How do I know if my porcelain is antique?

To know if porcelain is antique, start by looking for any maker's marks and researching their origins. In many cases, it is necessary to enlist the help of a licensed appraiser to accurately date porcelain ware. You'll find a selection of expertly vetted antique porcelain on 1stDibs.

How do I identify an antique porcelain vase?

The best way to identify an antique porcelain vase is to check for a maker’s mark. Gently flip the vase over and look for a signature or logo on the bottom. You may also find the name of the artist or designer. Old vases were also made in wood-based kilns, so an antique vase will likely have small imperfections such as coarseness, crackling or asymmetry. When in doubt, work with a certified appraiser to determine the authenticity of your vase. On 1stDibs, you’ll find a variety of expertly vetted antique porcelain vases.

How can I tell if a porcelain vase is antique?

There are a few ways to tell the approximate age of a porcelain vase, including identifying the maker's mark. These are usually located on the bottom of the vase. The maker's mark can help you find the era of manufacture once you know the company or studio that produced the piece. Look for imperfections, which were inevitable with wood-fuelled kilns of the past but uncommon with modern gas-fuelled kilns. On 1stDibs, shop a collection of antique porcelain from some of the world's top sellers.

How do I spot an antique porcelain figurine?

One thing to look for in an antique porcelain figure is to look for the maker’s mark, usually found on the bottom of the piece. The porcelain figure will also have a delicate fragile quality to it. On 1stDibs, find a collection of antique porcelain figures from some of the world’s top sellers.

How do I know if my porcelain lamps are antique?

The best way to determine the age of porcelain lamps is to work with an appraiser. While some online resources can be helpful when you’re looking for information about the value of an item, the suggested value you find may not be the actual value of your item, since that will depend on a number of factors, including the shape it’s in. You’ll find expertly vetted porcelain lamps and other decor on 1stDibs.

Is antique porcelain worth anything?

Yes, some antique porcelain is worth something. Many collectors actively seek out certain types of porcelain that are at least 100 years old. Some favorites among collectors include Chinese pottery, china crafted by makers like Rosenthal and Lenox and figurines produced by Meissen, Dresden, Nymphenburg and Capodimonte. Generally, the type, style, age, maker and condition will all play a role in determining how much antique porcelain is worth. If you wish to have any pieces in your collection evaluated, use the services of a certified appraiser or knowledgeable antique dealer. Shop a variety of antique porcelain on 1stDibs.

How to know if my Chinese porcelain is antique?

The best way to know is to take it to an expert, such as an appraiser, reputable dealer or auction house, or museum

Antique Porcelain Letters

Enamel Letters

Smith Corona Typewriter

Mantel Clock With 2 Candelabras

Seven Miniature Furstenberg Biscuit Porcelain Busts of English Men of Letters

$8,000 / set

H 10 in W 18.25 in D 6 in

Seven Miniature Furstenberg Biscuit Porcelain Busts of English Men of Letters

By Furstenberg Porcelain

Located in Spencertown, NY

Seven Furstenberg miniature busts of English men of letters, early 19th century together with a

Category

Early 19th Century German William IV Antique Porcelain Letters

Materials

Porcelain, Amboyna, Wood

Fine Ormolu and Sevres Porcelain Antique French Clock Set

$6,391

H 165.5 in W 10.75 in D 5.5 in

Fine Ormolu and Sevres Porcelain Antique French Clock Set

By Manufacture Nationale de Sèvres

Located in Belper, Derbyshire

porcelain panel with gold letters applied to white reserves with turquoise 'jewel' half-hour markers

Category

19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Porcelain Letters

Materials

Ormolu

Ridgways Semi Porcelain English Porridge Lidded Tureen

$435

H 5.5 in W 9.5 in D 11 in

Ridgways Semi Porcelain English Porridge Lidded Tureen

By John Ridgways

Located in Philadelphia, PA

Porcelain in uppercase letters The expected light surface wear, nothing to detract, Minor darkening to the

Category

Late 19th Century English Victorian Antique Porcelain Letters

Materials

Ironstone

Recent Sales

Pair of Limoges Porcelain Coolers with a Decor of Flowers, Early 20th Century

Sold

H 7.49 in Dm 7.29 in

Pair of Limoges Porcelain Coolers with a Decor of Flowers, Early 20th Century

By Limoges

Located in Saint-Ouen, FR

Pair of white background Limoges porcelain coolers. Polychrome enamel ornamentation representing

