Some treasures are not only stored in the basement, but sometimes also in the cupboard.
Some pieces of porcelain can be worth several hundred euros.
What to look out for.
Porcelain is no longer as important in most families today as it was for parents or grandparents, for example.
In the past, the "good" plates were only brought out on public holidays or on special occasions.
In many cases, this also included the freshly polished silver cutlery and the crystal glasses with the fine cut.
Porcelain of certain brands in particular can still be worth good money today.
If it's the real thing.
Meissen: well-known porcelain manufactory
Meissen was founded in 1710 and is the oldest porcelain manufacturer in Europe.
The classic identification mark for his plates, cups, vases and more are the crossed swords.
Usually, the fine brushstrokes that make up the symbol adorn the underside of the porcelain pieces.
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Genuine Meissner porcelain can be recognized by the two crossed swords.
The symbol, which is still common today, was introduced in 1731 and can also be seen at many points of sale (here: Dresden).
© Arnulf Hettrich/Imago
Rare pieces – even used ones – can quickly be worth several hundred euros.
The experienced porcelain collector Marius Marder told RTL that hand-painted porcelain is also much more expensive than printed
ones
.
According to the expert, it is also important to find out about the product directly before selling it on the relevant platforms.
Because even at Meissen there are mass-produced goods that are not that valuable.
KPM: Risk of confusion with the Berlin manufacturer
KPM stands for Royal Porcelain Manufactory Berlin.
The manufacturer has been around since 1763 and its logo is that of a long scepter, which is usually found on the bottom of the products.
According to RTL
, the porcelain expert warns
that you should take a very close look.
There is also the manufacturer KPM Krister, who only sounds similar.
In terms of price, it is far from playing in the classes of KPM, Meissen and Co.
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Another big manufacturer: Rosenthal
With this porcelain manufacturer, founded in 1879, the company name itself is the logo.
Rosenthal products are therefore relatively easy to identify.
Valuable collaboration: Keep an eye out for collaborations
Some porcelain manufacturers like to work with artists to create unique pieces.
It is precisely the results of these collaborations that make collectors' hearts beat faster and ensure high sales prices.
In addition to the company logo, there is also a reference to the collaboration or the edition on the underside of plates and co.
Recognizing the value: what to look for
In order to get a good price when selling grandmother's plates, you can pay special attention to a few things:
Brand: Manufacturer's name.
Condition: The value drops significantly with cracks or corners that have been knocked out.
Series: Are the products part of a collection/edition/collaboration?
Completeness: pots without lids or cups without saucers are worth less.
Gold edge: This is often real gold.
If you are unsure, you can always ask the manufacturers themselves.
Most of the time, they have well-maintained archives in which different variants of the porcelain symbols can be found.
This can then be used to find out about authenticity or age.
Alternatively, there are online experts who rate porcelain, usually for a fee.
There are also a few things to consider at flea markets if you want to snag a bargain.
List of rubrics: © Arnulf Hettrich/Imago