posted on September 12, 2000 12:30:46 PM
I enjoy buying and selling glassware--figurines, dishes, etc. However, if the item is not marked I have difficulty in deciding how to describe it. Could someone please give me some hints on how to differentiate between the following: Pottery, ceramic, china, porcelain, crystal, cut glass, pressed glass, lead glass, blown glass, etc. I hope to put the answers on a index card and keep them for further use. Thanks for your assistance!
posted on September 12, 2000 01:46:12 PM
That's more like a bookful of info than an index card. I'd suggest a good reference book on each type of item that you intend to sell on a regular basis. The differences between pottery/china/stoneware/porcelain/ceramic can be subtle and depend on the type of clay used and the firing process(es) to which it is subjected. Glass can be tricky also. The best way to differentiate is to do a lot of "hands-on" study. Visit shops with marked items, and ask questions, look up the manufacturer's marks in a reference (Kovel's have a good one on pottery/porcelain items) and then do an Ebay search. Often unmarked items can also be found by doing a descriptive search. Do be careful about attributing an item to a particular manufacturer just because another seller said so--unless the listing mentions a reference book ID, or the seller seems to be knowledgable about the item, they could be wrong. That will cost you money, because people who really want that item may not find it on a search, and some bidders are hesitant to buy from sellers that are selling in categories about which they have no knowledge. As a pottery collector, I hesitate to buy in those instances, because the seller may not realize what defects should be listed, and they may not show up in a picture.
I'd suggest a good reference book on each type of item that you intend to sell on a regular basis. The differences between pottery/china/stoneware/porcelain/ceramic can be subtle and depend on the type of clay used and the firing process(es) to which it is subjected. Glass can be tricky also. The best way to differentiate is to do a lot of "hands-on" study. Visit shops with marked items, and ask questions, look up the manufacturer's marks in a reference (Kovel's have a good one on pottery/porcelain items) and then do an Ebay search. Often unmarked items can also be found by doing a descriptive search. Do be careful about attributing an item to a particular manufacturer just because another seller said so--unless the listing mentions a reference book ID, or the seller seems to be knowledgable about the item, they could be wrong. That will cost you money, because people who really want that item may not find it on a search, and some bidders are hesitant to buy from sellers that are selling in categories about which they have no knowledge. As a pottery collector, I hesitate to buy in those instances, because the seller may not realize what defects should be listed, and they may not show up in a picture.