What Is The Best Way To Sell Fine China?

Fine china is highly coveted for its artistic beauty, delicate craftsmanship, and rich history. Often passed down for generations, vintage and antique fine china is a valuable investment. According to The Lux Authority, fine china originated in China over 2,000 years ago during the Song Dynasty (960-1279 AD), developing from earlier versions of porcelain (1). True fine china is made of kaolin clay, petuntse stone, and feldspar fired at extremely high temperatures of over 1200°C. This produces the thin, translucent white porcelain prized for its smoothness and ability to resonate when struck. Intricate designs are hand painted in brilliant colors and gold. While ancient Chinese emperors commissioned elaborate sets for the imperial household, 18th century British potters also began producing their own coveted bone china. Today’s fine china encompasses delicate sets from renowned brands like Wedgwood, Royal Doulton, and Royal Copenhagen.

Assess Your China Collection

The first step in selling your fine china is to thoroughly assess each piece in your collection. Carefully examine each item for identifying marks from the manufacturer, such as a backstamp, hallmark, or marker’s mark. As noted by WikiHow, these marks are the easiest way to identify the maker of your dinnerware, though they may have faded over time (Source). Well-known china brands like Wedgwood, Spode, and Royal Doulton often have identifiable logos. You can research the date ranges of different marks to get a sense of your china’s age.

Additionally, take note of the visual characteristics of each piece – the pattern, color palette, materials, and decorations can give clues to its origins. Distinctive patterns like Blue Willow or precious materials like bone china indicate higher value dinnerware. Examine each item thoroughly for any damage, chips, fading, or repairs. Perfect condition greatly enhances value compared to pieces that have deficiencies.

Finally, consider the rarity of the full set. Partial sets or odd pieces tend to be worth less than complete, matched collections. Do your research to understand how unusual your pattern and maker are among collectors. According to vintage experts, the rarity of your fine china has a major impact on potential price and demand (Source).

Research Current Market Values

Before pricing and selling your fine china, it’s important to research the current market values. This will give you an idea of what price you can realistically expect to get for your pieces.

Check auction records on sites like LiveAuctioneers and Dumoart to find comparable sold prices for china similar to yours. Pay attention to the manufacturer, pattern, age, condition, and any unique attributes. Auction records will show you the fair market value and what collectors are currently willing to pay.

You can also research asking prices from antique dealers and marketplaces like Bidsquare. Look at both retail and wholesale prices to understand the range. Sometimes dealers inflate prices, so combine this research with actual sold prices.

Tracking auction trends over time will provide insight into rising or falling values. You may choose to hold off selling if your pattern has been gaining value each year. Proper market research ensures you price your china appropriately.

Decide on Venues

When selling fine china, you have several options for venues to consider:

Auction Houses

Taking your china collection to a reputable local auction house is a good option. Auction houses have experience appraising and selling antiques and collectibles. They have established buyer networks and handle all aspects of the sale and shipping. However, auction houses charge seller fees and commissions, usually around 15-25% of the final sale price. You also lose control over the final selling price.

Antique Dealers

Antique shops and vintage collectible dealers are another venue. They may buy pieces outright from you to resell in their shops. Or, some will sell pieces on consignment, taking a percentage of the sale price. Dealers have expertise in pricing and marketing antiques. However, they may be selective in which pieces they take and may offer lower prices for quick buys. You’ll need to research reputable local dealers.

Online Platforms

Major online marketplaces like eBay, Etsy, and Facebook Marketplace allow you to sell your china directly to buyers. This gives you more control over pricing and you don’t share profits. However, you’ll have to handle all shipping and there are seller fees. Research pricing thoroughly and describe pieces accurately to get top dollar.

Consider the pros and cons of each venue to decide what makes the most sense for your collection.

Catalog and Document

Before attempting to sell your fine china, it is crucial to document every piece in your collection in detail. This will allow you to get the most accurate appraisals and pricing later on. For each item, you should take high quality photos from multiple angles that showcase any artist marks, logos, or other identifying information. Measure and record the exact dimensions of each piece.

