Good Buy Friday: China Sets

Could your table use a little more panache?
photo courtesy of Carolyne Roehm

Your good china...at least you thought it was. Now, you're no longer so crazy about it--the pattern clashes with your wallpaper, and not in an eclectically chic way. Or maybe you never got a good set to begin with: you had other priorities then, but now? Well, that plain earthenware is looking a little, um...plain. Or perhaps you've used your good china so often it could stand a little refreshing: especially after that mishap where--whoops!-- three plates quickly became a safety hazard.

Five different flowers in this set of ten. At auction in Detroit on June 11th,
estimate $100-200.

There are lots of reasons you may want to pick up some new porcelain, but there is only one place where you should: at auction, of course! China sets are a steal at auction. For $100-200 you could end up with a slew of beautiful new plates--and a fun story to tell of how you hunted them down.

Gold plates play so nicely with almost any pattern...and look so
pretty in candlelight. Set of eight, above, at auction in Boston on June 16th,
estimate $200-350. 

Set of sixteen Minton dinner plates, circa 1925,

estimate $300-500, at auction in Detroit, June 11th.

Your strategy for buying china at auction will vary, depending on whether or not you are searching for a specific pattern. If you are, the simplest thing to do is to sign up with LiveAuctioneers and create an alert. Note that LiveAuctioneers has two similar sounding things available to you in the member dashboard:  "Saved Search Terms" and "Alerts." You want the latter, because with the "Alert," you enter the search term and you will receive a daily email if and only if that alert activates. Easy. You can also create alerts on AuctionZip and individual websites, such as Christie's or Doyle.

This Christian Dior set of "Malachite" is perfect for holiday parties,
at auction in Michigan on June 23rd, estimate $300-500.

If you're just looking for a pretty set, you can still set up an alert, just make it general: "porcelain set," "china plates," "Yale plates," or "Limoges porcelain," all work quite nicely. 

This "Cairo" pattern looks so promising. I'd either request additional photos, or search online for a better picture of the pattern, to be certain. 122 pieces, at auction June 11th in St. Louis,estimate $500-700.

Perfect for a summer soiree...12 Rosenthal porcelain plates,
at auction June 15th in Pennsylvania, estimate $100-200.

A few other tips:

Don't feel compelled to think local. Most auction houses work with very reputable shippers who are good at packing, and will happily supply you with their contact information. It might take several boxes to safely wrap a set of china and send it across the country, but it can be done--and you'll still be money ahead. If you buy local, you can save the shipping but you'll pay the sales tax, so there are plusses and minuses to each option.

Set of 12 elegant  and pretty Coalport plates,
at auction in MA on June 30th, estimate $100-200.

Don't worry if you don't want all of it. Old porcelain tends to come with itty bitty tea cups and other items that might now wow you. So? If you like most of the set, get it anyway. If you can't find a creative use for those porcelain bits--paper clip holders, jewelry repositories--just donate the parts you don't want to your local Salvation Army or similar. You'll still be money ahead and you won't waste precious storage space.

There are only 7 of these Minton plates, originally retailed  by Tiffany & Co...
bound to result in a good deal for you and perfect for mixing with other patterns.
At auction in Florida on June 25th, estimate $400-600.

Don't worry if it's not a complete set. Mixing and matching can be fun and can really look quite beautiful, so take some chances. If it doesn't work out, well, you might just have your next shower gift ready to go!

This sweet set of six bowls and six plates of Ironstone would be so pretty for a summer
lunch. At auction in Pennsylvania on June 24th, estimate $20-30!

Don't be put off by high estimates. Generalizing can be dangerous, of course, but, on average, I feel like most china sets sell toward the low end of the estimate range, and often just hit the minimum. 

I've always loved this Herend pattern, Chinese Bouquet. This pattern retails for a
$425 a place setting.  The estimate for 52 pieces  is $1,500-2,500. Will it go
even lower? At auction June 23rd in New Jersey.

Don't limit these plates to dinner parties. China looks great in unexpected places: the bedroom, the bathroom. Some inspiration, below--and some leading candidates too--because some plates are just too pretty to stow.

Mary McDonald shows how plates on the wall
can be anything but little old lady.

A pleasing arrangement of plates draws the eye up in a
 bedroom designed by Anne-Marie Midy and Jorge Almada,
courtesy of Elle Decor.

I could see these pretty birds on a bedroom wall as well.
At auction June 15th in PA, estimate $200-400. These gorgeous
aqua plates, circa 1930, below, are simply meant to be seen. At auction in Detroit
on June 11th, estimate, $300-500.

Miles Redd layers pattern on pattern-- and plate on bracket--to create

a charming and cozy bedroom.