Aynsley China
Aynsley China is now synonymous with fine bone china and elegance, yet before we get into the intriguing life this brand has went through we should start from the beginning. When ...
Continue Reading
Clarice Cliff – Pottery, Biography
The Life and Work of Clarice Cliff
From humble beginnings, Clarice Cliff flourished to become one of the most influential ceramic artists of the 20th Century. Choosing to become ...
Continue Reading
Alberto Giacometti
Alberto Giacometti (10 October 1901 – 11 January 1966) was a Swiss artist who rose to prominence to become one of the most important sculptors of the 20th Century. Although in ...
Continue Reading
Qianlong Porcelain Marks on Vases and other art from Qianlong Period
The Qianlong Emperor 乾隆 (reigned 1736-1795):
The Qianlong Emperor e lived for 87 years, making him the longest living emperor of China. He also reigned for 61 years, making ...
Continue Reading
Stickley Furniture – by Gustav Stickley
Gustav Stickley Furniture and The Arts and Crafts
Gustav Stickley
Gustav Stickley was born to a poor Midwestern family in 1858 and had his first formal training in furniture ...
Continue Reading
Eames Chair – and Charles Eames
The Eameses
For more than 40 years, American designers Charles Eames (1907-1978) and Ray Eames (1912-1988) helped forge some of the most valued material aspects of American ...
Continue Reading
Kangxi Chinese Porcelain and its Reign Marks
Porcelain from the Kangxi period (1662-1722) is one of the most recognisable and ubiquitous areas of Chinese ceramics. Ceramics from this reign are found in collections and ...
Continue Reading
Identifying Antique American Furniture
American Furniture Styles and Tips on Collecting
One of the most intriguing aspects of collecting American furniture and antique furniture, in general, is that it often isn’t ...
Continue Reading
Chinese Porcelain Reign Marks
In the world of Ming and Qing dynasty art, knowing how to look at a reign mark is a key asset for any collector, specialist, or enthusiast to correctly identify the date and the ...
Continue Reading
Art Deco Artist Demetre Haralamb Chiparus (1889 to 1947)
In the Art Deco period Demetre Chiparus created truly stunning works of art full of life movement and adoration for the female form. Knowing how to spot a genuine Chiparus sculpture is essential if you are to avoid the countless fakes, forgeries and reproductions flooding the popular Art Deco collectibles market
Continue Reading
Antique Furniture Styles. Choosing the Right Antiques for Your Home
The period and style of antique furniture you choose to decorate your home with can say a lot about your own style and taste. So, how do you make sure what you choose is the right kind of antique furniture, that it's a sound investment in both taste and style that fits your budget but won't stop being fashionable
Continue Reading
Collecting Moorcroft Pottery in 2016
In 2016 collecting Moorcroft Pottery remains enormously popular with salerooms seeing quite a broad range of buyers still bidding at auction. With early Moorcroft patterns in the Art Nouveau or Arts & Crafts styles probably the most sought after and some collectors seeking advertising wares or patterns made exclusively for export
Continue Reading
Collectible Anchor Hocking Fire King Glass
Philbe and Jadeite designs are the most collectible forms of Anchor Hocking Fire King Glass. It was manufactured from the early 1940's to the 1970's by the Anchor Hocking company, and this affordable collectible glassware can be found at thrift shops, flea markets, and yard sales for very reasonable prices. Marks on pieces may read Fire-King in block letters or in script, or may include an anchor logo. But watch out for modern forgeries...
Continue Reading
Antique Values – What to look out for when valuing antiques
Assessing an antiques value involves a lot more than examining a price list. Antiques experts will use a price guide as the starting point in the antique appraisal and valuation process but also include a host of other factors to determine an antiques true value
Continue Reading
Spotting Antique Fakes and Forgeries
The Golden Rule when buying antiques, is always to ask the seller and to make sure they answer positively one way or the other. If the answer is maybe, could be or it might be an original, then think twice before you buy. Antique fakes are better now than ever and the antique collector really does need to be wary.
