17 Thrift Store and Flea Market Finds — Including One That Dates Back to 1843

Curiosities
10/31/2026
17 Thrift Store and Flea Market Finds — Including One That Dates Back to 1843

The hardest part of a great thrift store find is keeping a straight face at the counter. The person who paid $20 for what turned out to be a $5,000 Danish commode managed it. The person who paid $5 for what turned out to be a Native American silver pendant managed it too. The person who paid $3 for a chair in a bottle — worth $195 online — probably didn’t find out until later.

These 17 thrift store and flea market finds and stories about hobby, happiness, and the particular satisfaction of knowing you got it right show that the best shopping days are almost always the quietest ones at the register.

I bought a purse and found a real time capsule of vintage cosmetics inside.

  • This is so cool. Gorgeous bag, but the surprise inside is just delightful. Lucky you! © walkthelayne / Reddit
  • My mom had that same red color purse but hers was what I’d call a bucket purse/bag. I loved watching how she twirled it to entertain 4-year-old me while we waited at the bus stop, heading “downtown.” Love that purse for that memory. © Appropriate_Cut9003 / Reddit
  • Now that’s what I call being lucky! © walkthelayne / Reddit

I found an almost-new cat tree that my 16-year-old cat, Esmeralda, absolutely loved.

© joojie / Reddit

The tree fits perfectly up against the sliding glass balcony door. It’s the spot that gets the most sun all day. She’s a happy camper now.

  • That’s one of the most aesthetically-pleasing cat trees I’ve ever seen. Most of the ones I see in thrift stores are not this cute. And Esmeralda looks so happy too. © Reddit

Completed my kitchen gallery wall with 2 copper molds I found recently. The peach and the corn bread.

I walked into a thrift store, saw this “TV stand,” and immediately ran over to buy it.

At the store, they called it a “TV stand” and priced it at just $20. But it’s actually mid-century furniture — a highly valued design style. Some people even suggested it could be an expensive Danish Credenza.

I did the thing where you find the toucan lamp!

I bought this super-comfy suede lounge chair at a thrift store for $45.

I found the cutest plates ever made. I paid $5 for two.

I don’t often gravitate toward antiques, but for $5 this petite spindle back rocker was something I wanted to try. It’s the perfect scale and vibe for our loft.

  • Judging by the photo, both cats approve of this chair. That shows you made the right choice. The chair is beautiful and perfectly suits your space. © betharooo / Reddit
  • The chair is amazing! I love how the antique piece sits alongside modern décor. It’s a great stylistic touch. © Equivalent-Signal-48 / Reddit

I found this pendant at a thrift shop for $5... a piece of southwestern Native American pottery set in sterling silver.

Today I found this original oil painting by Oswaldo Moncayo. The frame is a whole vibe! $12.

Thrifted this vintage Japanese tea set for $2.

I found this more impressive than the sail boat models in a bottle. 3 bucks at my local thrift store.

I’m obsessed with these vintage cat-shaped wall hooks.

The shower curtain was also thrifted and I have no idea where it’s from. It’s one of my favorite finds ever and makes the ugly green tile in our bathroom actually look kinda good.

I bought this “door harp” — a small self-playing musical instrument that hangs on a door — at a thrift store.

I’ve always wanted to find one and my local thrift store had one! I’m in love.

  • It takes me back. I open my grandma’s door and hear that lovely melody. Thanks for the smile! © dpqt1 / Reddit
  • Wow, my grandma had one like that hanging on her refrigerator door. I’ll be looking for something similar at a thrift store now. © thyfe / Reddit

I saw this print at a thrift store and thought it was just a reproduction.

But upon closer inspection, it turned out to be an original. The page had been torn from a book printed around 1843. Finding something like this feels like an incredible stroke of luck. I feel like I’ve discovered a real treasure.

Obsessed with yesterday’s garage sale find. $20 handmade wood bench.

We dusted off some spiderwebs and used some wood conditioner and can’t believe how gorgeous it is.

Got the Anthropologie raccoon lamp a better bulb!

Thrift shopping rewards people who know what they’re looking at — and occasionally people who don’t. If you have a find worth sharing, the comments are the right place for it.

Preview photo credit Reddit

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