China & Porcelain
Fine china, porcelain, and dinnerware sets.
Lenox, Wedgwood, Limoges, Noritake, and other named makers, plus rare estate finds. Perfect for filling out a pattern or starting a collection.
Fine china is identified from the underside. The backstamp gives you the maker, usually the country, often the pattern name, and a mark style that dates the piece to within a decade or two.
What to look for in china & porcelain
- Translucency
- Bone china and porcelain glow against a bright light; earthenware and ironstone stay opaque.
- Country wording
- "Nippon" means 1891–1921; "Occupied Japan" means 1945–1952; no country often means pre-1891.
- Gold trim wear
- The most common and least repairable value killer on a dinner service.
- Crazing and hairlines
- Fine glaze cracks are expected on older earthenware; stained crazing and hairlines are not.
How we list china & porcelain
We list maker, pattern name where the backstamp gives one, piece counts and every chip, hairline or utensil mark we can find under angled light.
Replacement buyers usually want specific shapes, so we often split services into small lots. Ask if you need a particular piece and we will check the shelf.
Common questions
How do I find my china pattern name?
Start with the backstamp — many makers printed the name under the logo. If only a number appears, match the rim design against the maker's pattern archive.
Is old china safe to eat off?
Undamaged 20th-century dinnerware from major makers is generally fine for occasional use. Avoid heavily crazed or chipped pieces, and never microwave metallic trim.
Is bone china worth more than porcelain?
Not automatically. Maker, pattern demand and condition matter far more than the body type.