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 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 …

Read more

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 …

Read more

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 …

Read more

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 …

Read more

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 …

Read more

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 …

Read more

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 …

Read more

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 …

Read more

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, …

Read more

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 …

Read more

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 …

Read more

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 …

Read more

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 …

Read more

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, …

Read more

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 …

Read more

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 …

Read more

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 …

Read more

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 …

Read more

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 …

Read more

Wedgwood Fairyland Lustre from Daisy Makeig-Jones

In 1916, while the world was gripped by war, a Yorkshire doctor’s daughter named Daisy Makeig-Jones was creating fantasy worlds filled with dancing elves and mystical creatures. Her Wedgwood Fairyland Lustre pieces now command £800 to £50,000+ at auction, making them among the most sought-after ceramics of the 20th century. A Wedgwood Flame Fairyland lustre …

Read more

Is Now a Good Time to Sell Your Moorcroft at Auction?

William Moorcroft rare Carp vase

Moorcroft pottery is a name that’s synonymous with quality and distinctive style. Highly prized by collectors since the 1800s and still exceptionally popular today, you’ll find Moorcroft at auction in 90% of our sales. So when, after more than 100 years in business, Moorcroft Pottery announced that it would cease trading earlier this year, we …

Read more

Arthur Holland: The Life and Craft of a Minton Master 

Potteries Auctions is delighted to bring a collection of works by Arthur Holland, a renowned Minton artist, to auction. The collection was consigned by the grandchildren of Holland.  Arthur Holland’s youngest son had three children, Catherine, Thomas, and Mary. They lived near their grandfather in Penkhull, Stoke-on-Trent, in the 1970s. Each inherited his hand-painted china …

Read more

Who Was Susie Cooper? History of a Potter

When it comes to British pottery, few names shine as brightly as Susie Cooper. A pioneer in ceramic design whose career spanned more than seven decades, Cooper’s work bridged the gap between the traditional and the modern. Bringing colour, elegance and functionality into the homes of thousands, Susie Cooper pottery remains a symbol of The …

Read more

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