Category

Early 20th Century French Antique Porcelain Letters

Materials

Porcelain

Large Antique French Gilt Bronze Rococo Louis XV Clock

Sold

H 19.25 in W 14.5 in D 8.5 in

Large Antique French Gilt Bronze Rococo Louis XV Clock

Located in Belper, Derbyshire

. The large dial is gilt bronze mounted with twelve individual cartouche porcelain letters in the 18th

Category

19th Century French Rococo Antique Porcelain Letters

Materials

Bronze

Antique French Sevres Ormolu Gilt Bronze Dore Letters Holder Inkwell Desk Set

Sold

H 6.7 in W 9.06 in D 4.83 in

Antique French Sevres Ormolu Gilt Bronze Dore Letters Holder Inkwell Desk Set

By Manufacture Nationale de Sèvres

Located in Dublin, Ireland

An exceptionally well cast French Sevres soft paste porcelain and Gilt-Bronze Ormolu Desk Letters

Category

19th Century French Victorian Antique Porcelain Letters

Materials

Ormolu

Antique Corona Four Portable Typewriter C.1926

Sold

H 5 in W 13 in D 12 in

Antique Corona Four Portable Typewriter C.1926

By L.C. Smith & Corona Typewriters Inc

Located in San Francisco, CA

lettering. The keys are nickle with pale yellow porcelain interior and black letters covered in glass. This

Category

Early 20th Century Industrial Antique Porcelain Letters

Materials

Metal, Steel, Nickel

"La Fiesta" 1920's Restaurant Or Club Sign Found In The Midwest

Sold

H 77 in W 16 in

"La Fiesta" 1920's Restaurant Or Club Sign Found In The Midwest

Located in Santa Monica, CA

Great early iron and porcelain sign found in Kansas. Letters would have had milk glass inserts

Category

Early 20th Century American Antique Porcelain Letters

Antique Corona Four Portable Typewriter C.1924

Sold

H 5 in W 13.25 in D 12 in

Antique Corona Four Portable Typewriter C.1924

By L.C. Smith & Corona Typewriters Inc

Located in San Francisco, CA

gold lettering and original case. The keys are nickle with pale yellow porcelain interior and black

Category

Early 20th Century Industrial Antique Porcelain Letters

Materials

Metal, Steel, Nickel

Antique Refurbished Corona Four Portable Typewriter c.1924

Sold

H 5 in W 13.25 in D 12 in

Antique Refurbished Corona Four Portable Typewriter c.1924

By L.C. Smith & Corona Typewriters Inc

Located in San Francisco, CA

pale yellow porcelain interior and black letters. This typewriter has smooth typing and functions very

Category

Early 20th Century Industrial Antique Porcelain Letters

Materials

Metal, Steel, Nickel

Japy Freres Silver Plated Bronze Antique French Bracket Clock

Sold

H 17.5 in W 10 in D 7.25 in

Japy Freres Silver Plated Bronze Antique French Bracket Clock

By Japy Frères

Located in Belper, Derbyshire

cast in bronze with an armorial motif to the centre and 12 porcelain enamel cartouche letters. It is

Category

19th Century French Baroque Antique Porcelain Letters

Materials

Bronze

Silver Clock Set by Samuel Marti

Sold

H 19.75 in W 9.5 in D 8.5 in

Silver Clock Set by Samuel Marti

By Samuel Marti

Located in Belper, Derbyshire

finished with a beautiful silver plate. The dial is also silver plated bronze mounted with 12 porcelain

Category

19th Century French Baroque Antique Porcelain Letters

Materials

Bronze

Large Rococo Clock Set by a D Mougin

Sold

H 19.5 in W 11.5 in D 8.25 in

Large Rococo Clock Set by a D Mougin

By A.D. Mougin

Located in Belper, Derbyshire

. The dial is cream porcelain enamel with blue letters and a separate minute ring in black. It is

Category

Late 19th Century French Rococo Antique Porcelain Letters

Materials

Bronze

Antique Art Deco Corona 4 Portable Typewriter, c.1925

Sold

H 5 in W 13.5 in D 12 in

Antique Art Deco Corona 4 Portable Typewriter, c.1925

By L.C. Smith & Corona Typewriters Inc

Located in San Francisco, CA

green porcelain interior and black letters. This typewriter has has smooth typing and functions very

Category

Early 20th Century Industrial Antique Porcelain Letters

Materials

Metal, Steel, Nickel

Antique French Ormolu Bracket Clock - Dolphins

Sold

H 17.5 in W 10 in D 7 in

Antique French Ormolu Bracket Clock - Dolphins

Located in Belper, Derbyshire

centre and 12 blue porcelain enamel cartouche letters. It is complete with original blued steel hands and

