The Swedish furniture giant has built its reputation on affordable, functional pieces that have found their way into millions of homes worldwide. While some designs remain perennial bestsellers, others have quietly disappeared from store shelves, only to resurface on the secondhand market at surprisingly inflated prices. Among these unexpected treasures, one particular decorative piece from the 1990s and early 2000s has captured the attention of collectors and nostalgic shoppers alike.
The Skamt vase phenomenon that’s sweeping resale platforms
Anyone who decorated their home during the late 20th century likely remembers the Skamt bud vase, a simple yet vibrant accessory that became ubiquitous across households. Available in a rainbow of shades including pink, orange, yellow, purple, green, and blue, this diminutive vessel originally retailed for just a few euros. Many enthusiasts collected multiple colors, creating cheerful displays on windowsills and shelves throughout their living spaces.
Today, this once-humble decoration commands premium prices on platforms like Ebay, Selency, and Leboncoin. Individual pieces now sell for approximately 25 euros, representing more than tenfold their original retail value. Paired sets fetch even steeper prices, with two green vases recently listed at 30 euros. The real treasure lies in complete collections, where sets of nine or ten vases can command between 75 and 350 euros from determined collectors seeking to recapture a piece of decorative history.
This dramatic appreciation reflects a broader trend in vintage homewares, where discontinued designs gain cult status among those seeking alternatives to mass-produced contemporary offerings. The Skamt’s simple silhouette and bold color palette perfectly encapsulate the aesthetic sensibilities of its era, making it particularly desirable for those furnishing period-appropriate interiors or simply indulging in memories of their younger years. If these colorful vessels still occupy space in your storage areas or display shelves, you might be sitting on a modest windfall worth exploring.
Lighting designs that illuminate substantial profits
Beyond decorative accessories, vintage illumination fixtures from the Swedish retailer have emerged as another lucrative category for resellers. The Skojig lamp, created by designer Henrik Preutz, currently trades hands for between 45 and 75 euros depending on condition and marketplace. Meanwhile, the vintage Likta pendant has achieved even more impressive valuations, with some examples reaching 100 euros in recent transactions.
These lighting pieces appeal to buyers seeking distinctive character and craftsmanship that often differs from contemporary mass-market offerings. The designers behind these creations brought thoughtful consideration to form and function, resulting in pieces that transcend their modest origins. As modern interiors increasingly embrace eclectic styling that mixes eras and influences, these discontinued fixtures provide exactly the kind of unique focal points that differentiate personalized spaces from catalog showrooms.
The appreciation in value also speaks to changing attitudes toward furniture longevity and sustainability. Rather than constantly purchasing new items, maintaining and cleaning existing pieces has become increasingly important to environmentally conscious consumers. This shift in mindset naturally extends to seeking quality vintage items that have already proven their durability across decades of use.
Furniture pieces commanding extraordinary sums
While vases and lamps represent accessible entry points into vintage collecting, certain furniture designs have achieved truly remarkable valuations. Items produced between the 1960s and early 2000s occasionally surface on specialty platforms, attracting serious collectors willing to invest substantial sums for iconic pieces with documented design pedigrees.
The Impala armchair, conceived by designer Gillis Lundgren and launched in 1972 at a modest 37 euros, exemplifies this phenomenon. Recent sales have recorded prices reaching 2,300 euros for well-preserved examples, representing an appreciation far exceeding typical investment returns. This dramatic increase reflects both the chair’s aesthetic significance and its relative scarcity in today’s market.
Several factors contribute to such extraordinary valuations :
- Designer attribution from recognized names in midcentury Scandinavian furniture
- Production quantities and availability, with limited runs commanding premium prices
- Condition and completeness, including original upholstery and structural integrity
- Documented provenance and period-appropriate materials
- Cultural significance within design history and evolving tastes
These considerations transform functional furniture into collectible artifacts, where historical context and design merit justify investment-grade pricing. For those fortunate enough to have retained such pieces from decades past, the current market presents opportunities that were unimaginable when these items first entered homes as practical, affordable furnishings.
Recognizing hidden value throughout your home
The transformation of everyday household items into sought-after collectibles demonstrates how quickly market dynamics can shift. Objects purchased purely for function can acquire unexpected cultural and financial significance as tastes evolve and production runs conclude. This phenomenon extends beyond Swedish furniture to encompass numerous design movements and manufacturing periods, though the accessible price points and widespread distribution of certain retailers make their vintage offerings particularly liquid in resale markets.
For current owners evaluating their possessions, several strategies can help identify potentially valuable items. Researching discontinued product lines through collector forums and marketplace listings provides baseline pricing information. Examining condition carefully determines whether pieces merit premium valuations or should be priced more moderately. Understanding the specific characteristics that collectors prize, such as particular colors, production years, or designer attributions, helps position items effectively when marketing them to interested buyers.
Whether motivated by decluttering, downsizing, or simple profit, sellers should approach vintage furnishings thoughtfully. Proper photography highlighting condition and details attracts serious buyers, while accurate descriptions prevent disputes and returns. Patience often rewards sellers, as niche collectibles may require time to find their ideal purchasers willing to pay appropriate prices for pieces that resonate with their particular aesthetic preferences and nostalgic memories.
