Milennium boxed stock of Wedgewood Jasper... any ideas?

porto_bello

I wondered if anyone has any ideas on the most lucrative way to sell a collection of Jasperware?

A few years ago, a London office threw out approximately 50, boxed, brand new Jasper pin dishes. The were all identical, all inscribed as a 'millennium issue' and all depicted a crest of a London institution. [Not a particularly 'touristy' one].

I saw them piled in the street, asked the workmen if I could take a few and back came the answer "take the lot - it'll save us shifting them!" A few were smashed, but most were pristine.

I've just rediscovered them in the loft. It doesn't say 'limited edition', but I can't find anything like them on eBay. Any ideas where I could find out...

If they're rare?
What their market price is?
Who might buy them?

Strapped

Is it the City of London crest?

soolin

Wedgwood is a brand I always use if I am trying to obscure details of what I am actually selling as it is worthless now.

It used to be a great seller, but now I actually charity shop it, unless I have a rare style in black..

you could try a bricks and mortar auction house as there are a lot of new dealers out there who see it as a good make and can often push the price up.

If the organisation still exists or anything similar you could contact them direct and see if they are interested

RFW

There's a few auction houses around London that would help. Go the old fashioned route and look them up in Yellow Pages.

porto_bello

Strapped wrote: »

Is it the City of London crest?

No, it's a Government/Ministry related crest.

soolin wrote: »

If the organisation still exists or anything similar you could contact them direct and see if they are interested

It still exists... good idea, except they were the wasteful mob who threw them out - so I doubt they'd be interested!

RFW wrote: »

There's a few auction houses around London that would help. Go the old fashioned route and look them up in Yellow Pages.

That looks favourite. I just wondered if there was some guide/publication/on-line database of Wedgewood somewhere (a bit like a stamp catalogue), where I might be able to get an idea of rarity and value.

pulliptears

Speaking as someone from Stoke (home of Wedgewood) I have to say stick it back in the loft and forget it for a few years.

Its everywhere here, and its sadly worthless. My Mum collected it for many years and in the 80's it was quite expensive, then about 5 years or so ago the bottom just completely dropped out of it and you can find it for pence in charity shops.

I often see limited edition bits in our local dougie mac commemorating some local even or other and still they are 25p a pin dish.

It may come back around, but I'd forget about it for now if they aren't in the way.

porto_bello

Thanks Pullip, I think that's what I'll do.

I gave a couple away as presents to Americans one Christmas, who were delighted to have something with a history that traced back to just before the American Revolution... even if they were only a few years old!

pulliptears

porto_bello wrote: »

Thanks Pullip, I think that's what I'll do.

I gave a couple away as presents to Americans one Christmas, who were delighted to have something with a history that traced back to just before the American Revolution... even if they were only a few years old!

I've said it before on this part of the forums but the state of the pottery market is so sad. Doulton ladies can be picked up here for £20. When I was a kid my aunt would pay over £100 for one. Beswick (Thats Bez Wick not bezick as they insist on saying on TV) is a few pounds now and the horses I have had in my loft for years are also pretty worthless.

Every charity shop here is heaving with tea sets, vases, pin dishes. Such a shame but I guess the people who would have bought little pin dishes for their dressing tables and set their dining table for tea with teapots and fancy plates are long gone.

soolin

Porto Bello- actually your post has given me an idea- list them on ebay .com and hit the US market where they often pay well for things we Brits consider worthless.

pulliptears, I remember our conversation on here about china, such a shame. Beswick can still sell fairly well down South but only if it is a rarer piece. The Doulton ladies though are dropping even more in price. I bought some lovely Spode Christmas china the other day at auction in a mixed box for £5- and dropped the box

I've got shed loads of china still as the prices are rock bottom here and I cannot resist buying, I could have a different tea set in use every day of the week and still not run out- am now using them to assist a friend with a craft idea

I had a near complete set of Royal Doulton tea and coffee set (with jugs and pots) from the 1970s, it went to the charity shop last week where it is currently in the window for £50 (and as it is a Hospice shop they will probably get that). I had it marked down to £3 on Gumtree and facebook.

RFW

pulliptears wrote: »

Its everywhere here, and its sadly worthless. My Mum collected it for many years and in the 80's it was quite expensive, then about 5 years or so ago the bottom just completely dropped out of it and you can find it for pence in charity shops.

I think internet selling, especially Ebay has ruined a number of collectable markets. Before a 'rare' item was in a shop/market/auction here and there, now all those 'here and there's are joined together so there are a few hundred at a time.

I collected coins when I was younger and recently decided to get rid of a big chunk, they were mostly worth less than they were 20+ years ago.

RFW

It occurred that it is a place where people can come unstuck. I saw someone at an auction about a year ago and he used to be in a particular market and was surprised that the prices were going low. He'd had a couple of years out doing other things and was buying up lots of items that he thought were very cheap. Despite me and other people telling him that the market had changed he spent a small fortune and hasn't been seen since.

So many markets have changed so much in the last few years if you have been out of something for a while it's a good idea to have a refresher course before rushing back in.