Archive for the ‘Antique Wedgwood’ Category
How To Collect and Buy Ironstone Plates – A Beginner’s Guide
Local Resources
Ironstone collectibles such as ironstone plates date back to when Charles James Mason registered ‘Patent Ironstone China’ for the Mason Family partnership in July 1813.
While the ‘Patent’ was real enough, trade marking and selling ironstone was a great marketing feat since it is not made of porcelain and the iron content less than half of one per cent, unlike Mason’s published recipe which describes in detail the ironstone and iron slag components.
Charles Mason went to great lengths to compete, misinform and even discredit the other 172 ironstone manufacturers in Staffordshire – many trading off the success of the Mason’s.
Mason’s plan proved to be a marketing triumph; the new ironstone was hard and durable while copying Oriental designs from Chinese porcelain imports. Everyone wanted it.
And they still do – so knowing what to look for is a great investment in time and money. Markings, collectability, history and pricing are all necessary in the landscape of ironstone.
While originally designed by Englishman Charles Mason it didn’t take long before there were other ironstone manufacturers to Mason to compete with. But Mason was considered the master of ironstone. Mason’s reputation was in part attributed to the way he sold his goods. Unlike most others selling either by catalog or door to door Mason auctioned his pieces.
Related Information
Ironstone remains highly collectible in the United States and around the world and start as low as thirty dollars to a few hundred dollars, even thousands for rarer items.
Markings on the bottom of each piece include words stamped such as CJ Mason & Co., M Mason, 
Fenton Stone Works, or Lane Delph as the more valuable manufacturers and often accompanied with markings of crowns or a coat of arms.
Other manufacturers of ironstone include Spode, Turner & Tomkinson, Wedgewood, Wood & Sons, J&G Meakin, T & R Boote and Birks Bros. & Seddon.
Scour the internet stores for information and pricing on ironstone china before making an expensive purchase. This knowledge will help you collect at the right price so you can continue collecting and enjoying your ironstone plates.
Where To Find Discounted Antique Wedgwood
Where to Find Discount Wedgwood China
There is not a lot of discount Wedgwood China available, although, given the prices of some of the items in the line, any discount is greatly appreciated.
You might not think paying $50 for a plate is a discount, however, depending on the age of the particular item and the supply of pieces, $50 might seem like a discount.
You might not think of it but not every design, not every creation from the Wedgwood Company has been a smash hit.
Even the most successful companies in any field have products and designs that failed to catch on with the public and Wedgwood is no exception.
Not many people are aware that in the mid to late 20th Century, a lot of the actual production of Wedgwood China was farmed out to other factories and craftsmen for a variety of reasons.
Some of this product was less popular than other lines manufactured in the original premises. As a result there is a variety of less expensive, discount Wedgwood China available for the discerning shopper who must have Wedgwood and must have it at a bargain price.
These days you have to do your homework before you make any purchase of discount Wedgwood China or you’re very likely to get fleeced by an unscrupulous merchant.
With factories all over Asia churning out imitations of every designer line, there are items being advertised for sale as Wedgwood that aren’t; and there are items being advertised for sale as antique Wedgwood that also aren’t.
Unless you’re simply looking to fill in that missing piece from grandma’s collection and you don’t really care about dating or authenticity, then let the price be your guide.
However, if you are more of a purist who insists that his Wedgwood be real Wedgwood, then do your homework, learn the identifying characteristics of Wedgwood China and then go shopping.
Author: Max Bellamy
Wedgewood China provides detailed information about discontinued, antique, and discount fine china, plus fine china outlets, values, and history. Wedgewood China is affiliated with Business Plans by Growthink.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Max_Bellamy