Continue Reading
Fake Royal Worcester Marks
Good quality porcelain is often copied and fake Royal Worcester marks are quite common. The artwork on this nice pair of posy vases looks the part and the Stinton signature could get you very excited if you came across them at auction. But are these marks genuine Royal Worcester marks. Only good research and an eye for detail can make sure you don't pay top dollar for inferior copies or outright fakes.
Continue Reading
Shelley Marks & Collectible Shelley China
In 1910 Shelley marks were officially adopted by Wileman & Co of Foley Potteries and Foley China Works. Highly sought after Mabel Lucie Attwell collectibles bear the mark as do the wonderful Art Deco styled Harmony tea wares designed by Eric Slater and produced in the early 1930's. Shelley is popular among ceramics collectors and discovering you own a Shelley teaset or a Mabel Lucie Attwell piece could add nicely to your bank balance.
Continue Reading
Collecting Studio Pottery: The Potters Marks & a little history
Studio pottery pieces by Bernard Leach and the potters he taught can command high prices. Spotting a pot by Leach takes a little learning as does recognising any of the good studio pottery that you can find in all sorts of places including boot fairs & yard sales as well as antiques fairs. Knowing what the potter was trying to achieve will help the collector find those priceless little nuggets as will knowing the pottery marks to look out for and building a good source of reference.
Continue Reading
Antiques Collection: Gerbing & Stephan Majolica Vase c1890
Beginning as Schiller & Gerbing in 1829 and eventually becoming Gerbing & Stephan in 1861, this once significant ceramics company produced some superb Majolica pottery. The battle scene vase in our Antiques collection is a wonderful example bearing Gerbing & Stephan marks used between 1861 and 1900. They show a very clear 'G&St.' mark.
Continue Reading
Collecting Silver Coins of the British Commonwealth
The British Commonwealth is one of the largest international organizations in the world, containing over fifty member states and a population of over two billion. Its member nations have produced some of the most interesting, varied, and beautiful silver coins in the world. Here we look at the silver coinage histories of Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, and India, and a few bargains that silver investors and coin collectors should watch out for when searching for collectible silver coins from these countries.
Continue Reading
Why Collecting Mexican Gold Pesos is a Great Investment
A Guide to Investing in very collectable Mexican Gold Pesos. Coin Collectors and investors that are looking for something a little different should consider Mexican Gold Pesos. A large selection of denominations especially small denominations makes the gold peso easy to acquire.
Continue Reading
Chinese Symbols on Antique Furniture
A glossary of Chinese Symbols and oriental marks found on antique furniture and other artifacts. Everything from the eight immortals to the Stellar triad and various traditional symbols for animals fruit and flowers with an explanation of why they would be used
Continue Reading
Rare & Collectable Japanese Imari Porcelain
Japanese Imari Porcelain is a very popular collectible that appeals to all sorts of ceramics collectors. Some prefer the more modern Derby Imari porcelains but to truly appreciate Imari you really have to add a few good quality Japanese Imari porcelain pieces to your Oriental porcelain collection. There are plenty of pieces available and they range in price from just a few pounds to the high hundreds or thousands.
Continue Reading
A Look at Highly Collectible Antique Carnival Glass.
There are various names for antique Carnival glass including; Poor Mans Tiffany, Rainbow Glass, Aurora Glass and Taffeta Glass. The variety and enormous range of patterns means that glass collectors will always be searching for more pieces. But making sure your acquisitions are genuine antique carnival glass is all important. Many modern glass manufacturers reintroduced lines, copied old original patterns and created more modern patterns when carnival glass became popular in the 1950's.
Continue Reading
Antiques Collection: Rare Worcester Pot Pourri
Few things provide an antique collector with more pleasure than finding an antique they really like. This wonderful little Royal Worcester pot pourri bowl was the perfect addition to our antiques collection and sits beautifully among the other pieces of antique Worcester porcelain we own. It's been beautifully decorated in the Royal Worcester Persian style using a palette of muted shades of green and peach and bears all the right Worcester marks. Plus it came at just the right price.
