Hottest country collectibles range from antique kitchenware to wrought iron wares

Thanks to a never-ending supply of subjects to choose from — toys, art, furniture, workaday items and more — collecting is one of America's grand passions. With such a wide variety of objects, this favorite pastime draws people from all walks of life. Country decorators, of course, make up a hefty percentage of collectors, gathering up goods that range from antique to vintage to more contemporary fare.

We've noticed in our extensive travels that, for today's collectors, a key word seems to be vintage. Many antiques shops sport an inventory heavily packed with vintage items, which date back 30 to 50 years or a bit more. This is due in part to the nostalgia factor: Collectors love items that evoke memories of their youth or even insight into their parents' and grandparents' childhoods. When one hears a collector speak fondly of a prized grouping of gathered treasures, often it is because these were family pieces or look like those from one or two generations back.

So, while collecting fine antiques is still prevalent, acquiring works of lesser age that are relics of a generation ago or crafted by newer artisans is gaining in popularity. That being said, items of all ages appear on our list of the top collecting prospects for 2015. Whether your taste runs to the authentically antique or to more current goods, we hope you'll find something new to look for on this year's list. Happy hunting!

Miniature kitchen utensils

Miniatures of almost anything are wildly popular right now, and petite kitchen collectibles are no exception. From rolling pins and frying pans to tin pie plates and coffee grinders, adult collectors can be reminded of their childhood with these small items, many of which were toys or dollhouse furnishings. Some are 2 to 4 inches wide, and others are far smaller than that.

Although these tiny items are still being manufactured, antique and vintage pieces date from the Victorian era. Generally, these miniatures can be found for just a few dollars, making it easy for some collectors to have hundreds of them. However, the older and more intricately made pieces command a higher price. For example, although a contemporarily made cutting board and butter churn may sell for less than $20 each, an antique coffee grinder and grater might cost more than $100 each. “I've been collecting these for more than 20 years and still can't resist them when I find them,” says collector Donna Lowell.

Crocks

A true country icon, crockery is a collectible that has continually grown in popularity over the years. Originally made in the 1700s and produced in enormous quantities in the next century, crocks were designed to store foodstuffs. They come in all sizes, from petite containers to 25-, 40- and 50-gallon versions. Although they can also be found in varying hues of brown, most crocks are gray ceramic with a blue design. Motifs such as animals, flowers or other figures were painted on before glazing and firing; often, the crocks have a number signifying the volume of ingredients that the vessel holds.

As a rule, the more ornate or historically significant the design, the pricier the crock. Obviously, those who collect want an example to be in perfect condition, without cracks and chips. Other valued factors include where the piece was made, which is often noted on it; many collectors look for a particular locale or maker.

Once in a while, a bargain can be discovered, but the prices of crocks mostly continue to rise. Even those in fair condition can still bring hundreds and even thousands of dollars in shops, from dealers or at auction. The examples seen here belong to Lowell. Th brown crock has a “3” on the front that signifies its capacity in gallons; it was likely made in the South and has an estimated value of $300 to $400.

Victorian Trading Cards

With their distinctive graphics and low price tag, Victorian trading cards make for an ideal collectible. After exploring antiques stores and talking to shop owners, it is clear that these colorful and graphically intriguing cards are enjoying a new appreciation among collectors. First produced in the early 1800s, the cards became popular at the end of the 19th century with the advent of lithography printing. They speak to the pop culture of that era, advertising the goods and services of local businesses including medicine, food, tobacco and clothing.

What is so amazing about these small pieces of 19th-century advertising memorabilia is how well they have stood up over time. Each piece in this collection is approximately the size of a playing card and most are about 100 years old, yet each has retained a beautiful intensity of color. Aside from their beauty, among the most attractive reasons to amass them is price. The collector of the cards seen here has been acquiring them for so long that he says he no longer remembers how much he paid for them. Many cards are available for less than $5, although some go for $10 or more.

Wrought-iron wares

For hundreds of years, prior to the Industrial Revolution and the popularization of steel, handforged iron made up everything from window grates and weapons to fireplace tools, candlesticks and door hinges for homes, churches and businesses. Contingent on the object's function, the maker's skill level and the fullness of the buyer's pocketbook, designs ranged from extremely simple to ornate and even elegant.

Collectors seek wrought iron for a variety of reasons, such as to fit in with the period decor of their home or because they enjoy having examples of the artistry and craftsmanship of an ancient skill. Most wrought-iron pieces were utilitarian, and their design elements are a bonus to their function.

The objects shown here reflect a limited array of the kinds and costs of wrought-iron pieces available; as with most other decorative antiques, price is dependent on age, aesthetics, rarity and condition. Of the items shown here, the window guard (far right), one of a pair, is perhaps the most valuable; made in the 18th century by Moravians in Pennsylvania, the pair sells for about $900. The spatula (second from bottom), typical of the early 19th century, sells for about $85. The primitively made trivet (bottom) is valued at about $150.

