Have you recently inherited or purchased bone china and want to know its value? Mearto provides quick and affordable online appraisals of bone china. All you have to do is click on the “Start Appraisal” button above and follow the steps to send us information about and images of your bone china. One of our qualified and experienced specialists will review and get back to you with a fair market and insurance value, typically within 48 hours. Have questions about the valuation provided, or would you like some advice about selling your bone china? We are here to help! Our platform allows you to chat back and forth with a specialist to ensure that all of your questions are answered.
Click the "Get Started" button below to set up a free account.
Answer a few simple questions and upload images of your item.
Receive a specialist's valuation by email in 24 to 48 hours.
Get help with the next steps, including consignment and sale.
Bone China was invented in East London in 1794. It is recognized as the highest-grade porcelain in the world. Bone china is composed of bone ash, feldspathic material, and kaolin. In nature, calcium oxide does not come from many sources, so people choose animal bone powder as the source of calcium oxide. Bone china can be verified when 25% bone powder is added into raw material. However, Bone China with 45% to 51% bone powder content is the best texture, and bovine bone is the first choice. Bone china is the most solid porcelain with high mechanical, physical strength and shatter resistance, known for its high whiteness and transparency. Its tensile strength makes it thinner than other types of porcelain.
Bone China has long been the exclusive porcelain of the British royal family and nobility. Bone China is the only high-grade porcelain that is recognized in the world. It is equally useful and beautiful, so it is known as the king of porcelain and remains a symbol of wealth and status. Bone china is produced only in Britain, China, Japan, Germany, Russia and Thailand because of its complicated technology, exquisite materials and narrow firing range.
Bone china is often warm milk white with a delicate texture. Generally speaking, porcelain containing 25% bone powder of herbivores (such as cattle and sheep) can be called bone china. However, according to international standards, good-quality bone china should contain more than 40% bone powder, while high-grade bone china will contain more than 45% bone powder.
Some additional factors to take into consideration include:
Royal Doulton was founded in England in 1815. With a history of 200 years, Royal Doulton is currently the world's largest manufacturer and distributor of excellent ceramic dining and gift products. It was praised by Queen Victoria as " the most beautiful porcelain maker in the world." It has accounted for 40% of the world's famous bone china production. Royal Doulton Bone China has a special visual cleanliness. It adds 50% of the 3-year-old bull bone meal in the high-temperature firing process, so it is exquisite. The Laozhen rose series is Princess Diana's favorite and one of the best-selling bone china sets of all time. Moreover, the quality of Royal Doulton's bone china is guaranteed. According to the company, four bone china cups can carry the weight of a motorcycle.
Wedgwood, first incorporated in 1895 as Josiah Wedgwood and Sons Ltd, is a fine china, porcelain, and luxury accessories manufacturer that was founded on 1 May 1759 by the English potter and entrepreneur Josiah Wedgwood. Because it is royal porcelain, Wedgwood's works are mostly arc-shaped, round and delicate, with gold or silver metal edges to outline the objects. The sides are painted with thick colors, or decorated with light and elegant small flowers or fruit patterns.
Royal Copenhagen, officially the Royal Porcelain Factory, is a Danish manufacturer of porcelain products, founded in Copenhagen in 1775 under the protection of Danish Dowager Queen Juliane Marie. The products combine traditional Nordic handicraft with Oriental porcelain painting style. Due to the accurate painting of natural plants, elegant color and superb techniques, the classic "Danish flowers" have also become a national treasure in Denmark.
Mearto offers two opportunities to sell your bone china based on its current fair market value:
Customers with bone china expected to sell for $5,000 or more can take advantage of our complimentary Consignment Concierge service. We will contact leading auction houses on your behalf, collect offers and help you negotiate the terms of a consignment agreement. There is no additional fee or commission for this service.
For customers with bone china valued between $50 and $5,000, Mearto offers an exclusive Marketplace, which is accessed by a number of art, antiques and collectibles dealers around the world. If there is interest in your item, you will be contacted directly with offers through our platform. In the event of a successful sale, Mearto takes a 7% transaction fee.
To learn more about options for selling your bone china through Mearto, please click here.
Lindsey Bourret is the Managing Director at Mearto. In addition to overseeing the daily operations of the business, she also enjoys sharing her extensive knowledge of the fine art and antiques market with our customers through our website, blog, e-newsletter and social media accounts.