Noritake China

[Amethyst]

The old clunky stuff is not popular currently. Try pricing good mid-century modern (Danish, etc) though, and your eyes will pop. www.chairish.com

Amethyst,

I was watching a segment on TV a while back reporting that the prices of antiques have come down drastically because younger generations do not want old furniture, etc, and I tend to agree, but I guess there are still plenty of older people who may want older furniture, china, etc.

A friend of mine in his 60s inheritated a nice piece of corner cabinet (solid wood - cherry, no damage or scratches) and told our volleyball circle that has mostly people in their 30s and 40s that they can have it for free, but no takers. It is a very nice cabinet but it has round corners which makes the cabinet look outdated.

 

[Aerides]

There are plenty of anecdotes about people who can't get rid of good furniture...

I think it's human nature to overstate the quality and condition of items we've had in our homes for years.

"This dining set is pristine!" - yeah but it screams 1987, and the cat scratched up one of the legs a bit.

"This sofa has hardly been used!" - but I can see where one side is a bit slumped, and that one time you spilled water on it and it's never been quite the same.

We're about to replace a few things, and I know DH is gonna try to sell some of our olds, whereas I'm not even sure Goodwill will come take them.

 

[Amethyst]

Don't forget, our eyes aren't as sharp as we age, either; unless an eye doctor points it out, we may not notice subtle decline. Tiny veneer chips and fading, that you don't even see, will stand out to your kids.

I think it's human nature to overstate the quality and condition of items we've had in our homes for years.

"This dining set is pristine!" - yeah but it screams 1987, and the cat scratched up one of the legs a bit.

"This sofa has hardly been used!" - but I can see where one side is a bit slumped, and that one time you spilled water on it and it's never been quite the same.

We're about to replace a few things, and I know DH is gonna try to sell some of our olds, whereas I'm not even sure Goodwill will come take them.

 

[John Galt III]

I think 'good' china will sell in the right 'market'. Anecdote ! I was trying to sell a 2004 Mercury Sable car, banged up a bit, but low miles, and ran well. 3 different dealers saw it and offered me $100 max. Said nobody anywhere wants this car. Then I discovered a used car dealer who offered me $750. I almost jumped on that, just to get rid of the thing. But just for kicks I put it on Craigslist. Craigslist had similar cars advertised for $2,300 to $4,000. I thought they must be on drugs, asking that much,they'll end up only getting half the asking price. Cut to the chase: I put it on CL for $2,000. Only had 1 response the first day, from a dealer. The next day I had a dozen responses, when can I see it? Do you still have it? Sold it for $1,800. Probably should have held out for the whole $2,000. Point is : sometimes there is a market for something even if you think ( and all the people around you think it, too) that nobody wants it. They're out there somewhere.

 

[Amethyst]

A low-miles car that (truly) runs well is going to have takers. People don't care if it's pretty, as long as it will get them there. Those dealers who turned you down were nuts, and I'm glad you didn't get discouraged.

Not truly comparable to china, though, which is about 10% about eating off something that isn't the table, and 90% about looks, feel, perception of quality and style.

I was trying to sell a 2004 Mercury Sable car, banged up a bit, but low miles, and ran well. 3 different dealers saw it and offered me $100 max. Said nobody anywhere wants this car. Then I discovered a used car dealer who offered me $750. I almost jumped on that, just to get rid of the thing. But just for kicks I put it on Craigslist. Craigslist had similar cars advertised for $2,300 to $4,000. I thought they must be on drugs, asking that much,they'll end up only getting half the asking price. Cut to the chase: I put it on CL for $2,000. Only had 1 response the first day, from a dealer. The next day I had a dozen responses, when can I see it? Do you still have it? Sold it for $1,800. Probably should have held out for the whole $2,000. Point is : sometimes there is a market for something even if you think ( and all the people around you think it, too) that nobody wants it. They're out there somewhere.

 

[Athermos4u]

DW has a collection of Noritake China inherited from her mom. She's trying to decide whether to attempt to sell it or donate it. Haven't inventoried the pieces but there's enough china to fill 2 good size boxes. Have done some online research and it seems to be Noritake pattern N224, but the mark on the back is a little different from any of the mark's I've seen online (it says "Noritake" above an "M" surrounded in a wreath" with the words "Handpainted" and "Nippon" below) - all in green)

Anyhow, antique stores she's asked say they don't really buy china nowadays because it doesn't sell. We don't really want to deal with packing it all up and shipping it to one of the online services that purchase china. From what we see
online wouldn't get more than a couple of dollars a piece - but there's that nagging feeling that maybe something valuable is in there...