Check closely for any cracks, chips, discoloration or other signs of wear and include notes about the condition. Look on the bottom or backs of items for stamped marks from the original manufacturer – these aid in identification. Consult resources like the Lenox corporate records that can help you identify patterns and logos if you are unsure about a certain manufacturer. Create a detailed catalog or spreadsheet to compile all of this information about your china collection in one place for easy reference.

Having extensive documentation showing the history, condition, dimensions, and patterns of your china makes it much easier to get accurate appraisals. It also allows you to market the collection more effectively to potential buyers who want those details.

Get Appraisals

Professional appraisals help set pricing and validate authenticity. An appraiser can examine your china in-person and provide a fair market valuation for insurance or sales purposes. Look for an accredited appraiser specializing in fine china through organizations like the American Society of Appraisers or Appraisers Association of America. An appraisal provides a detailed description of each item along with estimated values, and can cost $50-$200 per piece depending on the appraiser. Be sure to get appraisals done before listing china for sale, as this verifies provenance and assists with setting an appropriate asking price.

According to the American Society of Appraisers, appraisals are crucial for fine china as “there are many reproductions on the market that are not clearly identified as such.” They recommend selecting an appraiser who is experienced with porcelain and has expertise in the type of china being evaluated. An appraisal can validate if a set is genuine and help determine ideal pricing strategy. As Chronicle Collectibles notes, “Having a professional appraisal for your china sets their value in stone, making it easier for you to insure, and eventually sell the set.”

Price Your Pieces

Once you have had your china professionally appraised, you can begin pricing your pieces. Appraisals provide important valuations based on current market conditions. However, you’ll still need to consider other factors when setting prices.

Look at prices for comparable pieces that have recently sold on auction sites like eBay or live auction houses. Search for pieces similar to yours in terms of age, manufacturer, condition, and design elements. Adjust your pricing based on differences. For example, if your 12 place setting of a certain pattern recently sold at auction for $1200, but yours has a chip on one plate, you may price yours around $1000.

The condition of your china is crucial for pricing. Pieces in pristine condition with no damage, repairs, or signs of use will fetch higher prices. Conversely, chipped, cracked, stained, or repaired pieces will be discounted. Assess condition carefully and price accordingly. Professional appraisers will take condition into account with their valuations.

Market Your China

When it comes to marketing and selling your fine china collection, one of the most effective strategies is to advertise on platforms frequented by serious collectors. Specialist sites like JMP Marketing are dedicated to vintage and antique china, making them ideal places to list your pieces. You can create detailed listings that will attract motivated buyers.

It’s also wise to develop relationships with reputable china dealers. They can appraise your collection and may be interested in purchasing high-value items. According to expert appraisers, dealers have extensive buyer networks and can efficiently match your china with buyers who will appreciate rare and beautiful pieces.

Handle with Care

When selling fine china, proper packing and shipping is crucial to avoiding damage during transit. As china can be extremely fragile, take great care when wrapping and boxing up pieces to send to buyers.

It’s advisable to wrap each piece individually in bubble wrap or tissue paper before placing in a sturdy cardboard box filled with packing peanuts, crumpled paper, or another cushioning material. Avoid stacking or cramming pieces too tightly together. Then seal the box securely with packing tape.

For added protection, place the wrapped and boxed china into a larger box, filling any empty spaces with more cushioning. This helps stabilize the items during shipping. Clearly label the outside of the box as fragile.

Consider purchasing insurance to cover any accidents or damage. Also be sure to obtain delivery confirmation and tracking numbers so you can monitor the package’s journey.

According to an article in the Chicago Tribune, companies like Pro-Pak Inc. specialize in professionally packing and shipping fragile antiques and can be hired to handle the entire packaging process.

Conclusion

Selling your fine china collection takes some planning and preparation, but can be very rewarding. Here are the key steps covered in this guide:

• Carefully assess your china collection – check for any rare or valuable pieces.

• Research current market values for your china patterns and pieces.

• Decide what selling venues make sense for you – online, auction, estate sale.

• Catalog and document each piece – description, condition, markings.

• Get professional appraisals for very valuable items.

• Price your china competitively based on your research.

• Market your china effectively on your chosen selling platforms.

• Handle and pack your china with great care to avoid any damage.

Following these key steps will help ensure you successfully sell your fine china collection for optimal value.