Farming antiques are becoming more and more coveted by dealers and collectors. One man’s junk is another man’s treasure. It is surprising just how valuable old farm collectibles have become. It might be time to resurrect those dusty things lurking on top shelves in the loft or the barn. Dust them off and either display with new pride or visit EBay. Done Deal or your local antique dealer and make some money. The humble milk churn has become a valuable garden ornament and now fetches anything from €100 to €120 on online sites. Even if the lid has been missing for some time, you can expect to cash your can in for upwards of €70.
Rare aluminium five gallon churns can expect to reach €150. Check for a date stamp on your milk can. 1968 is a magical year and can be pricier for reasons known only to the collectors. Steel cans fetch less than aluminium, but it would seem that your old creamery churn is now highly prized. A white Belfast sink, or similar, is now so popular that it has been emulated by all the big manufacturers and a genuine antique rarely becomes available. If you have one of these plain white enamel sinks, with its signature high square sides, you better start looking after it as it might be contributing to your retirement fund.
Many items which the average farmer treated as functional are now worth money. Butter paddles, black kettles, cauldrons, pots and ladles are among the vintage items being sought by collectors. Even old fashioned apple boxes can be worth a tenner a piece. That metal tractor seat that made life so uncomfortable for so many years is now worth upwards of €200, and more when made into new uber-cool furniture for some minimalized super cool city apartment.
Talking points are expensive it seems. A vintage plough can bring home a cool €1000, while all the antique farming sites offer pumps, buck rakes and other old farm memorabilia at nice new prices. A hand pump can cost up to a few hundred euro, depending on the condition and a vintage spring harrow is worth almost a hundred euro. It may be difficult to know just what actual treasure is and what is just junk.
Niall Mullen, Vice President of Irish Antique Dealers Association, which represents 50 antique dealers in Ireland, has this to say on the Done Deal.ie website. ‘Every family has something that has been handed down through generations and told is of value. Go on the internet and try to cross reference it. The internet might give you the value you want if a painting is signed or if it’s a piece of furniture etc. and you can identify it.’ You can also get a value by finding a dealer through the IADA website. And contacting them directly for a valuation. So, take a good look around the sheds and fields. Move the more valuable and rare items to a safe place. The time has come to look at the remnants of the past with new eyes.
Even the quirkiest and smallest items may hold more than just sentimental value.
