Porcelain, Ceramics & Tableware We Buy

At a Glance

Antique Porcelain

We buy selected antique and vintage porcelain from established European and international manufacturers, as well as unidentified pieces that show potential historical, artistic or collector interest.

A manufacturer’s name can be an important starting point, but it rarely tells the whole story. Identification may depend on the exact version of the mark, period of manufacture, form, model, pattern, decoration, production technique and condition.

Collectors may also distinguish between pieces from different periods of the same factory, variations of a model, different colourways or finishes, and objects produced by particular designers or modellers.

If you are beginning your research, our

complete guide to antique porcelain

explains porcelain history, identification, marks, manufacturers and the principles collectors use when examining old porcelain.

Porcelain Marks & Identification

The mark on the underside is one of the first things many owners examine. It can be extremely useful, but a porcelain mark should not be treated as proof of age, authenticity or value by itself.

Depending on the manufacturer and period, an object may carry a factory mark, country-of-origin wording, impressed numbers, model numbers, pattern references, decorators’ marks, painters’ marks or other production symbols.

Manufacturers may also have used several different marks during their history. For this reason, the exact mark variant should be compared with the physical characteristics of the object and, where possible, documented factory history and reliable reference material.

Porcelain Figurines

We consider selected antique and vintage porcelain figurines, including human figures, animals, birds, groups and decorative sculpture.

For figurines, identifying the manufacturer is often only the beginning. Depending on the maker, the model, modeller or designer where documented, model number, dimensions, production period, colourway, finish and condition may help distinguish one version from another.

Small projecting details deserve particular attention. Fingers, flowers, leaves, ears, tails, ribbons, staffs and other accessories can be damaged, replaced or restored without being immediately obvious from a distant photograph.

Tea Sets, Dinner Services & Antique Tableware

We buy selected porcelain and ceramic tableware, including tea sets, coffee sets, cups and saucers, plates, serving dishes, tureens and complete or partial dinner services.

For old tableware, collector interest may depend on the manufacturer, pattern, decoration, age, number and type of pieces, completeness of the service, condition and whether a design is particularly sought after.

A complete service is not always necessary. Individual pieces, unusual serving pieces or partial sets may still be of interest depending on the maker and pattern.

Ceramics, Faience & Art Pottery

Not every old ceramic object is porcelain. We also consider selected earthenware, stoneware, faience, art pottery and other decorative ceramics.

Correctly identifying the material can be important because ceramic bodies differ in composition, firing, glaze, surface, weight and manufacturing technique. These characteristics can help narrow down the likely origin and period of an object.

A piece without a visible factory mark should not automatically be dismissed. Form, clay body, glaze, decoration, construction and craftsmanship can sometimes provide useful evidence even when a maker remains unidentified.

Porcelain Manufacturers & Collecting Areas

Collector interest extends across many porcelain traditions, factories and periods. Depending on the individual object, this can include German, French, English, Danish, Hungarian, Russian, Italian and other European porcelain, as well as selected international manufacturers and ceramic traditions.

Names such as Meissen, Rosenthal, Royal Copenhagen, Royal Worcester, Haviland, Sèvres, Nymphenburg, Hutschenreuther, Beswick and Capodimonte are familiar to many collectors, but the presence of a famous manufacturer’s name does not automatically make every object rare or valuable.

Conversely, lesser-known factories and unidentified pieces should not automatically be ignored. Unusual models, early production, scarce patterns, exceptional decoration or documented provenance may deserve closer research.

Condition & Restoration

Condition can have a substantial effect on collector interest. Chips, cracks, hairlines, staining, missing components, worn decoration, damaged gilding, repainting and previous restoration should all be taken into account.

Restoration does not automatically make an object undesirable. With scarce or historically important pieces, collectors may still accept restoration. However, its extent, quality and location can be important and should not be concealed.

How to Photograph Porcelain Before Contacting Us

Good photographs can make the initial review considerably more useful. You do not need professional equipment; clear images in natural, even light are usually sufficient.

What Information Should You Send?

Along with photographs, include any information you already know. You do not need to research the object yourself before contacting us.

• approximate height, width or diameter;
• number of pieces if it is a set or collection;
• clear photographs of all marks and numbers;
• known chips, cracks or restoration;
• original boxes or documentation, if present;
• where and when the object was acquired, if known;
• any reliable family or ownership history.

If the history is uncertain, simply say so. An undocumented family story can be useful as a research lead, but it should not be presented as confirmed provenance.

We Also Consider Porcelain Collections

You do not need to contact us only about a single object. We also consider porcelain collections, groups of figurines, inherited tableware, tea and dinner services and mixed ceramic collections.

For a larger collection, begin with several photographs showing the collection as a whole, followed by closer photographs of representative objects and their marks. This gives useful context before individual pieces are examined in greater detail.