No one item is more misunderstood than porcelain
figurines. The trouble starts I suppose from the fact
that certain styles have been reproduced since
European porcelain was made for the first time
early in the 18th Century.

Often we see pieces our clients are sure must be 200 years old because they resemble pieces seen on television or in antique price guides. In many cases the truth age of these pieces can be determined by the company markings on them, but in some cases manufacturers used paper labels which have long since disappeared or the stamped marks too obscured to read.

This is where the appraisers past experience from
examining both modern and original pieces comes
into play. To properly identify unmarked pieces an
appraiser first works much like a detective,
examining the piece for clues, checking things like
construction methods, glaze colours, and materials
used only during certain time periods and companies.

After a time of manufacture is determined the more
difficult job of identifying a possible maker is the next
step. This is accomplished by comparing the piece
in question to similar items produced by known
companies, based on the appraisers past experience,
auction catalogues and specialized reference sources.