Antiques & Potteries Specialisms

Antiques & Potteries Specialisms

Antiques and potteries are our specialist subject matter at auction and we always know which items will fetch a good price at auction.  You can also find out more on our specialist potteries page for examples of interesting lots sold at auction.

Get in touch if you have similar or unusual items that need a valuation.

Are Swarovski Crystals Worth Anything? Value & Selling Guide

Swarovski crystal figurines, jewellery, and collectables remain hugely popular — but many owners ask the same question: are Swarovski crystals actually worth anything? The answer is yes — but value varies significantly depending on rarity, condition, and collector demand. Some pieces sell for modest amounts, while rare or boxed collections can achieve hundreds of pounds …

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Buy Rare Royal Doulton Bunnykins Figurines

Royal Doulton Bunnykins figurines have become some of the most collectible and valuable pieces of British ceramics, with demand continuing to grow among collectors in the UK and worldwide. Originally introduced as nursery tableware in 1934, Bunnykins expanded into figurines in 1939, with just six early designs produced before the outbreak of WWII halted production. …

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Wedgwood Jasperware Valuation: See Rare Pieces Sell for Thousands at Auction

This pair of modern Wedgwood Jasperware incense burners on Dolphin shaped tripods sold for £650 last year. Wedgwood Pottery has remained collectable since its founding in 1759. Potteries Auctions have been selling Wedgwood Jasperware, tableware, and collectable ceramics for over 25 years, so you can count on our vast knowledge in this incredibly diverse field. …

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Are Moorcroft Vases Valuable? Prices, Rare Designs & Auction Results

Moorcroft vases can range from £100 decorative pieces to rare examples worth £10,000–£17,000 at auction. Early William Moorcroft designs, flambe glazes and rare shapes are particularly sought after by collectors. At Potteries Auctions, we have been selling Moorcroft pottery for over 25 years and regularly achieve strong prices for rare and early pieces. In this …

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Is Clarice Cliff Pottery Valuable? Auction Prices & Selling Guide

Clarice Cliff was a pioneer in the world of early 20th-century ceramics, blending bold colours, innovative shapes and Art Deco designs to create pieces that remain both popular and influential today. Her pottery not only reflects the artistic trends of the time, but also showcases her unique vision and creativity. Whether you’re an avid Clarice …

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Is Royal Worcester Valuable? Prices, Figurines & China Guide (2026)

A Royal Worcester hand-painted fruit still life potpourri vase and cover by H. Ayrton

Royal Worcester porcelain can range from modest decorative pieces to highly sought-after artist-signed wares achieving thousands at auction. While not every item commands a premium, certain figurines, blush ivory wares and hand-painted fruit pieces remain particularly desirable among collectors. At Potteries Auctions, we regularly sell Royal Worcester china and have achieved strong prices for rare …

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Which Beswick Horses Sell Well? Rare Models & Auction Prices Guide (2026)

Certain Beswick horse figures consistently achieve strong prices at auction — particularly rare colourways, early model numbers and limited or prototype examples. At Potteries Auctions, we have been selling Beswick horses for over 25 years and have handled some of the highest-value examples to come to market. In this guide, we explore what makes a …

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Beswick Pottery Marks & Backstamps Guide – How to Identify & Date Your Piece (2026)

If you’re trying to identify a Beswick pottery figure, the backstamp on the base can help determine its age, authenticity and potential value. At Potteries Auctions, we have been selling Beswick figures and ceramics for over 25 years. From single animal models to extensive private collections, our specialists regularly handle rare and early examples, giving …

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Coalport China Marks & Backstamps Guide – How to Identify & Date Your Piece

If you’re trying to identify a piece of Coalport porcelain, the backstamp or printed mark on the base can help determine its age, authenticity and potential value. Coalport china marks evolved over more than two centuries, making accurate identification essential for collectors and sellers alike. At Potteries Auctions, we have handled and sold Coalport porcelain …

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Minton Pottery Marks & Backstamps Guide — How to Identify & Value Your Piece (2026)

Established in 1793, Minton Pottery is one of Britain’s most celebrated ceramics manufacturers, producing fine bone china, porcelain, encaustic tiles, and decorative wares for over two centuries. Today, antique Minton pieces — particularly early examples and rare designer collaborations — are highly sought after by collectors. At Potteries Auctions, we have over 25 years’ experience …

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How to Tell if Your Toby Jug is Valuable | Rare Examples Worth Thousands

Toby Jugs and character jugs have remained popular collectables for centuries, admired for their craftsmanship, humour, and connection to British history. At Potteries Auctions, we have been valuing and selling Toby Jugs, Royal Doulton character jugs, and Staffordshire pottery for over 25 years, giving our specialists extensive knowledge of this fascinating collecting field. If you …

