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Fine China Valuation by Peter Holland
Identification, mystery solving, research and fine china valuations
"Within a short time I was far better informed than a fortnight spent trawling the Internet. Thank you Peter. I urge your followers to pick your brains!" Marita
STEP #1
Is it treasure or trash? Send me your photos and I'll tell you, free.
No item is too humble to ask about, and there's no auction-house snobbery here. I've been identifying and valuing crockery, china, porcelain, tea sets and figurines on this site since 2006. Some of the most fun items to identify and value are not 'fine china' at all. Above all, I'll give you a straight answer.
How It Works
- Send your photos. Use the form above. Include front, back, side and underneath (the mark) if you can. Tell me where it came from, too; every piece has a story.
- Get my free verdict. I'll email you my honest first opinion, usually within 3 working days. If it's not worth a paid valuation, I'll say so, and it costs you nothing.
- If it's treasure, get it in writing. For $25 I research your piece properly and send you a signed written Valuation Report within 48 hours of your PayPal payment clearing.
- Selling, insuring or passing it on? Upgrade to a Premium Certificate: a signed presentation certificate plus a permanent online certificate you can link to.
Once we establish whether your item is treasure or trash, you can choose if you want to know the value and full origin (optional) - which entails me doing detailed research - so there's a fee. - as follows:-
Choose Your Valuation
| Service Feature | Free Opinion | Valuation Report | Premium Certificate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | $0 | $25 | $45 |
| Treasure-or-trash verdict | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Maker, mark and date | Brief first impression only (e.g. "likely German, 19th century") | ✓ | ✓ |
| Condition noted | — | ✓ | ✓ |
| Estimated auction price | — | ✓ | ✓ |
| Estimated retail replacement value | — | ✓ | ✓ |
| My written report on your piece | — | ✓ | ✓ |
| Signed by Peter Holland | — | ✓ | ✓ |
| Presentation certificate (printable PDF) | — | — | ✓ |
| Permanent online certificate with its own web link | — | — | ✓ |
| Delivery | By email, usually within 3 working days | Within 48 hours of payment | Within 48 hours of payment |
Prices are in US dollars. PayPal converts from your own currency automatically.
Valuing a set? A matching set (one maker, one pattern) counts as one valuation: $25 for the set, including a per-piece guide.
Already have a Valuation Report? Upgrade to Premium for the $20 difference.
STEP #2 - Order a Valuation Report
What a $25 Email Valuation Report Looks Like
Here's an example report - it usually takes less than 48 hours of your PayPal payment clearing to hit your inbox:
Click to enlarge image
Every professional report covers:
- Full Description
- Maker and Mark Identification
- Date Identification
- Condition Assessment
- Estimated Auction Price
- Estimated Retail Replacement Value
- My detailed written report on the piece and its market
The Premium Certificate: For Pieces You'll Sell, Insure or Pass On
- ✓ A signed presentation certificate (PDF) to print and keep with the piece.
- ✓ A permanent online certificate hosted on figurines-sculpture.com, complete with its own certificate number and web link.
- ✓ Proof buyers can check. Add the link to any eBay, Etsy or auction listing so buyers can verify it independently.
- ✓ It stays with the item, not the owner. It passes seamlessly to any future owner.
- ✓ Strict privacy: No personal details are published. Only the item, its photographs, and my dated findings.
Why Ask Me?
I am Peter Holland, formerly one of the UK's leading commercial clay modellers. Over my career I modelled figurines for Royal Worcester, Royal Doulton and Coalport. I know how these pieces were made because I made them. I have spent my working life working with bone china and porcelain factories, so I know how production is modelled, marked and made. Since 2006 this site has solved hundreds of mystery identifications that other sites could not.
Frequently Asked Questions
What if my item isn't worth anything?
Then I'll tell you, free and honestly. Plenty of treasured family pieces are worth more in memories than money, and there's no shame in that.
How quickly will I hear back?
Your free treasure-or-trash verdict comes by email, usually within 3 working days. Paid reports arrive within 48 hours of your PayPal payment clearing.
How do I pay?
By PayPal. If your piece is worth a report, I'll send you a PayPal money request, and I only start work once it's paid.
What's the difference between auction price and replacement value?
The auction price is roughly what your piece might fetch at auction today. Retail replacement value is roughly what it would cost to buy a similar piece from a dealer, which is usually higher. The replacement value is a guide only; insurers may require an in-person valuation.
What do you value?
I value fine china, porcelain, pottery, figurines and porcelain dolls. I don't value paintings, jewellery, silver, furniture, glass or coins. I don't buy items, and my valuations are opinions based on the photographs supplied.
What happens to my photos?
I use them only to research your piece. They're never published unless you choose a Premium Certificate, and even then only the item is shown, never your personal details.
Do you value sets?
Yes. A matching set (one maker, one pattern) counts as one valuation: $25 for the set, including a per-piece guide. Mixed items are valued individually.
Will values change over time?
Yes. Tastes and demand shift, which is why every report is dated. A value is correct as of its date.
Ready? Let's see what you've got.
Send me your photos and I'll give you my honest treasure-or-trash verdict, free. and I'll give you my honest treasure-or-trash verdict, free.
Not ready to send anything yet? Learn how to research your china's value yourself → Start with my free guide to antique china values
Fine China Valuation 'Research' Tip:
Before requiring a valuation, a lot of people like to have an idea of what they have, in advance of committing to paying for a valuation. Here's a great glossary of those sites helping identify what you have got (once you have trawled this site, of course!) Antiquers.com website research glossary list (scroll down to the pottery list below the glass)
All valuations are my opinion based on the photographs and information supplied, and apply only to the item pictured. Values reflect the market on the date of the report.
Fine China Chat