What's the best way to sell antique crockery for a good price?

cashferret

My mum wants to sell a load of antique crockery bought by my late dad but doesn't know how best to do it. He'd got interested in the topic and in how to identify items from the makers' marks and had amassed maybe 30 or so cup/saucer pairs in various designs and a few plates.

They were mostly from antique shops, charity shops and car boot sales. Some of them are probably worth a bit, and some of them not so much.

Would it be best to take them to auction? If so, all at once, or would that be a bit of a glut? Or take them to a dealer? Or to several dealers?

She's 85 and can't schlepp the stuff around (though some of our family are local and could help a bit).

Don't want to get involved in Ebay because of the difficulty in posting delicate things safely.

Thanks for any help/advice with this!

Wizzbang

People will come and collect even through eBay, though you'll limit your market. If you pack things properly and use the appropriate service (I'd recommend Royal Mail) you won't have any problems. eBay will give you a good market.

If you sell via an auction house you'll have hefty fees to pay and you may have to wait some time before a suitable auction comes up.

HornetSaver

What's the best way to sell antique crockery for a good price?

Whole.
















I'll get my coat...

Maysie

I have seen people on facebook selling pages sell crockery. It woudl certainly be an easy to to get rid of the lower end stuff. I have sold a few bits through gumtree that might be worth a go as well.

Herzlos

No antique centres nearby that would either buy them (at a trade price, admittedly) or put them on consignment?

Your best bet is probably an auction house - they should be able to value them too and let you know if it's worth auctioning.

cashferret

Thanks for the replies - I think there are quite a lot of pieces and I don't think any of us would want the hassle of a load of people coming to the house to pick them up - plus photographing and listing such a lot would be a massive pain. Really don't want to go the Ebay/online route (we're not on FB). We'd like to take the whole lot somewhere in the car.

There's no longer an auction house near my mum but we might be able to get the stuff to one. There's also an antiques centre about 30 miles away.

cashferret

Yes, get your coat, HornetSaver!

[Deleted User]

If you went to the antiques centre when a lot of individual traders are replenishing their stock you'll get advice on values and someone may make you a good offer. At my nearest antiques centre the cabinet holders don't spend much time there, they have everything priced up and the counter staff do the selling on their behalf. When I wanted to sell something once I happened to be there on a day when lots of cabinet holders were there and I was happy with the advice they gave me and the money I received for the items I sold. But phone the centre first to see when the sellers are most likely to be there. Alternately, they might sell them on consignment but you'd have to price them first and you seem to suggest you aren't too sure of their value.

Also, my local auction house has a valuation session every Friday morning when they'll value your items free. It's with the hope of you letting them auction them but you don't have to! They'll also let you know whether they would sell better in lots or individually.

Bewars of traders who put ads for collectables in the local papers. They'll call round and offer you a pittance:eek:

waltzy

Thanks. I have a few boxes of Gran's old crockery in the garage that I'd love to sell, but it's hard to know what's best. I'll try our local auction house.