Any suggestions as to the best way to proceed?

These folks buy and sell old china, silver, and stemware. You may want to contact them...

https://www.replacements.com/china/most-popular-patterns?rplSrc=KX&rplSubEvent=1685257&dvc=t&gclid=CjwKCAjwxuuCBhATEiwAIIIz0ai2uEwShvuE83-xLLd_Vv8wbXFbU6c-Exp0LbAeKEjXW6eUvMLu8RoCFVoQAvD_BwE

 

[splitwdw]

I have quite a few sets of antique and newer china and wanted to get rid of a couple sets. We don't have as many dinner parties any more. One of my younger neighbors was complaining that she was going to have to buy new dishes because many of them were broken or chipped as her kids were growing up. I gave her 2 sets, 1 newer set for every day that can be microwaved and dishwasher safe and an antique set for "company".
Why aren't you using your china every day? My parents and grandparents used china all the time. We even had children's sets of china growing up. I never understood saving it for "company".

 

[Amethyst]

I did. That's why I need a new set.

Neither my parents nor I got much in the way of wedding gifts. So, one day early in my second marriage (1986) I went and bought six place settings of Royal Doulton in a pattern called "Rhodes." There are only 3 settings left, and one is chipped.

Meanwhile, "Rhodes" is looking too formal and wishy-washy to me now.These days I want something with more pizzazz. Good pizzazzy china isn't cheap, even used.

I
Why aren't you using your china every day? .

 

[msanniee]

I donated the bulk of my Wedgewood. It was just too much to try and sell it. I did keep the tea and coffee pot, soup tureen, and serving platter. Those match nicely with my new white China. A win-win. I have a few pieces that will carry good memories while the other pieces hopefully found new homes.

 

[splitwdw]

I did. That's why I need a new set.

Neither my parents nor I got much in the way of wedding gifts. So, one day early in my second marriage (1986) I went and bought six place settings of Royal Doulton in a pattern called "Rhodes." There are only 3 settings left, and one is chipped.

Meanwhile, "Rhodes" is looking too formal and wishy-washy to me now.These days I want something with more pizzazz. Good pizzazzy china isn't cheap, even used.

If you need a new set, go find what you want and buy it. It doesn't sound like you are having any luck in the places you are looking for second hand china.

 

[imnontrad]

I have a gorgeous set of china too - and would be lucky if I could sell at the cost that I got them for over 40 years ago.
I looked at selling all to www.replacements.com but I would have to pay shipping - and that would basically eat up anything I would get for the china.
I figure my only alternative would be to sell a piece at a time on eBay for people who have the pattern but need to replace a few pieces.

 

[Amethyst]

Of course. But it does tend to undermine the conventional wisdom that "you can't sell used china."

If you need a new set, go find what you want and buy it. It doesn't sound like you are having any luck in the places you are looking for second hand china.

 

[tb001]

Of course. But it does tend to undermine the conventional wisdom that "you can't sell used china."

Out of curiosity, what are you looking for? Some styles are definitely more in demand than others.

 

[RobbieB]

Yup, no dishwasher, no go. Sold all the silverware for melt. Need a maid to polish your silver.

 

[Retired Expat]

Generally things that were once collectibles for prior generations no longer really are. Real China, Hummel or Boehme porcelain etc. Books, coins, stamps. Collecting is not really a thing anymore like it may have been for some of us or our parents generation. Real furniture unless antiques, and art is a total crap shoot as to whether it will hold it’s value. Inherited some art when my father passed. He had it appraised 40 years ago at low to middle 6 figures. Most auction houses weren’t even interested and it sold for 25k. Art specialist said “Oh yeah, our parents generation were buying that artists work like crazy once they had some money but no one wants it today”. So true.

 

[Sunset]

Even charity stores are picky about the donations. We donated a few boxes of china, various sets of famous names.

Later we were inside the store when they brought out our donation, they had tossed a large portion of them in the garbage, as the tiniest nick, or wear was not acceptable to sell it for $1 a plate
Next time I'll save my effort and just toss them in the garbage

My next door site has a couple of free dining tables available, one is all wood, the other is 8 feet long of thick glass with a marble base. It's amazing to think pretty much everything in our house is worthless.

