Traveler’s Choice: 6 Best Antique Shops on Etsy

When it comes to handmade arts and crafts from around the world, Etsy is a veritable goldmine. However, the website has also become known as a marketplace for buying everything rare and specific, like antiques. There is an abundance of the best antique shops on Etsy which sell beautifully curated antiques. What’s more, the antiques aren’t limited to furniture, unlike what we initially thought. We’ve found everything from antique furniture pieces to home decor like wall clocks and carpets, and even gorgeous antique jewelry that made us feel like royalty from an era gone by. So, if you thought thrift shopping was hard, try antique shopping on Etsy!

Not only is Etsy’s antique stuff sustainable, but it’s also usually one-of-a-kind. That’s why we’re huge fans of Etsy’s antique stores, which were not only easier to find than earlier but also allowed us to find obscure objects in a few clicks. So, what are you waiting for? Here’s a detailed guide to investing in unique, one-of-a-kind second-hand stuff from 100 years ago on Etsy.

Wayward Collection

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The Philadelphia-based vintage shop Wayward Collection is rather special. The owner, Haley, happens to be the daughter of antique dealers. What’s more, she’s also a long-time collector and wearer of everything antique and vintage, so the Etsy page of this store advises you to “trust her.” And trust her, we did, especially after looking through pages and pages of raffia bags, Italian knit slips, 60s dresses, chunky gold 80s earrings, and whatnot.

As the daughter of antique dealers, founder Haley is an apple that hasn’t fallen far from the tree. This is especially true in terms of the beautiful assortment of dresses we found in the shop, ranging from the 1940s to the ’80s. We especially fell in love with the Wayward Collection 1960s Red Sequined Empire Waist Dress, which is a stunning cherry-red sequined empire-waisted ankle-length gown from the swinging ’60s. The sublime make of the dress includes a full lining (modern dresses, anyone) and fine horsehair mesh. Together, they make the fit of this Jean Allen dress so chic; it’s almost Geoffrey Beene-like in its quintessence.

Estate Diamond Jewelry

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Irrespective of factual history, romanticizing the past is always fascinating, isn’t it? We love to look back and reminisce about the beauty, elegance, and grace of some time periods and eras. That’s why we’re drawn towards antique jewelry, with the adage “They don’t make them like this anymore.” This is where Estate Diamond Jewelry comes in. This family-owned business has been operating in the heart of the Diamond District of New York City for nearly half a century. Moreover, they’re committed to only selling ethically sourced and thoughtfully reviewed antique and vintage jewelry. Since estate jewelry could be 30, 50, or 100 years old and is usually considered pre-owned, it’s special. Moreover, the shop boasts a massive antique collection of jewelry, especially rings, right from the 1880s through the 1970s. The best bit? They offer free overnight insured shipping and a no-questions-asked 14-day return policy.

That’s what led us to the cherished antique piece that is the Estate Diamond Jewelry Antique Art-Deco 1.25ct Emerald Diamond Platinum Ring. This handcrafted ring dates back to 1920, the zenith of the Art Deco era. It boasts a natural Colombian emerald in an emerald-style cut, weighing approximately 1.25 carats and secured in a prong setting. What’s more, the center gem is surrounded by a halo of old mine-cut and European-cut diamonds. Together, the J-colored stones with SI1-SI2 clarity weigh approximately 1.30 carats. Finally, the entire jewel sits in a platinum setting, enhancing its beauty.

Urban Americana

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We’re huge fans of antique and vintage home furnishings, right from dumbwaiters and fireplaces to poufs and other furniture. That’s why Urban Americana caught our eye. It’s basically a massive warehouse that’s stuffed with all kinds of antique and vintage treasures. In fact, they offer everything from mid-century fireplaces to embroidered poufs and even cool old vintage signs. In the end, their entire thing is – if you can imagine it, chances are they’re going to have it.

While exploring their furniture section, we fell in love with the Urban Americana Antique Primitive English Cupboard/Cabinet. We loved the double-storied, double-door cabinet, which was the perfect storage addition to our dining room decor. Firstly, we loved that it had open space to display smaller stuff right in the middle where we could display Etsy wood products or even Etsy coffee mugs. However, what drew us in was that it also had two very spacious cupboards where we could store our crockery, china, and other glassware.

Beni Ourain Carpets

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Beni Ourain rugs, while not new, have been having something of an unmistakable design moment over the past few years. When we first saw them on Instagram, you’d have to forgive us for thinking that they were mostly just simple diamond patterns. However, they’re more than just that, as Beni Ourain Carpets on Etsy showcases. The Etsy shop showed us the range of these traditional rugs, whose patterns range from simple zigzag patterns to more complicated designs. Moreover, the shop also carries other types of traditional Moroccan rugs, including kilim and Berber options.

