A Household Item You Can Find At A Thrift Store Could Be Worth $2,600

People typically associate Tiffany & Co. with sophistication and luxury, and for good reason. Louis Comfort Tiffany truly mastered the art of glassmaking. He elevated opalescent glass to unheard-of levels of artisanship while also brilliantly creating breathtaking glass mosaics that illuminated stunning colors. Tiffany became a New York interior designer in 1879, adding a glass blowing division to his company in 1893. He perfected his glass making craft in the late nineteenth century, opening Tiffany Studios (renamed from Tiffany Glass Company) in 1902. 

To get a sense of how much people value his work, Sotheby's listed one of his most memorable creations for auction in November 2024, the Danner Memorial Window, estimating its value at $5 to $7 million. Instead, the masterpiece sold for an astonishing $12.48 million. Although the Danner Memorial Window serves as a one-of-a-kind treasure, determined searchers can find numerous Tiffany branded glass items in thrift stores. When exploring store aisles, look for attractive pieces on the heavier side — Tiffany glass is heavier than what might be expected from appearance alone. Also, look for logos and maker's marks etched into the base or design — including but definitely not limited to L.C.T – to help confirm authenticity. Unfortunately, fraudulent individuals have forged identifying marks, so it could be worth doing some research on other signs of true Tiffany glassware. Also watch for replicas, which can be beautiful but lacking the same value as original Tiffany items.

Louis C. Tiffany didn't just make glass. He also crafted unique pottery, metalwork, tiles, jewelry, and more. He dubbed his pieces 'favrile' as an indication of the hand-fabricated nature of his work. Even in the early twentieth century, when certain Tiffany items became mass produced, individual pieces maintained a certain uniqueness — or, in the lingo of Tiffany, favrile. 

Tiffany pieces from this era can be in great demand by collectors. eBay sales prices, as of June 2025, for LCT marked favrile pieces include a listing for an eight-piece iridescent gold art glass liquor set for $2,612.50. This set, etched with grapes, includes a decanter and was crafted in 1900. Six LCT cordial glasses from 1900-1919, with no cracks or chips, were listed for $2,100 while a set of five individually numbered shot glasses from around 1900 in favrile gold lustre were listed for $1,305. Four matching favrile iridescent sake glasses, estimated to be from 1890-1920, were listed for $995.00. The Tiffany brand is also well known for its lamps, which can sell for tens of thousands of dollars. Royal House Antiques on eBay, for example, listed a fully operational adjustable table lamp from 1900 — stamped with Tiffany Studio's New York — with a potentially not original lamp shade in a dragonfly design for $34,320.00. 

Some people buy Tiffany glass because of its beauty and plan to keep it or use the glassware as a gift, while others purchase it as an investment — hoping for long-term returns when they sell it someday. While knowing when to shop at thrift stores can help you purchase an item at the lowest prices — in order to turn around and sell the piece at a higher amount — it's important to also get to know thrift shop patterns. One shop, for example, may offer discounted prices during specific days of the week. So, savvy shoppers should head there on designated days (or, if willing to pay a bit more, on the day prior in order to beat bargain shoppers to the punch). Thrift stores can also be great options for people qualifying for senior discounts, with discounts available for those as young as their 50s, so get to know when your local stores offer deals and sales.

Treasures gleaned can then be used to earn a profit via thrift shop flipping, being listed for sale on places like Amazon Resale, Facebook Marketplace, eBay, Etsy, and even in-person flea markets and rummage sales. Make sure to charge enough to carefully wrap these fragile items as well as for shipping if required.