Knowing the worth of your antique dishes -- whether they are glassware or china -- is essential for insurance and resale purposes. It's also good to know a baseline price when you look for additions for your collection.
Worth of Antique Dishes
Antique dishes and glassware are common collectibles. However, pricing can vary from piece to piece and brand to brand.
China Dinnerware
A few things come into play when determining the value of china plates, bowls, and platters, and they all work together to determine the actual worth of the pieces.
- Brand - When it comes to the brand, value plays a big role. Hard-to-find antique pieces from well-known companies like Lenox or Welmar may be more valuable than other brands that mass produced their items.
- Pattern or design - A pattern can make a big difference when it comes to figuring out the worth of china. For example, antique Blue Willow china and Brambly Hedge china may not be worth the same amount of money. You may find a strawberry china pattern potentially valuable, depending on the combination of other factors in individual pieces.
- Location - Collectors actively seek pieces, like Limoges china, from a particular region or area. Even pieces made in a particular country, like china from Germany, may hold value differently. These pieces may be valued higher than others due to their popularity and rarity.
- Age - Age plays a big part in how valuable china is to collectors. For example, an antique piece of Rose Medallion china may be worth thousands if it is several hundred years old, while newer pieces of Noritake china are not worth as much.
Other Dishes and Their Values
China isn't the only type of dish valued by antique afficionados. Blue and white transferware dishes, especially older ones, can be worth a few extra dollars to collectors. Flow blue pieces can be priced depending on their style - Oriental, romantic, or floral - and their age and condition; keep in mind vintage and modern reproductions do exist. Specialty dishes like square cake plates may be valued more or less depending on factors similar to those listed above and the materials used in their creation. Pyrex bowls with vintage patterns and vintage Corningware are also collectible.
Depression Era Glassware
Depression era glassware is commonly found on the antiques collection circuit, but figuring out what pieces are worth the most can be difficult. Glassware can include not only drinking glasses but also plates, platters, trays, dishes, and more.
- Pink glass - The pattern, shape, rarity, and condition all make a difference when it comes to determining the value of pink glass.
- Green glass - Green glass is valued similarly to pink, although it's important to note that "green" can range from a lighter, nearly yellow color to a dark, gem-like shade.
- Purple glass - Purple depression era glassware pieces can be worth a bit more because they are rarer and come in more unusual patterns.
Antique depression stemware is also collectible; complete sets in good condition are rare and will be worth more than individual pieces with flaws.
Teapots, Teacups, and Coffee Pots
Teapots and teacups, primarily made from porcelain and china, can be valued at fairly high prices if they are aged, authentic, and in good condition. For example, the Meissen teapot is often valued in the thousands of dollars, while you may have to do a little more investigating to determine whether that Japanese teacup is worth as much as you hope.
Entire tea sets are typically worth more than individual pieces, especially for English Bone China tea sets. Look for rare patterns by collectible manufacturers in good condition for the best value for your money.
Ironstone tea and coffee pots are collectible as well as the china pieces. Intricate designs and famous makers, like Mason, can boost the worth of these items.
Other Drinkware
While glassware and tea sets are frequently sought, there are other drinkware pieces that can be of interest. Crystal stemware that has been around for over a century, especially pieces from famous manufacturers like Waterford, can end up being very valuable to the right collector. Similarly, German beer steins can also fetch a high price if they are older or made by a well-known company.
Learn What Your Antiques Are Worth
Even if you never plan to sell or add to your collection, it's still helpful to know what your antiques are worth. Research or get your pieces appraised, so you are versed in the value of your collection. Now that you have an idea of what your antique dishes are worth, get some ideas about collector plate values.
