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Guidelines for Buying Antique China Products
All the aforementioned companies are still producing good quality china items. Their older items, those in excess of fifty years, are considered to be antiques.
If you want to start collecting Wedgewood china or some other variety, there are a few things to keep in mind:
Familiarize yourself with the maker's marks and know what to look for and how to identify a specific series of china produced by a certain company.
Be able to distinguish patterns popular within given time periods.
Know how to recognize cracks and learn to tell if a piece has been mended.
Recognize alterations in patterns if not all pieces of a set are original.
Examine the pieces that you are about to buy for imperfections.
Where to Buy Antiques
If you are looking for an exquisite antique piece of Haviland china or a limited edition antique Wedgewood plate, make sure to buy it from the right dealer. Things to keep in mind are:
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Unless you are an experienced buyer it is probably best not to buy from online auctions.
You need to examine the china and if possible find out something about its provenance (history).
It is not necessarily a bad thing to purchase incomplete sets as it is often possible to "finish them out" with multiple buying sessions from other shopping excursions. Especially with antique china it is rare to find complete sets in one go.
Research
Research is an essential aspect of buying antique china. Get specialist guidebooks at your library or bookstore and conduct online research, for instance reading or joining in the discussion at a collector's forum. Work to memorize patterns and makers marks.
Care of China Dishware
China must always be washed by hand and not in a dishwasher. The dishwashing process may damage and possibly remove gilting, for instance. When washing the pieces by hand, never them soak in the water. China is best stored in a cabinet with padded pieces between the dishes to prevent scratches.
Wedgwood china, or any other make of fine china, is a special thing to possess. This type of dishware enhances your table settings for holidays and other special occasions. Often dishware china is passed on in a family where beloved china patterns are used year after year. No matter is china dishware if old or new, it adds style and elegance to a table.
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