
Chinese porcelain can be found everywhere from car boot sales to Christie’s auctions – but how much is your piece really worth? Whether you’ve inherited a collection or simply picked up an interesting vase at a charity shop, understanding where your porcelain sits in the market can be bewildering.
Mark Littler Ltd has valued thousands of pieces of Chinese porcelain over the years, from modest Republic period bowls to important imperial wares. Drawing on this experience, we’ve created a straightforward guide to help you understand the broad price brackets in today’s market.
This guide walks you through each price level, explaining what you might typically find and why pieces command their respective values. While every piece tells its own story – and there are always fascinating exceptions – these guidelines will help you better understand the complex world of Chinese porcelain.
If you’d like a professional valuation of your Chinese porcelain, our team provides free initial assessments – simply get in touch with clear photographs of your piece.
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A Note About Value
Before exploring these price brackets, it’s important to understand that valuing Chinese porcelain isn’t always straightforward. While this guide offers general guidelines, there are always exceptions that can dramatically affect value in either direction.
For instance, a genuine Ming dynasty shard might sell for under £100, while a seemingly modest Republican period vase could fetch tens of thousands if it bears a rare artist’s mark. Damage significantly impacts value – a crack or restoration can reduce a £50,000 piece to under £1,000. Conversely, an apparently ordinary bowl might turn out to be an imperial piece worth far more than its initial appearance suggests.
Market trends also play a crucial role. Tastes change, new discoveries emerge, and previously overlooked periods or styles can suddenly become highly sought after. The key is to treat these price brackets as a starting point rather than definitive values. When in doubt, always seek expert opinion – even specialists are occasionally surprised by what crosses their path.
£0-£100: The Entry Level
This price bracket represents the majority of Chinese porcelain pieces available today, primarily consisting of items made from the mid-20th century onwards. These pieces are commonly found in charity shops, car boot sales and general antique markets.
Typically, you’ll find blue and white vases, ginger jars and plates decorated with traditional motifs like dragons and landscapes. While most items are recent productions, some damaged antique pieces might appear in this range, so if your piece seems particularly well-made, consider getting a specialist opinion.
£100-£500: The Decorative Antique Range
This bracket typically includes Chinese porcelain from the late 19th and early 20th centuries, particularly pieces from the Republic period (1912-1949). You’ll find better quality famille rose pieces, good condition tea bowls, and plates with careful hand-painted decoration.
Items in this range often show signs of age like minor wear to bases or slight crazing to glazes. This price range represents about 30% of the antique Chinese porcelain market and offers good opportunities for new collectors.
£500-£2,000: The Quality Antique Bracket
Here we find pieces typically dating from the mid to late Qing Dynasty (1800-1911), including well-painted famille verte plates, good quality blue and white vases, and finely decorated bowls. Many pieces will show the skilled brushwork and technical excellence that Chinese porcelain is famous for.
At this level, you can expect refined potting, careful glazing, and pieces that ‘ring’ when gently tapped. Decoration should be crisp and detailed, often featuring intricate patterns or scenes from Chinese literature. This segment represents about 15% of antique Chinese porcelain sales and attracts serious collectors.
£2,000-£10,000: The Important Pieces
This bracket marks a significant step up in both quality and historical importance. Here you’ll find genuine 18th century pieces from the Qianlong and Jiaqing periods. The porcelain body should be of exceptionally high quality with a pure white tone, and decoration will show remarkable skill through sophisticated enamels and precise painting.
These pieces make up just 5% of the market and usually appear at specialist auctions or high-end dealers. Professional authentication becomes essential at this level.
£10,000-£50,000: The Connoisseur’s Domain
Here we enter truly rarefied territory – genuine imperial quality porcelain, primarily from the Kangxi to Qianlong periods (1662-1795). These pieces demonstrate exceptional artistry through perfect proportions, superior materials, and masterful technique.
Representing less than 1% of the market, these pieces typically emerge from established collections and are sold through major auction houses. Each requires extensive documentation and authentication.
£50,000+: Museum Quality Masterpieces
The absolute pinnacle of Chinese porcelain collecting. These pieces possess such historical importance and artistic merit that they often feature in major museum exhibitions. Many have been published in scholarly works and have ownership histories stretching back generations.
Less than 0.1% of Chinese porcelain reaches this level, appearing almost exclusively at major international auctions. Some regularly achieve prices in the millions, particularly those with imperial connections or exceptional rarity.
The Journey from Identification to Value
While this guide provides a framework for understanding Chinese porcelain values, each piece tells its own unique story. The market remains dynamic, with new discoveries and changing tastes constantly influencing values. What appears modest might be extraordinary, while apparent treasures sometimes prove less valuable than hoped.
This complexity is precisely why professional valuation remains crucial. At Mark Littler Ltd, we offer free initial assessments for Chinese porcelain. Simply send us clear photographs of your piece, including any marks on the base, and our team will help you understand its place in the market.
Whether you’re looking to sell, insure, or simply learn more about your Chinese porcelain, we’re here to help. Contact us today for a professional, no-obligation valuation of your piece.