Which antique china is worth money

Five things that decide the price

1. The maker. A known factory — Meissen, Sèvres, Royal Worcester, Royal Crown Derby, Moorcroft, Clarice Cliff — is the first filter. Unmarked pieces can be valuable, but it is harder to prove.

2. The period. Earlier production is usually worth more. Within one maker, the early years and short-lived lines are often the most sought after.

3. Rarity. Short runs, discontinued models, pieces signed by the painter, limited editions. Anything made by the thousand is rarely expensive.

4. Condition. A crack, a hairline, a restoration or worn gilding can halve the price or more. On figures, check fingers, flowers and thin edges.

5. Current demand. Fashions change: full dinner services from the 1960s sell for less today than twenty years ago, while some studio pottery and Art Deco pieces have risen.

What often has value

Hand-painted Royal Worcester signed by known artists; Royal Crown Derby Imari and early pieces; Moorcroft, Clarice Cliff and Susie Cooper; 18th-century English porcelain (Chelsea, Bow, early Worcester); genuine Meissen and Sèvres; rare Royal Doulton figures and stoneware.

What is usually worth little

Incomplete mass-produced dinner services, souvenir figurines, pieces with visible damage and modern reproductions of old styles — even with a grand-sounding mark.

How to check the real price

What matters is sold prices, not asking prices: on eBay many pieces sit for months at prices nobody pays. Our valuation gives a range based on comparable sales and tells you how easy it is to sell.