, while the regular no-spill mugs generally sell for under $100. When looking for this valuable mug at the thrift store there are a few things to keep an eye out for.

Besides the obvious shape and style, the triangular Memphis Group Peter Shire mug often came in a set with a matching teapot, creamer, and sugar bowl. If you're lucky, they may even have a maker's sticker still attached with the Feltman Langer name on it. You could also notice there isn't any glaze where the cups rest on a surface, or the glaze may show signs of crazing due to the firing process and age. They came in a variety of contrasting color themes, from blue and pink, blue and yellow, black and yellow, and more. These Feltman Langer pieces are truly unique and worth collecting if not for their resale value, but also for their connection to Peter Shire, art, and design history. They are the perfect way to incorporate the geometric, colorful, and trendy '80s Memphis Design into your space.