Houston House and Home - Index

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50
ABOVE: The combination of a trapezoidal shape combined with circular
shapes is quite unusual for this Imari platter and was designed to appeal
to a collector who already possessed plates, chargers and bowls. Photo
courtesy Carl Moore Antiques
BELOW: From Memorial Antiques & Interiors, porcelain equestrian
figure, Staffordshire, circa 1870
house& home | February 2009 | house andhomeonline.com
ANTIQUE PORCELAIN, DEFINED
The general definition of an antique in the United States is any item more
than 100 years old. Westergaard points out, though, that serious collectors
in Europe make a distinction for porcelain pieces made before about 1830.
“This is when the real fruits of the industrial revolution took hold and
things were being made by machine, rather than by hand,” he says. “Before
then, porcelain was shaped, fired and painted by hand.”
To verify authenticity, look for artisan markings. The crossed swords
used by Meissen came into usage in 1720, for example. A general rule of
thumb is to shine a light through the porcelain. “French porcelain tends
to be yellowish. English is white and translucent,” says Lindy Vickers,
owner of Period Style Antiques. Vickers also suggests turning to experts
to authenticate pieces.
calling all collectors
Tips from the experts on starting an antique porcelain collection:
• Rachel Bley at LR Antiques says, “Figure out what appeals to you. Porcelain
is used in everything around us — even building materials.” She offers
Portuguese porcelain finials made in the mid-1800s in the shapes of birds
and pineapples.
• David Lackey believes if you collect porcelain, you should live with it. “Very
few people buy porcelain pieces and store them away,” he says. “A collection
should fit into your life.”
• Geoffrey Westergaard of Carl Moore Antiques encourages collectors to
touch the pieces. “The feel of porcelain is very different from era to era,” he
says. “You really need to hold a piece, look at it from all sides.”