Antique English Bone China Guide | LoveToKnow (2024)

Collecting Antique English Bone China

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Antique English bone china is an exciting find for many collectors. The delicate designs, amazing translucence, and incredible loveliness of these pieces makes them timeless works of art. Many of these can be found inexpensively today at antique stores and thrift shops, and it's easy and affordable to begin a collection of astounding beauty.

Bone China History

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The process for making bone china was originated by Josiah Spode in England in about 1800. It proved to be less expensive to produce that the conventional porcelain of the day and was also much lighter in weight yet very durable. Because of the lightness and beauty of the china, it became a popular material for tea sets and tea cups.

Formula for Bone China

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The durability of bone china comes from actual bone. The basic formula consists of six parts bone ash, four parts china stone, and three and a half parts china clay. This formula has remained largely unchanged since its beginning. This Wedgwood tea pot is a fine example of the beauty of a simple bone china pattern.

Identifying Bone China

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You can always identify bone china by holding it up to the light and placing an open hand behind it. You will be able to see the shadows of your fingers through the china. This phenomenon is one of the things that give antique English bone china its delicate beauty. This will work whether you are testing a plate or a beautiful antique tea pot as long as you have a good light source.

Delicate, Hand-Painted Designs

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The china is desirable for many reasons. It does not easily chip, and the color is beautiful. Bone china is a slightly off white or ivory color and may be embellished with gold leaf, hand-painted designs, or both. In fact, the incredible hand painting is one of the things that makes this type of china so desirable.

What Is "Ivory" China?

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American bone china is not as fine as the English version. It tends to be thicker and a little heavier. It can often be identified by the word "Ivory" in the name. This Lamberton bone china plate is American made and is clearly marked with the word "Ivory" on the back of the plate.

Antique English Bone China Brands

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Several English manufacturers are famous for making bone china. Some of the most famous include Spode, Wedgwood, Royal Doulton, Mintons, Aynsley, Royal Worcester, and others. Each of these English china brands had a unique maker's mark, and these marks changed over the years. If you turn a piece over, you can see the identification mark on the back or bottom.

Famous English Bone China Patterns

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There are hundreds of different antique bone china patterns that are lovely and often valuable, but a few stand out as particularly famous:

  • Spode Blue Italian - In production for nearly 200 years, this blue and white pattern is reminiscent of Blue Willow. It was made in bone china, as well as earthenware.
  • Wedgwood Fairyland Lustre - This beautiful pattern from the early 1900s features an iridescent glaze and hand painting.
  • Wedgewood Wild Strawberry - This vintage patter featuring strawberry leaves and berries is highly collectible.
  • Spode Buttercup - An unusual yellow pattern with buttercup flowers and a fluted rim, this design dates to 1924.

Antique Fine China Sets

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You'll find antique English bone china in individual pieces, as well as complete sets. Tea sets include a teapot, cream pitcher, sugar bowl, teacups, saucers, and sometimes other pieces. Dinner sets include place settings for six, eight, twelve, or more. A fine china place setting usually includes a dinner plate, salad plate, cup, and saucer.

Individual Pieces of Bone China

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It's more common to find individual pieces of antique bone china in antique stores or online. You can assemble these to create a complete set or simply choose pieces you like. You'll encounter bone china vases, teacups, plates, bowls, and other items. Each of these is a treasure you can use on your table or display in your china cabinet.

Factors Affecting the Value of Antique English Bone China

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It's important to understand the value of a piece of English bone china, especially if you plan to buy or sell it. There are several factors that can affect how much bone china is worth:

  • Rarity - If there are very few pieces of a pattern or item, it tends to be worth more.
  • Beauty - The original workmanship affects the value of bone china. Hand painting, delicate details, and fine craftsmanship make a piece more valuable.
  • Condition - Cracks, chips, crazing, stains, loss of gilding, and other signs of damage can decrease the value of a piece of bone china.
  • Age - Often, pieces that are very old are worth more than newer vintage examples in the same pattern.

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Most Valuable Bone China Pieces

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The most valuable bone china pieces can be worth thousands of dollars. Usually, these items are rare and in excellent condition. For example, a single Shelley Lincoln teacup with a lily of the valley on it sold for about $1,200. It was a rare pattern and in perfect condition. Similarly, a very rare Wedgewood Fairyland Lustre bowl in excellent condition sold for about $2,300. An Aynsley Orchard Gold coffee pot sold for more than $2,700 due to its rarity and perfect condition.

Typical Bone China Values

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However, most antique bone china is not worth thousands of dollars per piece. You can often find a beautiful teacup and saucer set for about $30. For example, a Shelley Dainty Blue teacup and saucer in perfect condition sold for about that price. Plates and other pieces are also affordable, even in desirable patterns, with a Wedgwood Wild Strawberry dessert plate selling for under $10 in fair condition.