Category

19th Century French Baroque Antique Porcelain Letters

Materials

Ormolu

Early 20th Century Photographs Sign

Sold

H 24 in W 60 in D 1 in

Early 20th Century Photographs Sign

Located in North Hollywood, CA

This charming trade sign is painted wood, with applied porcelain enameled letters and hand. There

Category

Early 20th Century Antique Porcelain Letters

Materials

Wood

People Also Browsed

Empire Style Birdcage Model of Chateau de Luneville, Early 20th Century

$16,000Sale Price|20% Off

H 21 in W 16.5 in D 14 in

Empire Style Birdcage Model of Chateau de Luneville, Early 20th Century

Located in Spencertown, NY

The wood and wire birdcage faithfully depicting the chateau.

Category

Early 20th Century French Empire Antique Porcelain Letters

Materials

Wood

Fossilised Skull of Prehistoric Marine Reptile the Mosasaur, 70Million Years Ago

$34,507

H 6.3 in W 15.75 in D 5.91 in

Fossilised Skull of Prehistoric Marine Reptile the Mosasaur, 70Million Years Ago

Located in Puglia, Puglia

Upper Cretaceous, about 70-65 million years ago (Maastrichtian) Morocco The skull is reconstructed in good proportions with fossil pieces found in a phosphate mine in Morocco. I att...

Category

15th Century and Earlier African Antique Porcelain Letters

Materials

Bone

Mid-Victorian Moorish wrought & cast iron pergola or decorative garden structure

$116,834

H 240 in W 552 in D 120 in

Mid-Victorian Moorish wrought & cast iron pergola or decorative garden structure

Located in London, GB

A monumental Moorish mid-Victorian wrought iron Pergola or Decorative Garden Structure, a unique masterpiece in High Victorian Ironwork design. Our research confirms it is French, da...

Category

Late 19th Century European Moorish Antique Porcelain Letters

Materials

Wrought Iron

19th Century Italian Roman Vanitas Bust Renaissance Revival Memento Mori Marble

$13,036Sale Price|20% Off

H 29.53 in W 23.63 in D 11.03 in

19th Century Italian Roman Vanitas Bust Renaissance Revival Memento Mori Marble

Located in Ijzendijke, NL

Masterfully carved & most impressive Italian Vanitas bust in solid marble from late 19th century. White Carrara marble skull combined with a Belgian Black marble Roman toga (ro...

Category

Late 19th Century Italian Renaissance Revival Antique Porcelain Letters

Materials

Marble, Belgian Black Marble, Carrara Marble

Rare Regency Memento Mori Box

$10,250

H 1 in Dm 3.63 in

Rare Regency Memento Mori Box

Located in Kittery Point, ME

Decorated with four skulls to top with titles of a Witch, King, Beauty and Beggar to each Skull underneath. Lidded.

Category

19th Century English Regency Antique Porcelain Letters

George RomneyPortrait of Lady Caroline Price, 1774

$1,495,000

H 29.5 in W 24.5 in

Portrait of Lady Caroline Price

By George Romney

Located in Miami, FL

DESCRIPTION: Perhaps the best Romney in private hands. If Vogue Magazine existed in the late 18th century, this image of Lady Caroline Price would be on one of its covers. The e...

Category

1970s Old Masters Antique Porcelain Letters

Materials

Oil, Canvas

Fabergé Silver Service

$248,500 / set

H 10.25 in W 20.75 in D 16.38 in

Fabergé Silver Service

By Fabergé

Located in New Orleans, LA

This extraordinary 128-piece service by Fabergé is a rare treasure in more ways than one. Enclosed in its original oak chest, the exquisite service remains complete and in pristine c...

Category

19th Century Russian Antique Porcelain Letters

Materials

Silver

Antique English Break-Front Bibliotheque Bookcase in Mahogany, circa 1870

$42,500

H 101 in W 164.5 in D 27 in

Antique English Break-Front Bibliotheque Bookcase in Mahogany, circa 1870

By S.E. & R. Johnson. Warrington

Located in INTERLAKEN, NY

A handsome and very well crafted English break-front bookcase or bibliotheque in solid mahogany by S.E. & R. Johnson of Warrington, England, circa 1870. Features six doors with glass...

Category

1870s English Victorian Antique Porcelain Letters

Materials

Mahogany

Meissen Porcelain Dinnerware Service for 12 People

$98,000 / set

H 10 in W 9.5 in D 15 in

Meissen Porcelain Dinnerware Service for 12 People

By Meissen Porcelain

Located in Tarry Town, NY

Beautiful German Meissen dinnerware service for twelve people with serving pieces. The dinnerware service is in great condition. Just exquisite & very rare to find a complete service...

