Beswick Plate

Q : This platter hung on the kitchen wall in my parents’ house. It’s about 15 1/4 inches across. The mark on the back is a circle with the top word only partially discernable “BESW….” and “ENGLAND” as the bottom word of the circle. Can you tell me its age, if known, as well as […]

Bunnykins: Small but Pricey

Royal Doulton has been one of the biggest names in pottery collecting for more than 100 years. The company’s Bunnykins nursery dishes and figurines have been charming collectors since the 1930s. A recent auction at Lion and Unicorn of Hollywood, Florida, had five rare Bunnykins figurines. Prototypes and different colorways of Bunnykins can bring significantly […]

Kovels On Antiques & Collectibles Vol. 48 No. 8 – April 2022

Handel Lamps … Baseball Memorabilia … Steiff Animal Toys & Tags … Royal Doulton Bunnykins … Modern Furniture …  Fake Fenton … Collector’s Gallery … Prices    

6 Collectibles NOT to Collect Anymore

Collectors want two things: to treasure items that make them happy and, if they are lucky, to collect something right before it becomes a super-hot collectible. What should be the No. 1 reason for starting a collection? Find stuff you love. Keep it. Display it. Love it. Sometimes, though, collectors go awry and buy things […]

Collectors Love Their Royal Memorabilia

When someone famous—or royal—passes away, collectibles, autographs and items related to their lives rise in value. The passing last week of Prince Philip at age 99 caused us to look at royal collectibles related to Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh, and Queen Elizabeth II. Generally speaking, souvenirs from royal marriages, births and deaths are […]

What’s In and What’s Out? Terry Kovel Knows

What are the top collectible trends of 2020? The top collectible is almost-new, limited-edition sneakers autographed by an important player or worn in a special game. While sneakers are tops, here are our personal Top 5 “In” collectibles for 2020, based on auction prices and decorating trends. And while we are at it, we will […]

Ridgway 1792

Q: I have a Ridgway Ironstone Meadowsweet plate  marked “Est. 1792” on the back. I note you say Ridgway started in 1808. Is this a fake? When was this plate made? Is it collectible? A: There were several different Ridgway potteries in Staffordshire, England, run by different members of the Ridgway family. Potteries often like […]

Dating Dinnerware by Pattern, Color and Shape

Dishes are often designed in the newest styles to go with other new household furnishings. After a little study, it is possible to determine the approximate age of a dish by its shape, colors, and pattern. Decorations like Mexican scenes, abstract designs, the type of border, the flowers pictured, or even the lack of a […]

Minton

Thomas Minton, after working for other potters, started his own firm in Stoke-on-Trent in 1793. The family business made a wide variety of tablewares and decorative pieces. By 1846 it was making Parian ware, and later it made majolica, tiles, bone china, and art pottery. From 1873 to about 1912, the name on the mark […]