Collecting antique dishes can be a fun and rewarding hobby, but it’s probably not going to be an easy one! Because of the wide variety of dishes available from so many sources, you’ll probably have to brush up on your knowledge of dishes and dinnerware. You may have to do a little research into the collectibles in general, as well as specifically investigating an individual dish. It’s great fun for those who like to dig for information and uncover mysteries, and can be exciting when you get surprises, like realizing you’ve just purchased an ordinary-looking dish that’s a valuable collector’s item.

If you’re ready to start collecting antique dishes, you should first realize that just because a dish is 60 or 70 years old, it’s not necessarily any more valuable than it was when it was new. Much depends on how many of that exact dish was produced and how in demand it is now. Many people mistakenly think that old China is particularly valuable simply because it’s old, and that’s pretty far from the truth.

If it’s extremely old, China is almost certainly worth a little more than it was new (and might be worth much more). Some antique dishes with patterns that were discontinued quite soon after their release are worth a little more because they’re more rare. But antique China dishes are most valuable to those who have entire sets and want a piece to replace one that’s broken or lost. If you’re interested in antique China, though, it would pay to do some research into the kind of dishes you want.

The older the antique dishes are, regardless of what they’re made from, the more valuable they typically are, if they’re valuable at all. Antique porcelain dishes can be valuable, all depending on how popular they were when they were new. Antique handpainted dishes are inherently more desired and valuable than mass produced dishes, because even if the same pattern was used on many, the handpainting renders each one unique. And uniqueness is an important consideration when determining the value of a dish, or any item.

A problem with antique dishes is that often not even the seller will know how old a dish may be. This is where the detective work becomes necessary. You’ll need to find any marks on the bottom of the dish indicating the artist, the company, the serial number, the pattern name or anything that has the potential to help identify the dish. You can search online on all of these things, or ask a local antique dealer or appraiser if they have knowledge of it. For China specifically, don’t forget the many websites that specialize in replacements of pieces from discontinued patterns; they can be a wealth of information.

Finding the origin of antique dishes can be a challenge. If you can’t see the dish in person, ask about chips and cracks, and have the seller give you all of the information from the bottom so you can do your research!

Originally posted 2008-12-04 14:00:01. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

• Antique Books Antiques -> Books and Manuscripts -> American If you are interested in finding a collectible that has a true story to tell, antique books are the ideal choice. These offer the ability to collect something that has value, not only in the actual worth of the item, but in the......
• Patchwork Quilts Antiques -> Textiles, Linens -> Quilts, Bedspreads ->Patchwork -> Patchwork quilts are an Americana staple, and these items are also highly collectible. While they are most commonly associated with the pioneer times and early formation of the United States, many cultures produce patchwork quilts and many of them are extremely......
• Chinese Antique Jade Antiques -> Asian -> Chinese Chinese antique jade isn't just beautiful in its own right, but carries a deep cultural significance for the Chinese people. Historically, it was used for jewelry, in religious ceremonies, culturally, monetarily, and was believed to hold great mystical and healing powers. Today, it's still an......
• Sideboard Dealers -> Furniture -> Cabinets-Armoires-Cupboards A sideboard is a piece of furniture used to display China or to set food out while dining. The sideboards we’re familiar with first appeared in the 1700s, but became more popular in the 1800s when more people had dining rooms to eat in, and......
• Antique Singer Sewing Machine Antiques -> Sewing -> Machines and Machine Parts If you love sewing collectibles and are trying to build up your collection, one of the best additions you can find is an antique Singer sewing machine. These machines can enhance any personal collection and may even be the focal point in......

• More Heart Health Food Tips Heart health food tips can go a long way in improving your overall coronary health. If you want to improve the health of your heart and your over all health and well being as well, the following heart health food tips are going to come in handy: Take the time......
• Antique Postage Stamps Stamps -> Worldwide -> Postal History When it comes to collecting stamps, most collectors dream of being able to find the perfect antique postage stamps. By far, these are usually the ones that are the most valuable and in many cases, they are the most visually interesting. If you are......
• Bon Jovi Posters Memorabilia -> Music Memorabilia -> Rock, Pop-> Bon Jovi One of the biggest rock bands of the 1980’s is still popular today and as such, many people are still trying to find their posters. Whether you are a new fan of the group, or you remember a certain poster that......
• The overall design—from concept to reality All software developers face similar problems, the first of which is determining how to meet the needs of the end user. It’s important to understand the overall requirements before zeroing in on the details. The Access Auto Auctions database, for example, allows the client to sell items (vehicles and parts)......
• Collectible Bottles Collectibles -> Bottles and Insulators -> Bottles-> Antique (Pre-1930) One of the most unique forms of collectibles are bottles and you’d be surprised at just how many you can find. Ranging from antiques that were produced in the 1900’s, to ones that are just rolling off the assembly line right......

• Retired or Discontinued Boyds Bears Dolls Bears
• Dishes, Cookware China Contemporary 1970-Now Miniatures Dollhouse Miniatures Dolls Bears
• China Antique Pre-1930 Dolls Dolls Bears

The history of Depression Glass is actually quite fascinating and it is a true testimony to its appeal that decades later it is still in high demand. These colorful glass items were made to be cheap, they had to be in order to sell them during this time period. If you are not familiar with Depression Glass, here is a brief guide to help you spot these rare treasures.

