posted on April 14, 2004 06:52:52 AM
I have a Spode Copeland sauce or gravy boat that belonged to my grandmother (born in 1880) so it's old. It has an underplate, the dish and lid, but is also has a matching ladle that is broken in 2 places. I remember my Mother gluing it together, but it has separated again. There are 2 clean breaks, so I know if repaired professionally it would look good. My first question is, do I mention it in the title, like "broken ladle"? I know they are often lost or broken from the set.
Second question, so I sell it as a set? I have seen on eBay where just the underplate in a similar pattern sold for $45.
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
posted on April 14, 2004 07:03:50 AM
Based on many years of selling china: Sell without the ladle. Once you mention the broken piece, it is all that bidders will be able to think about.
You can always throw it in as an extra for the high bidder after the auction.
posted on April 14, 2004 07:55:19 AM
I agree - don't mention the ladle. A good picture should do it too. Spode goes over really well. Throw the ladle in to the high bidder and let them repair it. Good luck
posted on April 14, 2004 08:59:04 AM
I agree, don't mention the ladle. The cost of getting it repaired would be more than the value of the good pieces. If you were going to keep this as a momento then go ahead & fix it. It will cost around $100.00 to do it.
posted on April 14, 2004 09:31:22 AM
I have lots of family heirlooms Fluffy, and have moved to a very small apartment. Have asked the kids, and no one is interested, so some things are going to be sold, being a senior, there is not much point in keeping things that might be just given to a thrift store eventually, I would rather enjoy the profits now!
posted on April 14, 2004 10:02:31 AM
I'm not suggesting there's anything wrong with what you're doing, amber.
(I work at the Department of Redundancy Department.)
Having been around antiquey things and antiquers for many years, I know there's always a contingent who (for some unfathomable reason) publicly express disapproval of people who sell family heirlooms -or- who think an heirloom should be donated to a museum rather than turned into cold hard cash. Witness the "Nose Art" thread.
I'm with you, actually. After the vultures (er, that would be my female relatives) got through plundering Grandma's belongings, there were a few dimestore pieces left which they gave to me. Since they meant nothing to me or (as far as I know) to Gran, I got rid of them.
Heirloom? Shrug. At some level, it's all just stuff.
