8 Vintage Wall Art Pieces That Are Worth a Small Fortune

It's common to hear stories about wealthy buyers investing in art and shelling out huge sums of money for unique and highly sought after pieces. But you don't have to start with a fortune to invest in vintage art and/or sell some to eliminate some money stress. You may be surprised by how much a vintage piece you already have hanging somewhere in your home or a relic you find in a local thrift store is worth.

Keep your eyes peeled for these 8 incredibly valuable categories of vintage wall art.

Retro film posters

Estimated market value: $250-$6,432

Original posters that feature old Hollywood film stars and icons frequently sell for hundreds or even thousands of dollars.

Posters that feature stars popular with collectors in general tend to yield more on the resale market. An original poster for the 1967 musical comedy "Double Trouble" featuring Elvis, for example, recently sold for $250.

An original poster for the 1959 classic "Some Like It Hot," starring Marilyn Monroe, recently sold on eBay for $1,250, and one from the 1961 fan-favorite "Breakfast at Tiffany's," featuring Audrey Hepburn, recently sold at auction for more than $6,000.

Salvador Dalí lithographs

Estimated market value: $1,199-$4,900

Getting your hands on a one-of-a-kind Dalí painting is unlikely, unless you have a couple million to spare. However, lithographs from the famed Spanish surrealist are significantly easier to come by.

The process of lithography allows artists to reproduce their work multiple times while maintaining artistic control. It is much more involved than simply making copies of an artwork.

Dalí lithographs, particularly those that come with a certificate of authenticity, frequently sell for thousands of dollars, even on sites like eBay. Recently, a Dalí from the '70s called "Tuna Fishing," that came with its certificate confirming it was the 4th copy out of a set of 100, sold for nearly $1,200 on eBay.

Constable-style paintings

Estimated market value: $2,380

John Constable, an artist born in the late 1700s, is well-known for his paintings of the English countryside.

Though getting your hands on an original Constable is incredibly unlikely, as they can sell for hundreds of thousands of dollars, oil paintings in the Constable style can be valuable as well, particularly antiques.

For example, a painting depicting a rural country scene in this style, which dates back to the late 19th century and comes with an antique frame, is attracting plenty of eyes on eBay with an asking price over $2,300.

Metal Coke signs

Estimated market value: $52-$1,795

Metal advertisements were all the rage in the mid-20th century, and collectors have been known to shell out serious cash for vintage Coke signs in particular. If you happen upon a retro-looking Coke sign at a thrift shop or yard sale, it's worth it to look into recent sales of similar products on eBay.

One sign, a tall, metal piece with a very retro look and a message calling on customers to "pause" and "drink Coca-Cola," recently sold on the site for nearly $1,800. The seller estimated it was from the 1930s or 40s.

Vintage Coke signs, even those with some signs of wear, regularly sell for over $1,000.

Hokkaido silkscreens

Estimated market value: $1,250-$3,000

Japanese artist Kenichi Kuriyagawa was known for creating brightly colored, stunning silkscreen prints, often inspired by or featuring Japan's natural beauty. He was born in the country's Hokkaido prefecture in the early 20th century and later established a design school there.

Today, you can still purchase his silkscreens in the United States through Art House SF. The prints also regularly appear on resale sites, with asking prices that tend to range from $1,200 to around $3,000.

An authentic Kuriyagawa piece will include the artist's signature as well as a print number, typically indicating the work's position out of a set of 100.

Religious triptychs

Estimated market value: $35-$1,770

A triptych is a piece of art that is made of three sections or panels, and throughout history, they have often been used to depict religious stories, particularly those of the Christian faith.

Religious art is a toss-up when it comes to value, but there tends to be a solid market for antique triptychs, particularly those made of specific materials, like bronze, and kept in good condition.

For example, a bronze triptych depicting the Virgin Mary and Jesus surrounded by the three wise men, thought to be from the 19th century due to its Gothic style, recently sold on eBay for $1,770.

Ceramic decorative plates

Estimated market value: $140

Decorative plates come in many shapes and sizes from artisans and crafters all over the world, so simply stumbling upon some plates that look interesting at your local thrift shop doesn't mean you've happened upon a small fortune.

There are certain names that tend to command a premium on the resale market, such as the Spanish ceramics studio Puigdemont. The Puigdemont shop is known for its unique style, adorning plates with bright paintings of fish, fruits, and florals.

Puigdemont plates regularly come on the market with asking prices up to $1,000. Recently, a pair of plates with colorful hand-painted fish sold on eBay for about $140.

Venetian masks

Estimated market value: $95-$150

Intricate masks created for the annual Carnevale festival in Venice have doubled as home decor for many years. There are many mass-produced replicas of the colorful creations, but those tend to be made of plastic or resin and are not worth much.

Handmade creations from Italy are a different story. Valuable masks are made using traditional techniques, with papier-mache structures and delicate, hand-painted details.

Though no two artisan-created Venetian masks are the same, some popular characters, like the golden plague doctor, have been recreated for centuries and remain valuable. One recently sold on eBay for $150, and hand-crafted Venetian masks regularly sell on the site for between $100 and $150.

Bottom line

Investing in and reselling wall art can be a legit and fun way to earn extra money on the side, but recognizing what separates a valuable original from a mass-produced imitation is key.

Look for the artist's signature and edition number (if applicable), and fine details related to specific painting or printmaking techniques. If you are new to the art game, consider consulting a professional appraiser for help assessing value and guidance on the best place to sell the work.

You May Also Like

5 Ways You Could Make Real Money Without Quitting Your Job

By FinanceBuzz Editors

6 Things To Do If You’re Barely Scraping By Financially

By FinanceBuzz Editors

7 Clever Ways to Crush Your Debt

By FinanceBuzz Editors

Hands Down The Laziest Ways People Are Making Extra Cash

By FinanceBuzz Editors

7 Moves If You Want to Stop Living Paycheck to Paycheck

By FinanceBuzz Editors

25 Legit Ways to Make Extra Cash

By Team FBZ

Earn Up To $1K Doing Simple Online Tasks

4.9

FinanceBuzz writers and editors score products and companies on a number of objective features as well as our expert editorial assessment. Our partners do not influence our ratings.

Freecash Benefits

• Earn Free Cash Within Minutes — Up To $1,000
• Has paid out over $100 million to users since 2019
• You choose the offers you want to complete and stack for rewards
• Multiple cash-out options
• “Excellent” Trustpilot Rating (54,000+ reviews, 4.6/5 stars)

4.9

FinanceBuzz writers and editors score products and companies on a number of objective features as well as our expert editorial assessment. Our partners do not influence our ratings.

Download Freecash

---

Subscribe Today

Learn how to make an extra $200

Get vetted side hustles and proven ways to earn extra cash sent to your inbox.

or

Subscribe Now →

By submitting this form you agree to receive emails from FinanceBuzz and to the privacy policy and terms