First, Depression Glass is quite heavy and although it was considered to be cheap glass, these items were made to last. They became popular following the market crash of 1929, when the United States was in the throes of the Great Depression. During this time period fortunes were lost and many families found themselves on the brink of financial ruin.

At this point, many people could not afford to purchase the niceties of life and it was a struggle just to get the things that they needed. In order to be able to continue selling products, many companies began developing cheap glassware, which would later be known as Depression Glass. These glass items were made out of the cheapest glass possible and the molds that were used were often imperfect.

However, these imperfections are now considered to be desirable. Since costs were kept extremely low during the manufacturing process, the vast majority of Depression Glass does not have a maker’s mark and generally there are no identifying marks whatsoever. The pieces are characterized by their heavy weight and the interesting but simple patterns that are featured on them.

Another characteristic of Depression Glass is that the pieces were generally made to be very colorful. You can find virtually every color in the rainbow, from blue, to yellow, red, green and even purple. These colors were vibrant and happy and reminded people of better times. In fact, many items made during this time period reflect the overall mood of the country and the grasping of small things like something colorful to keep hope alive.

Today, Depression Glass is extremely popular. It is rare to find a full set, but most collectors try to accumulate as many pieces in one color as they can. You can frequently find Depression Glass at local flea markets, at auction or online. However, it is important to make sure that you are getting authentic glass.

Remember, the piece should be slightly imperfect, there should be no insignia on the glass and the colors should be a bit faded due to age. If you find Depression Glass that is overly vibrant, very well made or carries an insignia of the manufacturer, there is a high probability that the piece may not be authentic.

Collecting Depression Glass is a great way to commemorate this troubled time in the history of the United States where little things like happy colors on glassware helped the populace through those dark days. Many pieces are actually worth a small fortune, so keep your eye out for a great deal. You never know what you may find.

Originally posted 2008-08-18 05:00:55. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

• Antique School Table Antiques -> Furniture -> Tables, Stands If you're looking for antique furniture like an antique school table or desk, one great place to find these items is estate auctions.  While you can find antique furniture in online auctions like eBay, you need to be very savvy about the purchases you......
• Victorian Furniture Dealers -> Periods-Styles -> Victorian Though its peak popularity was during the late 19th century in America, Victorian furniture still holds quite an appeal for many people today. This style of furniture is distinguishable by the time period in which it was created and the methods that were used. The......
• Antique Dishes Dealers -> Glass -> Plates Collecting antique dishes can be a fun and rewarding hobby, but it’s probably not going to be an easy one! Because of the wide variety of dishes available from so many sources, you’ll probably have to brush up on your knowledge of dishes and dinnerware.......
• Barrister Bookcase   Dealers -> Furniture -> Bookcases Patented in 1892, a barrister bookcase is a special type of bookcase that's enclosed with clear glass covering the front, differentiating it from a typical open-shelf bookcase. These bookcases got their start in the UK, but became popular worldwide because of their unique stackable......
• Antique Goblet Antiques -> Decorative Arts -> Stemware How do you tell an antique goblet from an antique cup or mug? Goblets are stemware, with the earliest goblets made from earthenware and then expanding to other stronger materials as the years passed. The use of goblets pre-dates the Roman Empire, though the......

• If You Pay During the Grace Period, Beware of the Simple Interest Mortgage This hard truth warning is for homeowners everywhere who carefully schedule their mortgage payments to arrive at the bank or mortgage processor not on the due date but on the last day of the "grace period."  By grace period, I am referring to the date by which, if your payment......
• 40 Frugal Shopping Tips From Our Readers: Enter The Gift Card Giveaway! Yesterday we announced a great giveaway that we're hosting here on Bible Money Matters where we're giving away $25 gift cards to Marshalls and T.J. Maxx.  All you have to do to enter is subscribe to the site's email updates, and/or leave us a frugal shopping tip through our......
• Types of Sports Memorabilia Items to Buy There are a number of different forms that sports memorabilia items can take, including both modern memorabilia and vintage memorabilia. Some of the sports memorabilia items that you can purchase and add to your collection include: - Autographed sports memorabilia items, including balls, gloves, bats, cards and anything else that......
• Morgan Silver Dollar Coin Collecting -> US Coins -> Dollar Coins -> Morgan (1878-1921): 1878-1921, 1885-93, 1894-98, 1899-1904, 1921 The Morgan Silver Dollar is considered by many to be one of the most valuable US coins that you can collect. It’s history ranges from 1878 to 1904, and during its run, it was......
• The Morocco experience The Morocco experience I've decided to write this one in English, because I trust that also the Romanian readers can decipher a bit of English. If not, and there's a bunch of you crying out loud in the comments area that you don't get a word in English, I might......

• Proofs Essays Back of Book United States Stamps
• Duck Stamps Back of Book United States Stamps
• United States Original Period Items WW II 1939-45 Militaria Collectibles
• 1961-70 FDCs 1951-Now Covers United States Stamps
• Naval Event Covers Covers United States Stamps