Many people fortunate enough to find a piece of American Belleek are curious about the value. They want to know how much it is worth and where they can sell it. See the following tips on identifying the American Belleek maker and where to find how much different items sell for.
How to know what you have
Kovels’ New Dictionary of Marks contains a picture and description of many Americal Belleek marks. The Kovels web site has a list of pottery marks. A subscription is required to see the details about a mark such as the maker and place of origin. The list is organized by what the mark looks like (such as “crown”), so use the search box and type in “belleek” to get a list.
The web site cuppatea.com has a list of American Belleek marks and approximate dates.
Do your research
The three web sites offering the most American Belleek for sale are eBay, liveauctioneers, and RubyLane.
eBay: offers items in auction and buy it now format. The best research is to log in and see what items actually sold for. Don’t be mislead by what people are asking; some prices are realistic, some are overly optimistic. This link is for a search for all Belleek auctions.
liveauctioneers: they are a venue for other auction houses. An account is needed to log in to see what items have sold for. Unlike some other auction web sites, an account is free and provides tons of useful data. This link is for a search for all Belleek auctions.
RubyLane: items are offered in buy it now format, with some accepting alternate offers. Sometimes you can see what items sold for, sometimes not. Generally, asking prices are higher but if you search for American Belleek you will see many sold items. This link is for a search of Belleek items on RubyLane.
How to get an appraisal
If your research is not satisfying and you want a professional appraisal, try Kovels list of appraisers to find someone in your area.
If you are serious about selling your item, liveauctioneers provides a form where you provide details and a picture of your item. They will provide information about auction houses that specialize in pottery/china and that can provide estimates.
Where to sell your American Belleek
If you post it on Craigslist, then you don’t need to worry about mailing fragile items. Also, no fees! The downside is that you might not find a local collector. Due to the nationwide nature of Craigslist, this link takes you to the main page. From there select your area and start an account to start selling.
Next would be eBay. Read through similar items to get an idea on how to list. Ebay typically has 150 to 250 American Belleek listings at any given time.
Special Tip: Use this keyword string to find American Belleek on eBay:
belleek (american, perlee, cac, willets, lenox, gordon, coxon, morgan, american, ott, evans, california)
Some of the auction houses at liveauctioneers.com have sold Belleek items at good prices. I haven’t sold there but I did purchase an Ott & Brewer teacup and saucer in a Belleek auction run by Belhorn Auction Services. It was a very smooth transaction.
RubyLane requires an account and charges a significant fee. It is not appropriate for a one-time sale. But if you are building an on-line business, it is worth a look.
If selling online or at an auction house, be sure to include the related selling and shipping fees in your calculations.
When selling American Belleek be patient and be realistic. It might take a while for the right buyer to find your item. Set a reasonable asking price. Or, keep these beautiful pieces of American history in your family and enjoy.
Sources
CuppaTea China and Collectibles, http://www.cuppateacollectibles.com/americanbelleek.html, American Belleek Marks
Kovels Antiques and Collectibles, http://www.kovels.com/Marks/Pottery-Porcelain.html, list of pottery marks
Kovels Antiques and Collectibles, http://www.kovels.com/514/Appraisal-Services/Pottery-Porcelain.html, list of appraisers
eBay, http://shop.ebay.com/i.html?rt=nc&LH;_Auction=1&_nkw=belleek&_trksid=p3286.c0.m301, all Belleek auctions
liveauctioneers, http://www.liveauctioneers.com/search?q=belleek&org;=yes, all Belleek auctions
liveauctioneers, http://www.liveauctioneers.com/consignments/, consignment form
Belhorn Auction Services, http://www.belhorn.com, auction house that sells Belleek
RubyLane, http://search.rubylane.com/search?ss=belleek , search for Belleek
Craigslist, http://www.craigslist.org/about/sites
Reference:
- www.associatedcontent.com/article/6054414/best_places_to_find_antique_dinnerware.html
- www.trentonhistory.org/Made/Marks.html