Continue Reading
Finding Local Antique Auctions & Auctioneers
According to the British Antique Dealers Association there are around 20,000 antique dealers & antique auction houses operating in the UK, and more than 100,000 auction houses worldwide. Using our Antique Auctions Finder makes finding your local antiques auction easy.
Continue Reading
Collecting Japanese Silver Yen: The Dragon Yen 1870-1914
The Japanese government began minting silver Yen coins shortly after the Meiji Restoration. The silver Dragon Yen was minted between 1870 & 1914 and is fascinating both for the beauty of its design and its historical value. It is a coin well worth collecting
Continue Reading
Buy Antiques You Love – Feed Your Passions
Mostly antique collectors and dealers suppress their passions and buy antiques with a clinical eye. They use cold reason and keep that eye on economics, worth and potential profit. Their inner child plays no part in their purchases and emotions, passions and desires only factor in when profit potential increases. Occasionally buying antiques you love can reinvigorate your love of antiques, interest in history and even sometimes add to that profit margin.
Continue Reading
Vintage & Collectable Pressed Glass
Pressed glass has been dismissed by serious collectors and the wealthier elements of the population throughout the years, simply because it was aimed at the mass market. But like most things that appeal to the majority of the population, pressed glass has moved up in the World and is now fashionable enough among the more well to do, that glass collectors are sitting up and taking notice.
Continue Reading
Collecting Antique Mantel Clocks
Antique Mantel Clocks are similar to antique bracket clocks but are smaller with less depth. You can usually tell an English mantel clock from French ones as the English clock should have a superb mechanism. Before collecting mantel clocks or just buying a good example for your home make sure you know a little about them. It would be unwise to buy without knowing what you are looking for ...
Continue Reading
Collecting Custard Glass. Popular Collectible Glassware
Custard Glass is one of the earliest known colours of glass, it's been around a long time and remains very popular among glass collectors. In the US it got its colour form the addition of uranium salts but the amounts are extremely small. Sowerby Glass and Northwood Glass produced custard glass in large quantities but only small quantities of the genuine article survive today. Adding the occasional rare piece to your glass collection would be wise, just make sure you know what to look for ...
Continue Reading
Vintage & Collectable Swarovski Glass
Rare examples of vintage Swarovski glass will add value to your antique glass collection. Swarovski was originally founded in 1895 and there are antique pieces out there. Price can be prohibitive but find a rare or collectible example of vintage Swarovski glass to add to your antique glass collection and you will really appreciate the finer details and the superb quality in the workmanship.
Continue Reading
Antiques Collection: Royal Doulton Xmas Decoration
From the Antique Marks Collection we have a fine Royal Doulton Xmas Decoration as a porcelain bulb vase decorated with mistletoe and Santa Claus, dating to c1910. With detailed images and examples of period Doulton marks
Continue Reading
Antique KPM Berlin Porcelain to Collect
KPM (Berlin) porcelain is quite beautiful and very collectible. Porcelain collectors should always be on the look out for KPM porcelain figures, vases and centerpieces. They are a very good investment, particularly those produced by the Wegely factory and marked with the initial W and a combination of numbers. Sought after pieces by 19th century artists and designers Karl Friedrich Schinkel, Christian Daniel Rauch and Johann Gottfried Schadow are much in demand.
Continue Reading
Sevres Porcelain – One for Porcelain Collectors to Look Out For
From 1738 and the Marquis Orry de Fulvy, to Napoleon's reign and still to the present day Sevres Porcelain has been among the finest porcelain in the World. Serious porcelain collectors should always be on the look out for any Sevres pieces they can add to their collection.
Continue Reading
Our Guide to the Cleaning and Care of Antique Quilts
Your essential guide to caring for heirloom and other antique quilts. The much loved quilt that's often handed down from generation to generation, which makes the care and repair of your antique quilt a prime concern
Continue Reading
Collecting Antiques: Is Antique Collecting a Good Investment?
