This Vintage Candy Dish Can Be Worth Hundreds Today

Thrift shopping never goes out of style, and it can be profitable too. While you're scouring dusty shelves, scrolling eBay listings, and peeking inside garage sale boxes, there's one vintage item to watch out for: "hen on nest" candy dishes. These quirky collectibles can be worth a small fortune today. Believe it or not, this fun game of "spot the chicken" could make you a few hundred dollars richer.

This is no wild goose chase, as these distinctive ornaments are tricky to miss. Topped with hen-shaped lids, the country farmhouse-inspired design combines function with character. It's the perfect place to store "golden eggs" — aka the candies of your choice — while adding personality to your space. Advertised online, hen on nest candy dishes routinely fetch $250 to $400 each. Certain companies, like Indiana Glass Company, produced ornaments that now retail in excess of $800. 

The design first rose to popularity in China and Europe, emerging on US countertops by the 19th century. The cluck-tastic dishes are inherently nostalgic; it seems like everybody's grandma had at least one lying around. "Ahhh my grandparents had a brown hen that they would leave a piece of candy in for us," one Reddit user reminisced, "It was impossible for a child to take the candy without making enough noise for them to notice and my grandpa would make such a show of catching me at my crime." Who knew our grandparents were sitting on gold mines? Add these dishes to the list of valuable vintage kitchen decor items you should look out for.

Here's the catch: not every hen on nest candy dish is worth a fortune. Deciphering between low, moderate, and high-value dishes is key. It's all too easy to lose a diamond while collecting rocks. 

Firstly, the piece's producer dictates its value. There's a special roster of vintage kitchen brands that are the ultimate thrift store find, and the aforementioned Indiana Glass Company tops the list. Find a cobalt blue or mulberry glass hen, and there's a high likelihood of a four-figure value. Fenton Art Glass, Anchor Hocking Glassware, and Westmoreland Glass Company are also sought-after brands. Scan pieces for maker marks — most companies imprint an identifying design. Hens made by Fenton have an oval-shaped mark, while Anchor Hocking uses a H and anchor symbol. Westmoreland and Indiana pieces require a sharper eye and deeper digging, as the marks may be muddled or omitted. Identification gets easier with practice. 

The second consideration is condition and packaging. An immaculate ruby-colored hen on nest dish by Indiana Glass Company could fetch $800 when accompanied by an original box — even slightly faded packaging adds authenticity. On the other hand, value drops if your hen is chipped and battered. Lastly, rarity drives demand. Vintage design trends are the antidote to all-white kitchens, which makes one-of-a-kind antique glassware a coveted prize. Memorize the rarest variations like those bright cobalt blues, which attract higher prices due to sheer novelty. With a little luck, you might hit the jackpot.