By purchasing a Beni Ourain rug, we’d be getting a timeless and minimalist rug that can find its place in any modern or classical home. For instance, take the Beni Ourain Carpets Moroccan Rug. When we looked at it from afar, it looked like it had mostly simple and basic diamond patterns. However, when we inspected it closely, the designs and patterns of this traditional rug were extremely complicated. In fact, they are a testament to the unique and rich traditions of Moroco’s Berber culture.

Ottosantiques

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Located in Exeter, UK, Ottosantiques is a family-run 2013-founded business with a particular eye for 20th-century industrial and modernist designs. They source stock from all over Europe and ship all over the world from their warehouse in Gloucester. In fact, we loved their well-curated antiques choices, which they sympathetically restore as well.

The Ottosantiques Circa 1930s Industrial Scissor Lamp caught our eye amongst the sea of antiques that this shop has a collection of. Originally made by PeHaWe in Dresden, this industrial-designed lamp features a large and extendable scissor design. It allowed us to extend the lamp from the wall as and when we needed it. Fitted for E27 fitting bulbs, the lamp even comes with the original on/off toggle switch on the shade. Overall, this German-made lamp from the 1930s came fully re-wired with all modern electrical components, with the original paint even showing signs of patina.

Persephone Vintage

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We came across Persephone Vintage while scrolling through Instagram, and we couldn’t be gladder to have found it. Its large 160,000-follower count on Instagram is no surprise; it’s the coolest vintage shop we’ve ever come across for women’s clothing. Not only is the shop’s selection incredibly curated, but we also loved how the wonder styled every piece. In fact, each photograph feels like it could have been pulled from an ethereal fashion editorial.

One of the most modern and on-trend antique pieces of clothing we found at this shop is the Persephone Vintage Alberta Ferretti Seafoam Green Silk Macrame Lace Gown. This breathtaking piece of clothing from the 1990s boasts stunning intricate macrame lace detailing. Thanks to the back keyhole button closure, this dress fit us very well even though it came in only US size 4 (it’s a vintage dress, after all). But what we really liked was the condition of the dress; it was excellent, with very minor signs of wear. In fact, it’s been spot-cleaned for wear too.

How To Choose The Best Antique Shops on Etsy?

Choosing antique sellers on Etsy depends a lot on what you’re looking for. Basically, Etsy’s antique shops are divided into three main categories: those selling clothing, those selling furniture like the best Etsy camping metal table legs, and those selling home decor like glassware, carpets, wall decor, etc.

Clothing

• Era style: Since we’re talking about antique clothing, it’s very important to get the clothes right by the era. We looked for shops that sold by the era and cross-checked them with photo references. It was a great way to whittle out those who knew less than other shops, where the sellers were very well-informed about antique and vintage clothing.
• Sizing: We paid attention to the sizing options when it came to shops selling vintage clothing. Usually, antique and vintage clothes didn’t come in different sizes because they were either handmade or a rare find. So, we stayed away from shops offering more size options, as chances were that they weren’t antique or vintage.

Furniture

There’s only one thing we checked when it came to looking for antique furniture shops on Etsy, that is, the various styles of furniture offered. Firstly, we’d check if they knew the difference between ‘antique’ and ‘vintage,’ as antique only applies to something that’s from more than 100 years ago. Everything else is vintage. Furthermore, we checked out whether they offered furniture across all these eras:

• Victorian: Furniture from this era usually has lovely embellishments, such as pedestal bases, claw feet, ornate decorations, and hand paintings.
• Edwardian: This early 20th-century style of furniture often has inlaid/pierced wood tops, hand-painted designs, and other decorations.
• Art Deco: This furniture from the 1920s-30s style features contrasting wood colors, sleek geometric shapes, lots of wood veneer, and simple designs.
• Reclaimed: Reclaimed furniture is very popular, especially since the repurposing transforms them completely.

Jewelry

• Era: Usually, jewelry inspired by eras is very popular on Etsy, such as Victorian era ones, Edwardian styles, and even angular, Art Deco-inspired styles from the 1930s. Antique, era-specific jewelry designs make for truly unique pieces with detailed settings and designs.
• Condition: Another thing we did while looking for antique jewelry was check its condition. We examined the piece for worn settings, loose stones, chips, and cracks. Moreover, we asked the seller for detailed descriptions and photos.

Other Home Decor

When it came to other home decor like wall hangings and art, wall clocks, or carpets, we usually stuck to the same factors: examining the condition, checking which era it was from, and the seller’s history.

Is antique furniture safe to use?

Absolutely. While actual furniture like china cabinets and desks is okay, when it comes to specific furniture like lamps or wall clocks, have them inspected by professionals so you can rest assured that they’re safe or okay to be used.

Are antique furniture pieces valuable?

Yes, it’s possible that some furniture pieces might sell for thousands of dollars. However, it’s also true that others aren’t worth that much. So, it’s always a good idea to get the furniture appraised.

How do you date an antique piece of furniture, decor, or jewelry?

Usually, we look at the back of the piece of furniture for the craftsman’s mark. This label usually also has the date the frame was created.

Some images on this article are copyrighted by Etsy.