An important question for avid antique collectors who hope to create a retirement nest egg from their investment in antiques and collectables. Collecting antiques as an investment has traditionally paid good dividends but tastes change and the antiques marketplace will experience ups and downs over time
Continue Reading
Antiques Collection: Nailsea Spatter Glass Basket
From the Antique Marks Collection we have a beautiful 19thC. Nailsea spatter glass basket in multi-coloured glass with clear branch handle. Part of a range of highly collectable glass items which are collectively often simply referred to as Nailsea glass
Continue Reading
Antiques Collection: Pair of Royal Bonn Vases c1880
Good quality European porcelain in a matched pair of Antique Royal Bonn Vases in the form of ewers both with requisite Royal Bonn printed logo together with decorators & workmans marks
Continue Reading
The Antiques Collection: Derby Imari Dish
The Antique Marks Collection includes a very good Royal Crown Derby Imari dish decorated in the popular Derby pattern 2451 and dating to c1933. A good example of the 2451 pattern from Derby pattern book 6
Continue Reading
Paris Porcelain Vases by Bourdoir and Bloch
Paris Porcelain is to France what Dresden Porcelain is to Germany. Porcelain by a variety of makers from a region rather than one maker. In this case Porcelain de Paris is also as good if not sometimes better than Dresden, Meissen or Sevres porcelain and is certainly a collectible to look out for
Continue Reading
Antiques Collection: Pair of Rosenthal Art Deco Vases
With decoration depicting four Dragons rising from a stormy sea, this fine pair of Rosenthal Art Deco Vases are absolutely stunning. The Dragons are embellished and surrounded with honeycomb pattern gilding and the large flared rims have gilded edges and ornately patterned borders. A very collectable pair of Rosenthal vases.
Continue Reading
Antiques Collection: Helena Wolfsohn Vase
A lovely little vase by the very popular imitator Helena Wolfsohn who produced some outstanding porcelain using Meissen blanks but then went on to mark them with an AR mark in imitation of the Meissen Augustus Rex mark. The porcelain is exceptional and the artwork is of the standard you would expect from Meissen
Continue Reading
Antiques Collection: Wedgwood Fairyland Lustre Bowl
Antique Marks Collection presents a stunning Wedgwood fairyland lustre bowl by Daisy Makeig Jones dating to circa 1930 and decorated with pixies and fairies. In 1909 Daisy Makeig Jones joined Wedgwood as a trainee designer and grew to be a pivotal factor in Wedgwoods survival
Continue Reading
The Antiques Collection: Royal Doulton Saltglaze Tyg
The Antique Marks Collection contains a very good Royal Doulton Saltglaze Tyg of good proportion and having three foxhound handles. Signed Ada Dennis and dating to c1858
Continue Reading
Collecting Scrimshaw: Antique Whale Bone Carvings
Collecting antique scrimshaw can be a precarious occupation. There is a large community of ethical modern day scrimshaw artists who utilise recovered ivory or walrus tooth to practice their art but there are also a large number of fake scrimshaw pieces out there. Finding genuine antique scrimshaw however, is well worth the effort.
Continue Reading
Collecting Antique or Decorative Art Glass Can Be a Very Profitable Hobby
Collecting antique or decorative arts glass can be a very profitable hobby if you learn all you can about the styles or types of glass you like, and you know how and where to find the best deals on antique & collectable art glass. Focusing your collecting energies on a specific period, type of glass or even one great glass designer can simplify what you need to learn and get you known as an expert on that period or artist.
Continue Reading
Antiques Collection: Royal Worcester Prismatic Enamels Vase
From the Antique Marks Collection we have a fine Royal Worcester Prismatic Enamels Vase with original cover. Featuring photos and detailed images of Worcester Marks. Prismatic enamel wares are
Continue Reading
Collecting and Investing in European Silver Coins
Economic uncertainty means many collectors & investors are turning to pure silver bullion to protect their wealth. Old European silver coins present an interesting and varied alternative to the usual silver dollars and ioz silver bars and of course they help us avoid melting down our beautiful collectable antique silver teasets and candelabra
Continue Reading
Antiques Collection: Royal Bonn Vases c1897
The Antique Marks Collection includes a pair of good quality Royal Bonn vases bearing the Franz Anton Mehlem base mark together with various impressed marks. Blue and white signed SE Schutze c1897
Continue Reading