Best Bone China Pieces to Collect

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If you're considering starting a bone china collection, there are several ways to begin:

  • Teacups in various patterns - Collect teacups in different patterns for a mix-and-match set.
  • Mixed plates or dining pieces - You can collect different patterns of plates to make a dessert set or dinner set that will look eclectic and fun.
  • All one pattern - Choose your favorite pattern and collect enough pieces of it to create a set.
  • Vases or special items - Collect vases or other special pieces in patterns you love.

A Collectible You Can Use Daily

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Bone china is a beautiful and durable collectible that you can use daily. Have your morning tea or coffee in an antique cup or serve your lasagna on a bone china plate. These beautiful antiques are made to be used and enjoyed.

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Antique English Bone China Guide | LoveToKnow (2024)

FAQs

Antique English Bone China Guide | LoveToKnow? ›

The most valuable bone china pieces can be worth thousands of dollars. Usually, these items are rare and in excellent condition. For example, a single Shelley Lincoln teacup with a lily of the valley on it sold for about $1,200. It was a rare pattern and in perfect condition.

Is English bone china worth anything? ›

The most valuable bone china pieces can be worth thousands of dollars. Usually, these items are rare and in excellent condition. For example, a single Shelley Lincoln teacup with a lily of the valley on it sold for about $1,200. It was a rare pattern and in perfect condition.

How do I identify my bone china mark? ›

Fortunately, there are several ways to tell between fake and real bone china. Check the back stamp for the manufacturer, product characteristics, and country of origin. Bone china is also stronger than other porcelains, allowing it to be made thinner and more translucent.

How do I find out how much my antique china is worth? ›

Get a professional appraisal: If you have rare or valuable china, or if you want a more accurate valuation, consider consulting a professional appraiser who specialises in china and porcelain.

How do I identify an antique china pattern? ›

How do I identify my china pattern?
  1. Look for any markings or labels on the bottom or back of the china. ...
  2. Take note of the style and design of the china. ...
  3. Check online resources and databases of china patterns and manufacturers. ...
  4. Consider taking your china to an antique dealer or appraiser.

Is 100 year old china worth anything? ›

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.

What is the most collectable bone china? ›

The most expensive piece of bone china is commonly known as Joseon Baekje.

What is the best English bone china? ›

Wedgwood is a trusted name when it comes to making the best fine bone china ware since it was established in 1759. Fortunately, English Tea Store carries Wedgwood's magnificent Harlequin Collection!

Is bone china collectible? ›

Royal Albert fine bone china is highly sought after by collectors and tea lovers alike. Its combination of classic and contemporary designs, as well as its rich history, make it a must-have for anyone who appreciates the beauty of fine china.

Is bone china expensive? ›

The cost of bone china is high because of the materials and labour involved in its production. Making bone china requires multiple steps, such as mixing ingredients, forming, drying, firing, and glazing. These steps require time and skill, leading to a higher price tag for this luxurious item.

Is German china valuable? ›

Since some German porcelain is rare and valuable, the market has been flooded with fakes and copies which can fool new collectors. There is no single way to tell whether a piece of German china is old or new, but here are some tips to help avoid a bad bargain. Antique German china generally shows signs of wear.

Where can I get my bone china valued? ›

Your local auction house is a good place to start. They can provide expert knowledge and insights into the value of your pieces based on their condition, rarity, and historical significance.

How to price old china? ›

China pieces are priced depending on their condition, brand, rarity, style, and age. Antique Fine China items are popular collectibles. Regardless, pricing might vary from piece to piece and brand to brand. Most Fine China kitchenware includes a back stamp that will assist you in identifying the brand/company.

How old is my bone china? ›

There is a back stamp that is found at the back and center of the plate. The back stamp contains information such as the name of the manufacturer, the pattern name, and the date when the product was made. Most if not all bone china is labeled as such.

What is the difference between vintage and antique china? ›

For an item to be an antique, experts agree that it must be at least or over one hundred years old. While there's no official expert consensus for an item to be considered vintage, many agree an item should be between twenty to ninety-nine years old.

Is there an app to tell if something is antique? ›

Antique Identification Apps

Hallmarks - The app Hallmarks - Identify Antiques is a good option for identifying random hallmarks on silver and other pieces. The hallmarks are alphabetical. Although the initial app is free, you'll need to pay to unlock all the hallmarks.

Is fine bone china worth money? ›

Fine bone china can be worth a considerable amount of money, but it does depend on the pieces you own. The price will go up if the piece has been created by a well-known manufacturer and is rare.

What is English bone china? ›

Bone china is made from china clay, china stone and bone ash (made from animal bones). To create bone china, either china clay, china stone, bone ash, or a combination of the three is combined with porcelain clay and fired at a slightly lower temperature than porcelain.

Is bone china worth more than fine china? ›

You may have noticed that Bone China tends to be far more expensive than Fine China. This is due to the cow bone ash material. However, the material wasn't intended to make the China stronger or chip-resistant. It is because the cow bone ash creates unique shades of colour and hues.

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