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Antique Appraisal

An antique appraisal or appraiser valuation will help the collector authenticate an antique item and at the same time put a value on it.

If you own an antique item and wish to know more about it, you can request a knowledgeable collector for an opinion on its authenticity, but this may not necessarily clarify its value.

On the other hand, if you ask an appraiser or antique appraisal service for a valuation, the appraiser will have to clarify authenticity first before putting a value on it.


Even if you have sufficient specialist knowledge to authenticate the antique yourself, it may still be a good idea to ask for an antique appraisal, or even two, if a costly antique is involved.
Why that? Authentication and valuation are not the same. Estimating the price may need much experience and a good database of past sales.

The value of antiques depends on their market demand, which in turn depends on the supply and demand situation for such items, their condition and other factors. A professional appraiser is likely more up-to-date with such information and able to provide a more reliable valuation for you.

Tongzhi bowl

How to get an appraisal

Chinese porcelain appraisals aren't something that about any antique appraiser can handle. Don't go for just any porcelain appraiser either...only an expert on Chinese porcelain will do!

To find an appropriate appraiser in your field you can check with groups like a professional appraisers association or society of appraisers in your area.

You could try to get an informal verbal appraisal at an antiques roadshow or antiques fair. (See also free antique appraisals)
However, a more viable alternative could be an online appraisal. The drawback is that the appraiser cannot inspect the real item, he/she has to rely on pictures (see comments below). But, if the pictures are good, there is a good chance that you have an idea what you got in hand afterwards.
An online appraisal costs much less and when you are more certain what you actually may have, it is easier to decide on a more costly professional appraisal.

Do's and dont's when requesting an appraisal

Be careful of unscrupolous appraisers.

  • Ask for a quotation or price for the appraisal beforehand, just to make sure it doesn't add up too much.
  • Don't tell the appraiser you know nothing about the item.
  • If the appraiser offers to buy your item, the estimate given to you might well be lower than its actual worth.

Qianlong plate pattern

Don't forget that an appraisal is never something absolute or final, it is the perception of an individual. Antique prices are determined by the market demand for similar items and the amount a buyer is willing to spend.
It is always better to depend on more than one independent valuation to make sure that the estimate is reasonable, especially if your item could be very valuable.

A professional authentication and valuation by an antique appraiser is also recommendable before you purchase or bid on any antique of considerable value.

Be careful, when it comes to antique Chinese porcelain. An appraiser specialized in Chinese porcelain is needed, not just any porcelain appraiser will do.
Just because someone is expert on European or other porcelain does not mean they also can authenticate Chinese pottery and porcelain. Dealer and collectors involved with Chinese antiques in general (other than porcelain) aren't suitable either. They often know next to nothing about Chinese ceramics.


Antique appraisal online or conventional appraisal?

You can consider an online antique appraisal if you have access to detailed images of the object. This should be easy if you have access to an electronic auction catalog or photographs or, of course, if it is your own item.

One of the few advantages of online antique shops or auctions is the easy access to images of the item in question. These can be used for an online antique appraisal or appraiser opinion which in turn can help you make a quick decision whether to go for it or not.

The use of an online appraisal has its pros and cons, but so does a conventional (offline) appraisal. It all depends on the situation...and your budget.

With Chinese porcelain it is advisable to always get a second opinion before spending a lot of money on expensive antiques, only to detect later that they were fakes.
Every collector, even experts and professionals who may deny this, have been deceived by high-grade fakes at one time or another. Such experiences contribute to the growth of overall specialist knowledge they have.
So, always get a second opinion and if possible a valuation before purchasing any expensive Chinese antiques.




From Antique Appraisal to Authenticating Porcelain

Value of Antiques

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