Yahoo Finance Check your cupboards: This cookware could be worth $25,000
These retro kitchen pieces are being sold for big bucks online.
With its iconic designs featuring flowers and vegetables, CorningWare has established itself as a household staple in Australian kitchens since the 1970s and '80s. Now it's time to take a closer look at your own CorningWare collection because it could fetch a significant sum.
Aussies are being encouraged to check their cupboards following the collapse of CorningWare's parent company Instant Brands, which has caused the value of vintage CorningWare items to reach unprecedented highs online.
Savvy sellers are strategically listing certain pieces as exclusive, antique collector's items and are demanding prices as high as $35,000, surpassing previous auction records by a staggering $10,000.
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In an interview with Seven News, one seller revealed she has made a small fortune by selling her mum's vintage CorningWare pieces. "My mother collected CorningWare and it was very popular back in the day, but it's been gathering dust in our home for years," she said. "I've sold off a few pieces - with my mum's blessing of course - and have made about $9,000 so far."
Indeed, online marketplaces such as eBay and Etsy are full of CorningWare listings with similarly high price tags. Current listings on eBay showcase elusive pieces with asking prices anywhere between $1,000 and $12,000. Meanwhile, one Etsy listing has priced a 30-year-old CorningWare piece at an eye-watering $35,000 — including free delivery — while several other sets are going for upwards of $30,000.
The designs to look for
CorningWare's distinct designs have become iconic over the years, capturing the essence of different eras. Among collectors, the Spice Of Life range is one of the most coveted patterns, with pieces featuring an assortment of vegetables, greenery, and the words "L'Echalote La Marjolaine".
Rare patterns like Wildflower, produced from 1977 to 1984, and the even more elusive Floral Bouquet, made from 1971 to 1975, have the potential to fetch up to $10,000 in online marketplaces. The more common Cornflower range, with its classic blue floral design, commands asking prices as high as $2,500 on auction sites.
Buyer beware
While some CorningWare items are currently listed at exceptionally high prices, it doesn't necessarily guarantee their sale, as a quick examination of recently sold items on eBay indicates. In fact, actual selling prices for individual CorningWare items in recent transactions have not surpassed $150.00.
An example from this week's sales includes a set of seven pieces, which sold for a modest $500. These figures provide a more accurate reflection of the current market value and the price range at which CorningWare items are truly being sold.
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