Category

1960s German Rococo Antique Porcelain Letters

Materials

Gold

Genuine Natural Spinosaurus Dinosaur Tooth

$640Sale Price|20% Off

H 4.25 in W 0.5 in D 1 in

Genuine Natural Spinosaurus Dinosaur Tooth

Located in New York, NY

Spinosaurus (meaning "spine lizard") is a genus of theropod dinosaur that lived in what now is North Africa, during the upper Albian to upper Turonian stages of the Cretaceous period...

Category

15th Century and Earlier Antique Porcelain Letters

Materials

Other

Exceptional French Three Graces Piece Rotary Mystery Clock Set Candelabra Suite

$39,500 / set

H 30 in W 12 in D 12 in

Exceptional French Three Graces Piece Rotary Mystery Clock Set Candelabra Suite

By Henry Dasson

Located in Roslyn, NY

Exceptional 19th century, French 'Three Graces' annular dial clock, bronze and marble clock, with Roi-de-bleu enamel globe surmounted by Cupid. The globe raised by three patinated ma...

Category

1880s French Louis XVI Antique Porcelain Letters

Materials

Marble, Bronze

Rare Moses Michelangelo Guggenheim & Pauly Cie Et Venice Antique Carved Armoire

$343,630

H 100.6 in W 66.93 in D 24.81 in

Rare Moses Michelangelo Guggenheim & Pauly Cie Et Venice Antique Carved Armoire

By Guggenheim Museum, Pauly et Cie

Located in West Sussex, Pulborough

We are delighted to offer for sale this very rare one of a kind Pauly CIE Et stamped hand carved walnut armoire made by the genius that was Moses Michelangelo Guggenheim 1837-1910 W...

Category

19th Century Italian Victorian Antique Porcelain Letters

Materials

Walnut

19th Century Memento Mori Carved Skull & Cross Bones

$2,742

H 5.91 in W 11.82 in D 6.7 in

19th Century Memento Mori Carved Skull & Cross Bones

Located in Lowestoft, GB

A well executed almost life size skull and crossbones pine carving, depicting the remembrance that we all will pass. Likely a part of a larger religious carving, possibly placed a...

Category

19th Century Italian Antique Porcelain Letters

Materials

Pine

Grand Tour Specimen Marbles Plaque, Italy, circa 1850

$6,975

H 18.57 in W 14.63 in D 1.13 in

Grand Tour Specimen Marbles Plaque, Italy, circa 1850

Located in Kinderhook, NY

A wonderful third quarter 19th century Italian 'grand tour' ancient marbles specimen plaque in original silver-gilt frame.

Category

Mid-19th Century Italian Grand Tour Antique Porcelain Letters

Materials

Marble

Antique Meissen 68-Piece Floral Dinner Service

$48,108 / set

H 2.37 in W 20.67 in D 14.77 in

Antique Meissen 68-Piece Floral Dinner Service

By Meissen Porcelain

Located in London, GB

Antique Meissen 68-piece floral dinner service German, c. 1900 Largest serving dish: Height 6cm, width 52.5cm, depth 37.5cm Square salad bowl: Height 9.5cm, width 22cm, depth 22cm...

Category

Early 1900s German Rococo Antique Porcelain Letters

Materials

Porcelain

19th Century French Ormolu and Crystal Drinks Set

$11,683 / set

H 14.25 in W 12.25 in D 12.25 in

19th Century French Ormolu and Crystal Drinks Set

Located in London, GB

A drinks set of the Napoleon III Period The ormolu rectangular frame, rising from swept feet, with a running arcaded gallery, fitted with a mirror plate base houses a suite of fou...

Category

19th Century French Napoleon III Antique Porcelain Letters

Materials

Crystal, Ormolu

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Antique Porcelain Letters For Sale on 1stDibs

There is a range of antique porcelain letters for sale on 1stDibs. Frequently made of ceramic, porcelain and metal, all antique porcelain letters available were constructed with great care. Antique porcelain letters have been made for many years, and versions that date back to the 18th Century alongside those produced as recently as the 20th Century. Antique porcelain letters made by neoclassical designers — as well as those associated with Victorian — are very popular at 1stDibs. Antique porcelain letters have been a part of the life’s work for many furniture makers, but those produced by Arras Foundry, Jacob Petit and Amphora are consistently popular.