Thrift stores often have a menagerie of mismatched glassware, chipped plates, and stacks of bowls filling the shelves. If you search long enough, occasionally, you'll come across a valuable kitchenware brand that will make your heart skip a beat — like a piece from Crown Staffordshire china. Founded by the Green brothers in 1889 in the center of England's famous pottery district, Crown Staffordshire Porcelain Co. originally made basic transfer-patterned dishes for daily household use. Soon the company noticed an increase in demand for luxury entertaining pieces and began production of high-quality bone china designed just for special occasions.
In addition to standard teacups and serving plates, the company also made miniature tea sets, floral pastilles, and highly detailed bird and animal figurines. Many of these tiny sculptures were made by famous ceramic artists like J.T. Jones. Because of the intricate details and artistic qualities, they are still highly sought after by collectors.
Not all of the vintage dinnerware pieces are created equally. When shopping, you should be sure to keep an eye out for specific patterns, such as the Asian-inspired Kowloon, the elegant Ellesmere, and the classic Hunting Scene. Some of the more treasured pieces are worth a lot more. Miniature floral tea sets often sell for around $200 or more online. A single Hunting Scene salad bowl may sell for over $300. If you come across an Ellesmere serving platter, you can easily expect a value of over $400.
Read more: Forget Pyrex & Le Creuset: 15 Valuable Kitchenware Brands To Look For At Thrift Stores
When you're on a treasure hunt for Crown Staffordshire china, it helps to know exactly what to look for on the underside of a plate or figurine. These pieces are all crafted from fine bone china. They will feel very lightweight, and when you hold them up to a light, they will almost look translucent. If the piece feels overly heavy, you most likely have a reproduction.
Next, turn the piece over and look for the manufacturer's mark. Most Crown Staffordshire pieces will have an intricate crown stamped somewhere on the bottom. You will also see the words "Crown Staffordshire" or "Crown Staffordshire China." Some pieces may also include the phrase "fine bone china." After the McKinley Tariff Act of 1890, all exported goods had to be stamped with their country of origin, so the words "England" or "Made in England" can also help you identify the earliest pieces.
Sometimes you can date rare vintage dinnerware by looking for a registration mark. This is denoted by the letters Rd. No and followed by a series of numbers, which are designs patented with the British Patent Office. Rd Nos from 1 to 499,999 were manufactured from 1884 to 1907. Numbers 500,000 to 650,000 were made from 1907 to 1915, and numbers 650,000 or higher were made from 1915 to the 1930s.
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Read the original article on Hunker.