While staple items like pine dressers and vintage trunks remain popular among antique furniture enthusiasts, it’s often the rarer, more distinctive pieces that become standout features in a home—and offer impressive returns on the resale market. Collectors and casual shoppers alike may want to keep an eye out for these unique furnishings, which blend historical significance with timeless design appeal.
Milking Stools
Once essential on 19th-century farms, milking stools have transitioned into prized decorative pieces. Typically standing 8 to 10 inches tall with a three-legged design to prevent tipping, these stools are valued today for their simplicity and rustic charm. Primitive models—especially those from the early 1800s—can range from $200 to $550 each, with price influenced by age, size, and condition. Bench-style variants, sometimes featuring faded paint and carved handles, are also collectible, though more widely available.
Pie Safes
Before refrigeration, pie safes served as essential household storage, introduced largely by Pennsylvania Dutch immigrants and common throughout the Eastern and Southeastern United States between 1840 and 1870. These cabinets, often adorned with punched tin panels showcasing geometric or floral motifs, offered ventilation while keeping food protected. Despite being typically unmarked due to local production, well-preserved examples now fetch anywhere from $1,000 to $2,000 for smaller versions, and as much as $6,000 for larger, more elaborate pieces.
Stick and Ball Hat Racks
Emerging during the ornate Victorian era, stick and ball hat racks are notable for their spherical wooden finials and interlocking rods. Originally designed to add decorative function to entryways, these racks reflect a time when intricacy was a sign of status. Late 19th-century examples now command prices between $100 and $500, with values climbing based on craftsmanship, size, and condition.
Settle Benches
Dating back to the 10th century, settle benches were long used in European inns and taverns before simpler versions made their way into domestic settings. Known for high backs and side panels—sometimes including chest-style storage—these benches combine utility with historical character. Examples from the turn of the 20th century can range in value from $700 to $2,500, especially if they retain original features and paint.
Nichols & Stone Windsor Chairs
The Nichols Brothers Chair Manufactory, founded in 1762 in Massachusetts, became a cornerstone of American furniture production, eventually evolving into Nichols & Stone. The firm is renowned for its hand-crafted Windsor chairs, made primarily from yellow birch and hard maple. After its acquisition by L. & J.G. Stickley in 2008, Nichols & Stone earned recognition as the oldest furniture-building company in the United States. Authentic Windsor chairs from the brand can sell for up to $900 each.
Trestle Tables
With origins in the Middle Ages, the trestle table was originally designed as a communal surface for mealtime gatherings. The style endured through centuries, notably reappearing in 19th-century Swedish pine designs. Gustavian-era examples (1772–1809), known for their elegant form and sturdy construction, are particularly coveted and can command prices reaching $10,000.
From utilitarian origins to coveted heirlooms, these antique furnishings exemplify craftsmanship, cultural history, and enduring design—all while offering substantial investment potential for those with a keen eye.
