Antique Plate World

The first move to do when buying antique cups is looking at its background. photo by http://www.flickr.com

If you’re collecting antique cups you are probably scouring the internet, looking at Google, Yahoo and Bing and other search engines and sites to get the best deal possible. After a while it’s overwhelming. So many sites, so many antique cups – so much information.

People searching the internet for antique cups are looking for the best places to buy or sell antique cups, how they should look after them, how they can repair them and even how to spot fakes. This short article will look at what three things you should avoid.

The first thing is to get a lot of background information on the type of antique cup you are looking for. After all, you can buy an antique cup for as little as one dollar. Not very much is it? But what do you get for your money?

Knowing more of the specifics is essential to good collecting. Such as what should an antique cup of that era, from that manufacturer and locality normally cost? Are you looking at a reputable site? Can you check the credentials of the seller?

Listed below are the three points you must avoid:

1. Avoid buying the first antique cup you find. Even if appears to be the right color, manufacturer and year, inquire about any cracks or stains that the cup has had. It is relatively easy to cover up a hairline crack in a photograph or even a stain. But once you have bought it, it’s too late. You can never be too careful when it comes to buying antique cups, especially when buying from a photograph.

2. Avoid buying from photographs. Is the photograph clear enough to show you the condition of the handle. Handles are easily broken. They can also be easily glued back. If you’re happy with a glued on handle for a fraction of it’s normal price that is totally up to you. But if you want a good quality item – double check before you buy – if the photograph isn’t clear enough then you have the right to ask.

3. Avoid buying the markings on the cup. Does the cup have markings and are they real? Don’t fall in love with the markings. Anyone can add a marking under a cup or plate and if you don’t know what you’re doing you could be buying a fake. This is a problem with the internet, researching, deciding and buying without seeing the product.

Your best option is to do your research first before you buy because once you have bought the antique cup it may not be so easy to return or get your money back. Even if you’re only spending a few dollars you want the time, effort and cost of each antique cup you buy to be worth it.

Deal with each of these issues and you will increase your chances of buying an antique cup that you will be happy to add to your collection and enjoy each time you use the cups to serve your guest tea and coffee.
If you’re really passionate about collecting, buying or selling antique cups then build your antique knowledge to cover different periods, manufacturers, styles and fashions. Whether it’s for your next tea party or just adding to your collection, the more you learn the more you’ll know what you like and why you enjoy them so much.

photo by http://www.flickr.com

Would you use an antique plate every day and night? For most people plates are just another kitchen utensil used during mealtime. But for others plates are more than utensils particularly if they are antique bone china passed down from generation to generation. Your great grandmother handed it to your grandmother. Your grandmother passed it down to your mother. And now, the plates are under your care. The length of time the plates stayed in your family could establish them as antique plates. Are you using valuable antique bone china every night and don’t know it?

Well, it is time for you to take your antique plates and dishes out of the cabinet and discover how much that antique bone china is worth – in dollars and historical value. But most of all, it is time to learn how to lengthen their shelf life, so you can hand them down to the next generation looking great and in great working order.

Putting Value On Plate

•Play inspector. Imperfections found on antique bone china created by the manufactures should not disturb you. What is important is if our antique plates have cracks, stains and discoloration due to incorrect use. Check the designs. Take note if they are stamped, hand-painted or a combination of both. Stamped designs were popular after the 1900s.

•Look for the MARK. Manufacturers or makers of antique bone china still leave a logo or mark on almost every piece they produce. It may include the series where the plate is included or even the date when the plate was created. If you antique plates have marks – what do they mean and what does that tell you?

•Check out sources. Investigate online stores that can provide you with more information about the manufacturing company. If the name of the manufacturer cannot be found, refer to the logo instead. There are certain sites online that can provide you with manufacturer’s logo. You may want to compare it with the one found on your plate.

•Ready for appraising. Now you hold the basic information you need about your antique bone china. It is time to visit a couple of appraisers to judge the condition and quality of your plate.

Increasing Shelf Life

To extend the life of you antique plates so you can display them or hand them down to your future offspring,

photo by http://www.flickr.com

here are some ways to do just that.

• Put them inside a secure chest or cabinet so that no one can touch them. I personally don’t like this point unless you plan to see your antique bone china I think you should use them – even if only on special occasions.
• Whether using your antique plates regularly or leaving them as a display – wash them regularly so they do get food, dust and dirt stains on them.
• Never place antique pieces in the dishwasher. You run the risk of breaking them or stripping the designs from them.

Antique plates are great dinnerware and display, something of real value you can sell if you ever need to. For most people antique bone china is a great way to preserve family history.

If you’re interested in collecting, buying or selling antique plates and antique bone china then you should build your knowledge over different periods, styles, fashions and manufacturers. The more you learn about antiques the more you’ll know what you like and collect.

What Is Jasperware And How To Date It? 

Jasperware is the form of pottery devised by Josiah Wedgwood which has a stoneware body and can either be white or coloured and comes in a matte finish.

As said it was first developed by Josiah Wedgwood and is most famously known in the popular blue and white versions, but it does come in many other colours.

The term ‘jasper’ came from the Greek word ‘iaspis’ which itself has oriental origins and is related to the Hebrew word ‘yaspeh’ which stands for an opaque variety of quartz which is usually coloured red, yellow or brown.

It is very difficult in some cases to date Jasperware and the rules below should help you when considering the age on any item of Jasperware that you are considering purchasing.

Firstly, most modern/vintage pieces, those that date from 1908 to the present date are usually marked with Wedgwood, Made in England.

But if you find that the marks are separated (Wedgwood Made in England) then the piece has probably made prior to 1970 and if the stamp is altogether then it is post 1970.

However, there are some exceptions to this rule for example smaller pieces such as thimbles or miniatures, often these pieces will only carry the stamp Wedgwood England because of their size in comparison to the stamp being used.

Items of Wedgwood which are pre 1908 will be marked Wedgwood England and although it will be separated the stamp will not be uniformed in shape.

There will also be letters accompanying the Wedgwood England which will help you to date items produced between 1891 and 1908.

Any items that were produced before 1891 will have a three letter dating code on them and this type of marking ran from about 1860 until 1891.

The letters used would represent the month in which the piece was produced, the potter who produced it and the year of its production in this order.

For example O stands for 1860, P for 1861 and so on.

Although this was not a fool proof system for dating purposes, because sometimes they overlapped and in some cases certain letters may provide you with possible dates for its production.

However, anything that was produced before 1860 will only be marked with Wedgwood and is normally accompanied by the potters marking and a single letter.

Author: Allison Thompson

Allison Thompson webmaster of several sites and a work from home mum who now lives in Spain. After a large amount of time carrying out large amounts of research on Wedgwood she decided to set up a site that is dedicated all things relating to this most sought after pottery and ceramics. If you would like to learn more then please visit http://www.wedgwood.householdfacts.info.

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