What to Collect Now

These vintage and antique finds are having a moment, so grab 'em while you can. (Psst: Americana is about to be big.)

- SARAH ZLOTNICK

Eagle Needlework

To mark America's bicentennial in 1976, companies such as Vogart Crafts and Avon Creative Needlecraft released limited-edition needlepoint, cross-stitch, and crewel patterns featuring the bald eagle. As the nation celebrates its 250th anniversary this year, these completed pieces have become sought-after collectibles. Prices range from $15 for smaller works to over $200 for larger framed pieces. More commonly found designs, such as promotional patterns offered by coffee company Maxwell House (yellow, top center), also tend to be more affordable.

Passata Bowls

Once a staple of rural Southern Italian kitchens, these wide-rimmed terra-cotta vessels were used to process crushed tomatoes for an uncooked puree called passata. The bowls' distinctive green splatter-glazed interiors weren't just decorative—they served a practical purpose, deterring insects. Currently coveted by devotees of European farmhouse style, examples from the early 1900s command between $300 and $1,500, depending on age, condition, and size.

Figural Trade Signs

Literacy wasn't widespread in America before the Civil War, and with waves of immigrants pouring into cities, several languages were often spoken in a given place. To bridge the communication gap in advertising their services, shopkeepers relied on easily recognizable symbols that transcended words. Often oversize and crafted from hardy cast iron that could endure exposure to the elements, these signs are now prized by advertising collectors. Smaller, simpler examples, such as a locksmith’s key, cost around $200, while larger, more elaborate designs like a jeweler's watch can command thousands.