Porcelain Appraisal Reveals High Values

For centuries porcelain has been an important part of a well-stocked home and especially in eras past has been a popular way of displaying one’s wealth and status. Ranging from lavishly decorated creations to plates and serving vessels of pristine simplicity and quality, European companies scrambled to discover the methods behind Chinese porcelain before producing them for the wealthy elites of Europe. These fine items are passed down for generations as family heirlooms but are often overlooked as a valuable item worth getting appraised and insured. Museums and private collectors alike seek out items by these famous European manufacturers with an eye for the old, the unique, and the items with stories to tell and it is important for owners of such items to seek out professional advice concerning their heirloom porcelain.

Antiques Roadshow Discovery
The monetary value of these items is illustrated by an Antiques Roadshow discovery that was broadcast in England this month. A woman from south Wales was surprised to hear that a large porcelain meat plate that had been inherited from a family member was worth more than 100,000 GBP ($156,235). The piece, which was haphazardly displayed in her home, was brought to the Roadshow evaluation in a shopping bag, an afterthought that seems to have paid off. The woman and her husband traveled to the evaluation with more interest in their group of antique books but came out with this stunning evaluation and a better understanding of its importance and history. The hard-paste plate was a part of a dinner service set made for Fredrick the Great, a Prussian king of the Hohenzollern dynasty who reigned for most of the 18^th century. The incredible appraisal value is due to its great detail and unique heritage or provenance; a piece much smaller than the plate from the same set recently sold for 31,000 GBP ($48,414).

Porcelain Appraisal

MIR’s art appraisers have a great deal of experience evaluating and researching porcelain, and items in MIR’s collection reflect this knowledge. On the walls and in the various china cabinets are displayed plates, serving vessels, candle holders and tea sets made from some of the world’s most renowned manufacturers, giving MIR’s appraisers physical reference points for the evaluation of such items. Porcelain is usually divided into two categories, hard-paste and soft-paste, both of which MIR houses in its research repertoire.

Hard-Paste Porcelain: Meissen

Founded in 1710, Meissen is credited with being the first factory in Europe to make hard-paste porcelain, keeping the process as its own for 50 years. Hard-paste porcelain is considered true porcelain and is composed of kaolin (china clay) and petuntse (china stone) which allows for a unique hard white substance to be created when combined and heated to a high temperature. A process that originated in China because of the prevalence of the necessary ingredients, Meissen revolutionized the European porcelain scene by finally being able to replicate the porcelain much admired by European collectors. MIR has a number of Meissen plates in its collection including one that displays the various incarnations of the trademark blue crossed swords that have come to stand for quality in porcelain.

Soft-Paste Porcelain: Capodimonte

Capodimonte porcelain has been a well-known porcelain manufacturer since its founding by Charles III, king of Naples, in 1743. Identified by a blue “N” with a crown on top of it, Capodimonte porcelain is often ornate and colorful and includes raised/relief designs. Made of soft-paste, the items are created from a combination of white clay and ground glass and considered artificial porcelain because of the absence of kaolin. Soft-paste porcelain was first produced in Florence in the late 16^th century and is skillfully used to create the floral bouquets and ornate mythological renderings typical of Capodimonte porcelain. Among MIR’s Capodimonte holdings are a group of five gold colored cups complete with saucer displaying raised mythological scenes rendered in brilliant colors and complete with faux coral handles. The pieces speak to the ornamental possibilities of the soft-paste medium.

MIR Appraisal Services, Inc. seeks to provide you with quality appraisals on your fine art items. MIR employs a range of appraisers with various specialties in the fine arts and places a premium on research and customer satisfaction. Located in Chicago on Michigan Avenue, MIR has worked with both local and international clients who submit information on their items accompanied with detailed images. Contact MIR and set up an appointment for consultation; call or visit our website for more information on our services.

Written and Researched by Justin Bergquist

MIR Appraisal Services, Inc.

Principal Appraiser & Director: Farhad Radfar, ISA, AM

307 N. Michigan Avenue, Suite 308

Chicago, IL 60601

(312) 814-8510

Works Cited:

“Porcelain,” in Oxford Art Online

Simon de Bruxelles. “German Meat Dish Become Antiques Roadshow’s Most Valuable Plate,” on The London Times Online

Images:

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/multimedia/archive/00682/Plate_682091a.jpg

http://www.antique-china-porcelain-collectibles.com/images/meissen-marks-assorted.jpg

Meissen Porcelain: A Testament to Timelessness, Superior Quality

With the current unpredictable economic situation it is difficult to comprehend that any market is succeeding. However, evaluating recent auction results have proven that the value of Meissen porcelain remains financially promising. An October 21, 2008, auction at Christie’s New York boasted sales at 95% for its Meissen lots; including 17 of 18 of these pieces exceeding their estimate. This success is a true testament to Meissen’s timelessness and superior quality.

Collectibility
Meissen is the epitome of European porcelain. The finery’s tradition began in 1710 with the discovery of hard porcelain and the subsequent establishment of the Meissen foundry in Germany. One of the greatest appeals to owning a piece of Meissen porcelain is that every piece is processed and decorated by hand; making all works, whether a table-top figurine or a serving tray, artistically unique. While every piece is essentially an original, Meissen remains true to its traditional form by utilizing the same painting methods for the past three centuries.

The prestige of acquiring Meissen as a symbol of wealth also makes these pieces highly desirable. During the first two centuries of the porcelain’s existence, aristocratic members from every county accumulated Meissen to prove their societal status through culturally-significant items. Popularity of the artistic creations in the upper class caused a shortage of Meissen to the middle class who desired to own the same pieces their heads of state. As a result, the foundry began recreating their earliest examples at a more reasonable cost. Both the 18th and 19th century originals, as well as, the more contemporary recreations are highly collectible.

Need to Authenticate
Inevitably with the high demand of Meissen, an attempt at imitation was sure to follow. As early as 1718, one of the foundry’s own employees tried to counterfeit the porcelain. Due to this attempt, and countless more to follow, a trademark was a necessity. From 1720 until present day, all authentic Meissen bears “Crossed Swords” within the blue underglaze. Many forgeries have attempted to duplicate this trademark and some have succeeded in convincing collectors; inundating the market with highly-believable fakes. With this fact in mind, it is essential to have any piece of Meissen in your collection evaluated for authenticity. Only authentic Meissen porcelain retains its historical significance and monetary value.2010 will mark the third centenary of the porcelain factory’s founding; making today the perfect time to acquire an astounding piece of Meissen. Please contact us regarding any Meissen we are currently offering or with any questions regarding Meissen in your own collection.

-MIR Appraisal Services, Inc.