Think you can spot an antique porcelain plate worth thousands from a pile of thrift store items?
One man in Illinois managed to do so at a Goodwill store in a Chicago suburb.
“I bought a rare 18th-century Chinese armorial export plate at a Goodwill for $4.99; it’s worth $5,000,” John Carcerano told Newsweek on February 2.
Searches online for “porcelain plate price” have surged in February, reaching peak popularity on Google Trends, as collectors and thrifters look to see if they might own a hidden treasure.
The global collectibles market is projected to reach $422.56 billion by 2030 and expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.5 percent from 2024 to 2030, according to a report by Grand View Research, a market research and consulting company headquartered in San Francisco.
The owner of the Chinese plate had spent 10 years studying Asian antiques, gaining the expertise needed to recognize the item’s value. For those hoping to uncover hidden treasures at thrift stores or flea markets, experts say knowledge is just as important as luck.
“Beyond recognizing the piece itself, it seems the owner understood that the coat of arms could significantly impact its collectibility,” Lindsey Owen, a certified member of the International Society of Appraisers (ISA) who regularly values fine art, decorative objects and antique furnishings, told Newsweek.
While not everyone has a decade to study antiques, experts say there are some ways to determine whether a porcelain plate might be worth more than a few dollars.
Historical Markers
One of the easiest ways to gauge a porcelain piece’s age is by looking at any markings on the back.
“If your porcelain says ‘Made in China’ or ‘Made in Japan,’ that indicates age,” said Reyne Hirsch, a fine art expert and owner of the Dallas Auction Gallery in Texas.
This marking suggests “it was made for export from those countries after the war, World War II,” she added. Such pieces were “commercially produced and made by the thousands. Not valuable.”
Owen pointed out that historical laws can help date an item.
“The McKinley Tariff Act [1890] required imports to be marked with their country of origin, but enforcement was inconsistent until later,” she said.
Similarly, the phrase “Made in Occupied Japan” indicates production between 1945 and 1952—a detail that can help narrow an item’s time period.
Other indicators include markings such as “Dishwasher Safe,” which typically means a piece was made after 1955, Owen said.
“With the abundance of online resources, identifying maker’s marks on important pieces has become increasingly accessible to the general public,” Owen said. “A reverse image search can often be the quickest and most efficient way to identify a mark.”
Sound Test
For those without markings to rely on, sound can be a helpful clue.
“One trick to identifying this type of piece is that porcelain produces more of a ‘ring’ when tapped with a fingernail, unlike the dull ‘thud’ of some other ceramics,” Owen said.
This simple test can differentiate fine porcelain from lesser-quality materials.
Fabrication Techniques
Understanding how a plate was made can be key in spotting valuable antiques.
“If you’re hoping to spot a unicorn piece at a thrift store, understanding fabrication techniques is essential,” Owen said. “Recognizing different types of glazes or understanding period-specific decoration processes can help you identify or date unmarked pieces that others might overlook.”
That was the case with Carcerano’s Chinese plate.
“It is clear that this find was as much about knowledge as it was about luck,” Owen said. “The story is a great example of how understanding fabrication techniques and period-specific decoration processes is one of the most valuable tools in identifying antiques.”
Painted Gold Or Silver Trims
A metallic trim does not automatically mean a piece is valuable, Hirsch warned.
“A lot of people think because some items have painted rims of gold or silver, they are valuable,” Hirsch said. “Nine times out of 10, they are not. That is also more common of dinnerware made from the 1960s to 1970s.”
Pattern Matters
Certain brands and patterns hold their value better than others.
“Wedgwood, Meissen, Dresden, Lenox, etc.—you have to know your patterns,” Hirsch said. “These companies have made dinnerware for years. Some [patterns] are more desirable than others.”
Researching popular patterns and makers can help determine whether a plate is collectible or just another mass-produced item.
Condition Is Key
Even if a plate appears to be a rare antique, its condition plays a major role in its worth.
“Much like many things collected, condition plays a huge role in value,” Hirsch said. “Many times when porcelain or pottery has a crack or chips, it places the value at 10 to 15 percent of what it would be worth if in mint condition.”
There are rare cases where damage does not affect the value significantly, but most of the time, “damage destroys value,” she added.
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