Will Seippel, CEO of WorthPoint, enjoys watching the items sold at auctions held by our WorthPoint Industry Partners. We thought it would be a great idea for him to select some of his favorite sold items and explain why those sales stood out to him. Gaining insights from Will is an excellent way to learn about buying and selling trends in our industry. We want to empower you to buy and sell with confidence. Take a look at his thoughts on a few of our partners’ recent sales.
On January 23, 2025, WorthPoint added a whopping 202,367 items to its Price Guide, bringing the total value to nearly $11.7 million—an average of about $57.89 per item. Whether you’re hunting for treasures or just curious, that’s a lot of value packed into one update! Let’s dive into what made these items worth so much, shall we?
A Piece of a Powerhouse
Every time I dive into the world of Fenton Glass, I’m amazed by the sheer scope of their creations. Fenton was a powerhouse in the glass industry, producing everything from mass-market hobnail pieces to rare, one-of-a-kind art glass like their “Off Hand” line. This line, made only during the 1925-26 season, was Fenton’s foray into more artistic, designer glass, a sharp departure from their usual mass production. Unfortunately, it didn’t last long because it was too expensive for their customer base, but today, pieces from this line are highly sought after, with prices soaring. In fact, a 12″ vase from this collection recently sold on eBay for $3,178.99, with the record price for this line hitting $5,377.
Speaking of rare finds, the vase we’re looking at today is a stunning example of Fenton’s “Off Hand” art glass. Standing 12 inches tall, it features an urn-like shape with a gorgeous cobalt blue foot and an iridescent finish that shifts from fiery orange and red to amber spots, with a dark green interior. The vase, made in 1925, is unsigned but unmistakably part of that elusive line. With its polished pontil and random threading, it’s in very good condition with no damage or repairs, making it a perfect collector’s piece. This vase is one of those treasures where rarity and beauty collide—a gem for anyone who appreciates fine glasswork.
A Piece of Rock ‘n Roll
Another incredible piece that made its way to eBay was a yellow Elvis Presley scarf, handed directly to a fan by The King himself at the Las Vegas Hilton in 1974. This canary yellow scarf, featuring Elvis’s name in raised blue lettering, is one of the most coveted items in his memorabilia collection. The fan who received it has kept it in her possession since that unforgettable night, and the sale included not just the scarf but also a button and RCA photo from her trip to see Elvis. Sold for $3,145.00, this scarf, measuring 32 x 34 inches, fetched a solid price thanks to its strong provenance and personal connection to the King. It’s the kind of item that’s not just a keepsake—it’s a piece of rock ‘n roll history!
A Tisket a Tasket
Longaberger baskets, once highly sought-after, seem to be having a bit of a rough time in the resale market these days. A lot of 10 baskets, with a bud vase thrown in for good measure, recently sold at Appletree for just $79.95. These used to fetch a premium, but over the years, the market has become flooded with them, and tastes have shifted. As it turns out, sometimes knowing what not to buy is just as important as knowing what’s in demand. The Longaberger company, known for its handcrafted maple wood baskets, once ruled the home décor world, but now the hype has faded.
Mountain High
In the “bizarre but fascinating” category, a mounted Mountain Goat recently sold for $1,466 at JMS Auctions. This lifelike mount was posed dramatically on what looked like a simulated rock, adding a bit of wilderness flair to any room. If the goat wasn’t quite your thing, the same auction featured a Russian-mounted Brown Bear for $1,466 and a shoulder mount of an elk for $1,150. It seems these trophies might have come from someone’s office, adding to their slightly quirky, personal history.
Based on what I found online, it likely cost at least $5,000 to hunt and mount the goat, making this auction price a bit of a steal. But, of course, it takes just the right person to appreciate and display such a unique piece of wildlife artistry!
Will Seippel is the founder, president, and CEO of WorthPoint. Will has been an avid collector since 1974 and dealer of just about all things antique—with an emphasis on ephemera— since 1984. He is also the creator and founder of HIP, a website devoted to recording the best of the world’s history that has been saved on film.
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