Redware Bundt Pans

Collectors love redware for its rich tones, and these beautifully shaped Bundt-style baking pans are no exception. Similar but never identical, the individually made pans have a textured and marbled coloration that is enormously appealing. Most redware pans date to around the mid- to late 19th century and were usually utilized for making cakes. Examples of these, now growing in popularity, can be found at most large antiques stores and shows. Easily available, they are also moderately priced, ranging from about $50 (which would be a very good deal) to as much as $150.

The pans can be displayed together or mixed individually with other kitchen goods. Use them as a creative base for a seasonal or candle display, or showcase them on the wall with a ribbon hanger. Collectors Joe and Susan Frank arrange them to great effect against a white background in this shelf display.

Feed sacks

Feed sacks originated as the alternative to bulky wood barrels for shipping grains, animal feed and other farm materials. Making barrels was time consuming and difficult, so these heavy cloth sacks were a welcome replacement for the transportation and storage of farm output.

For farm wives, these sacks did double duty as textiles from which clothing and quilts could be made. Eventually, feed manufacturers paid increasing attention to the patterns of their cotton packaging with the understanding that farmers' wives would reuse them and would ask their husbands to buy the brands with the patterns they liked.

Today, feed sacks are often utilized in country decorating, having been acquired from family members, country antiques shops and yard sales. Those with the best color and graphics usually range from $20 to $30 each and can cost as much as $50 if the condition is mint and the design is particularly appealing.

Go looking for vintage and antique feed sacks and the examples most available are often faded and torn. The vibrant examples above are rare.

Vintage cardboard hand fans

In the 20th century, prior to air conditioning, cardboard hand fans were iconic to rural venues, especially churches. Pictured on the fronts of the fans were either local advertising or religious scenes, geared toward families headed off to summertime Sunday services. Today, hand fans are growing in popularity thanks to their sentimental value and their look into a slice of Americana. As advertising memorabilia, they are a glimpse into the sales culture of generations past.

Fortunately, fans are an affordable collectible. Prices range from approximately $10 to $12, with a few valued a bit higher. As in the case of so many other collections, the owner of these pieces has had them for a long time and says he doesn't recall the prices he paid for them. However, a Sozodont fan (like the one at left) sold for $5 in a recent eBay auction, and Garrett's Snuff fans (like the one at right) are currently listed at $15 to $20.

Folk-art cookie jar lids

These whimsical folk-art pieces were carved by Walter Gottshall and painted by his wife, June. The Gottshalls created many forms of miniature animals and humans and sold them either as stand-alone sculptures, pull toys or, as in this case, cookie jar lids.

Off and on from the 1970s through the late 1990s, the couple would find a plain glass cookie jar with a metal top and create the little figures, mostly animals and birds, to be affixed to the top of the jars. Their work became an instant hit among admirers of folk art throughout the country.

The collector of these pieces, Lori Scholtz, fell in love with the Gottshalls' pieces for their workmanship and the patience it took to craft them. Although the work is contemporary, Lori asks, “Who takes the time to carve and whittle so beautifully anymore?” She says none of these is antique, but she has been buying them every time she can find them.

Over the past 15 or so years, she has acquired these examples through other collectors and has found them to be pricey but, to her, well worth what she has paid for them.

In this collection, prices have ranged from $250 to $500. Similar pieces by the Gottshalls can be found at online auctions or through folk-art dealers selling contemporary pieces.

Rooster ties

In the 1930s and 1940s, The Rooster Tie Company began producing themed and patterned neckties. They were brightly colored with various quirky designs that depicted a wide variety of topics including sports, history, politics and professions. The first ties produced had square bottoms; those made later had more typical pointy ends. The earliest pieces were either knitted or made of a silky material. The rooster label on the inside assured it was a true Rooster tie.

As in the case of so many collectibles, people were attracted to them from the start and they were available at reasonable prices. Even today, vintage Rooster ties range from about $35 to $45, a fair bargain for those who have been bitten by the Rooster bug and can't get enough of them. Some collectors, including the owner of the ties seen here, have hundreds and continue buying more. The most avid Rooster tie collectors sometimes even wear them, but they are also easily displayed on racks and walls or in showcases.

Silhouette portraits

These charming artworks, which involved cutting side profiles out of black paper and mounting the silhouettes on a white background, were an inexpensive and time-efficient alternative to oil-on-canvas portraits.

Their popularity began in the late 17th century in France and caught on all over Europe and eventually in the United States. These are among the most classic forms of folk art and seem to be gaining in popularity. In terms of country decor, they blend well with both primitive and slightly more formal styles.

Prices of silhouettes are based on condition, age, and the complexity and appeal of the subject; values can range from about $120 to $250 and more. Some people collect these based on the artist, which can also affect the price. In this photo, all silhouettes are from Philadelphia's Peale Museum, which was opened by portrait painter Charles Willson Peale (1741–1827) and is a favorite source of these profiles among collectors.

According to Joe and Susan Frank, who own these examples, visitors to the museum could commission a piece at the time of their visit, which would then be cut by machine but overseen by an artist. This is a set of 12 Peale renderings bought from one antiques dealer.