Don't Overlook These Potentially Valuable Light Fixtures At The Thrift Store

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If you are after unique finds for your home, go thrifting. You can spot valuable, high-end items at thrift stores and pay a fraction of the price they go for new or in curated antique stores. When facing that eclectic mix of items most secondhand stores have on offer, however, be sure to keep an eye out for overlooked gems, such as vintage lighting. Porcelier sconces, for example, were at the height of their popularity from the 1920s to the 1940s and are now rare thrift store finds that are both timelessly beautiful and practical. Whether you are looking to elevate a wall or flip an antique piece for profit, a Porcelier sconce is the kind of discovery that can make those endless hours of thrifting worth your time.

In case you're wondering what makes a Porcelier sconce such a valuable find, you need to understand that it carries quite a bit of history. The fixtures were the brainchild of the Porcelier Manufacturing Company, which was founded in 1927 in East Liverpool, Ohio. The company built a name for itself by producing porcelain household items and ceramic light fixtures with pretty hand-painted designs. Although the company shut down operations in the late 1950s, its bath and kitchen lighting fixtures continue to see demand from collectors and home designers alike. In fact, a pair of refurbished Porcelier sconces can fetch over $400 on resale markets like Etsy. Find even a single light fixture at a thrift store and you could genuinely feel like you've unearthed a treasure.

Just as you should always buy valuable vintage lamps if you see them at thrift stores, the same goes for old ceramic sconces. Why, you ask? As mentioned, these stores typically sell such items for a fraction of their original or collectible value. You could snap up a pair of Porcelier sconces for as little as $25. Every visit offers the chance for a potential score to repurpose in your own home or flip online for a profit. To get a clear idea of current value, check out similar Porcelier or vintage ceramic sconces on platforms like eBay and Etsy, as well as specialty antique stores like Historic Houseparts.

To make sure you're buying genuine Porcelier, you need to look for a few things. For one, these precious porcelain fixtures boast a unique aesthetic that captures the essence of the era in which they were made. They typically feature colorful hand-painted floral patterns on a white or cream glazed ceramic body — it's a signature look. Pick up the piece and turn it over. You should see the word Porcelier stamped on the underside in capital letters, and possibly also the wattage and voltage ratings.

If you want to decorate with sconces in your own home, these Porcelier wall fixtures fit perfectly into the grandmillennial and cottagecore aesthetics. They would look gorgeous either side of a large painting above a cozy sofa in a living room. For something more quirky, you could distribute Porcelier sconces in assorted styles throughout a gallery wall of also-thrifted art. Or use them as they would have been used in the early 20th century — mounted either side of a bathroom mirror for extra illumination.