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Wedgwood Marks Guide (1759–2025): Identify & Value Your Wedgwood

Wedgwood Pottery has remained collectable since its founding in 1759. Potteries Auctions have been selling Wedgwood Jasperware, tableware, and collectable ceramics for over 25 years, so you can count on our vast knowledge in this incredibly diverse field. If you would like to discover the value of your Wedgwood, our specialists are happy to help, …

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Collecting Michael Sutty Military Figures 

Michael Sutty (1937-2003) established himself as Britain’s foremost sculptor of military porcelain figures during his four-decade career. Working primarily from the 1960s until his death, Sutty developed techniques for creating bone china figures of exceptional complexity. Established Stoke-on-Trent manufacturers initially considered them impossible to produce commercially.  Background and Technique Sutty was largely self-taught. He developed …

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Your Guide to Collecting Wedgwood Florentine

November Tea Set Spotlight  Whether you’ve inherited a well-loved family tea set or want to replace your Wedgwood Florentine turquoise pieces with some of their new, brighter coloured takes on the classic set, there’s significant value to be found. With a heritage spanning over 150 years, Wedgwood’s iconic Florentine pattern remains high in demand in …

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Hidden Border Fine Arts Collection to be Revealed

For decades, a remarkable collection lay behind the doors of a moorland home in West Yorkshire. While Philip and Sarah Read were known locally for their prize-winning sheep, few knew about their other passion: one of the most extensive private collections of Border Fine Arts in the country. Now, following Philip’s recent death, their extraordinary …

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Norman Wilson: Wedgwood’s Technical Innovator

Wedgwood John Skeaping terracotta Jasperware trial Duiker deer by Norman Wilson, sold for £440  Norman Wilson may not be a household name, but his four-decade career at Wedgwood left a distinctive mark on 20th-century British ceramics. As Works Manager and later Joint Managing Director, Norman Wilson developed the iconic Moonstone and Ravenstone glazes that defined …

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Decoding Lorna Bailey’s Signature Colours: The Definitive Collector’s Guide

Finally settled: What those signature colours actually mean, straight from the artist herself Lorna with one of her Rat Catchers, a limited edition 1 of 3 which sold for £110 in March 2025 For years, Lorna Bailey collectors have debated the significance behind the different coloured signatures adorning the bases of their treasured pieces. Black, …

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Leslie Johnson: The Master of Royal Doulton Portraits

When it comes to the golden age of Royal Doulton artistry, one name held in great esteem is Leslie Johnson. Active during the early 1900s through the 1920s, Johnson carved out a distinctive niche as one of Royal Doulton’s accomplished portrait artists, creating pottery pieces that continue to captivate collectors nearly a century later.  Leslie …

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A guide to selling your Lorna Bailey Cats

Lorna Bailey’s distinctive cat figurines represent a quirky, pop culture-inspired moment in contemporary British ceramics. These vibrant, Art Deco-style works have captured the attention of collectors worldwide, with values that continue to appreciate following Bailey’s retirement from pottery production in 2008.  A complete set of Lorna Bailey ’Catman and Bobbin’, sold for £380  Understanding the …

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Buying Cottagecore Furniture at Auction: Get the Look For Less

A Limed Oak Dresse

There’s a reason cottagecore has captured the imaginations of many in recent years. This lifestyle and design trend celebrates the charm of rural living, the romance of simpler times and the beauty of nature brought indoors. Think of an old stone cottage tucked into the British countryside, furnished with timeworn wooden tables, cosy upholstered chairs …

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Thinking of Selling Your Chesterfield Sofa, Chair or Suite at Auction?

a four piece Ox-blood Chesterfield suite

Few items of furniture carry the prestige and enduring appeal of the Chesterfield. With its deep buttoned upholstery, rolled arms and unmistakable silhouette, the Chesterfield is an icon of British design. For those looking to part with one, an auction house offers the perfect setting to find the right buyer and achieve strong prices. If …

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What Makes Rare Wade Pottery Prototypes So Collectable?

A large collection of green glazed Wade Whimsies protoypes

For over a century, Wade Ceramics has held a special place in the hearts of pottery collectors. From Wade Whimsies to larger Art Deco figures, earthenware pieces and Gluggle Jugs, the Stoke-on-Trent manufacturer is synonymous with British ceramic charm. Yet among Wade Pottery’s output, one category stands above the rest in terms of rarity and …

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Deadline for entries to our July Rare Ceramics, Jewellery & Collectables auction: 20th MayBook a valuation
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