 

[Amethyst]

It is true; the plates I buy for $1.00 at a thrift store are not chipped. Would you want to buy a chipped plate?

They will not take MDF/veneer furniture, either. Unfortunately, the wood furniture that people are willing to give away these days is awful. Heavy and clunky, or so thin you could punch a hole through it.

The hard part about selling your own furniture on web sites is that many people don't own a truck, and don't want the added expense of renting one to carry your item away.

Even charity stores are picky about the donations. We donated a few boxes of china, various sets of famous names.

Later we were inside the store when they brought out our donation, they had tossed a large portion of them in the garbage, as the tiniest nick, or wear was not acceptable to sell it for $1 a plate

My next door site has a couple of free dining tables available, one is all wood, the other is 8 feet long of thick glass with a marble base. It's amazing to think pretty much everything in our house is worthless.

 

[AnneG]

I had a really nice set of china - replacements.com was selling dinner plates for $10 each and I had a lot of the serving pieces that were selling in the $20-$35 range. I tried putting them on eBay at $5 each with the seller paying shipping and got zero bids. I ended up offering them up on my Buy Nothing Facebook group and gave them away to a young person who had just inherited a nice china cabinet and wanted to fill it. I got more out of the satisfaction of seeing them go to someone who was excited about them than if I had received some (relatively) small sum of money for them.

 

[Amethyst]

Dishwasher and MW safe, to begin with, which rules out a lot of older styles (metal decoration). Metal decoration is beautiful, but...impractical.

Bold, colorful, art on a plate. Flowers, birds, seashells, abstract...I like Asian designs, but am not wedded to them. No dainty delicate little flowers or frilly edges.

Out of curiosity, what are you looking for? Some styles are definitely more in demand than others.

 

[Teacher Terry]

Our thrift stores have complete sets of china. They won’t take China cabinets. Many of our antique stores went out of business before the pandemic.

 

[Jamie1101]

N224 is my china

in the early 1980's I purchased a full set of 12 place settings & serving pieces in this pattern from my elderly neighbors house sale for $150.00. His family only used it on the major holidays and it had never been in an automatic dishwasher which is murder on the outer gold band. I use this china every day and have been able to replace broken and chipped pieces through E-bay very cheaply. Use the stuff and enjoy it... sadly like so many antiques there is little to no damand hence the value is quite low from a sellers standpoint...

 

[themillerman]

I'd have to agree with everyone else here. My mother and my aunt had sets of china that I assume they purchased at a significant price but I have found zero interest by anyone wanting to take it off my hands.

Also have a ton of vinyl albums my father had with about the same situation. As someone else has also mentioned, the supply far outweighs the demand and the current generations and certainly future generations will have less and less interest in that kind of antique item.

 

[John Galt III]

I'm surprised that cheap everyday china plates sell for as much as $1 each. Yes, that's what they go for at my Goodwill store. I would have thought with the zero interest in good china, that the generic stuff would be really cheap, like 10 cents a plate. But I would be wrong, lol. I suppose the thinking is 'No, I don't want the expensive stuff I have to worry about and never use, just give me the cheap stuff, I'll pay anything for it!"

 

[Amethyst]

As an experienced thrift shopper - starting back when I needed to shop there - I can say that the thinking is more along the lines of "I'll pay a dollar for somebody's pretty used plate, which will brighten up my family's dreary table, instead of cheap plastic plates from the dollar store that will break."

I'm surprised that cheap everyday china plates sell for as much as $1 each. Yes, that's what they go for at my Goodwill store. I would have thought with the zero interest in good china, that the generic stuff would be really cheap, like 10 cents a plate. But I would be wrong, lol. I suppose the thinking is 'No, I don't want the expensive stuff I have to worry about and never use, just give me the cheap stuff, I'll pay anything for it!"

 

[John Galt III]

I'd have to agree with everyone else here. My mother and my aunt had sets of china that I assume they purchased at a significant price but I have found zero interest by anyone wanting to take it off my hands.

Also have a ton of vinyl albums my father had with about the same situation. As someone else has also mentioned, the supply far outweighs the demand and the current generations and certainly future generations will have less and less interest in that kind of antique item.

I see rock albums from 60's thru 90's for sale on Ebay, often for $10 or so, plus shipping. Not sure if anyone is buying them, though. I sell all genre of albums at a flea market, for $1 each. I sell about 20 per year. All of them at least 30 years old. I have hundreds still at home, which are not for sale, since I still play them. I am fascinated by what item will sell where and for how much.