Is Granny’s old dinner set worth a fortune – or can you finally bin it? Auctioneers say these are the antique crockery pieces that will dish up thousands of pounds

Anyone set to inherit Granny’s finest Royal Doulton dining set may not be about to come into quite the windfall they had once hoped for. Buyers are scarce – instead opting for the throwaway culture of cheap sets.

Vintage dinner services were already growing out of favour. Families choosing casual meals in front of the TV over sitting at the table with nice crockery, and preferring to sue the dishwasher over doing the plates by hand. 

But the explosion of expensive-looking but dirt-cheap crockery available from online retailers such as China-based Temu and TikTok Shop could prove the final nail in the coffin for traditional dinner services.

Last week Fiskars, the maker of Wedgwood, revealed plans to halt production at its Barlaston factory for 90 days as demand has dropped. 

A sad day for the brand that has adorned tables from Buckingham Palace to the White House since it was founded by Josiah Wedgwood in 1759 at his workshop in Staffordshire. 

The announcement comes just months after Moorcroft Pottery in Stoke-on-Trent entered liquidation, before last week being rescued by the founder’s grandson.

Such is the decline in demand that there are reports of charity shops refusing to accept crockery sets, insisting they just won’t sell.

A Sèvres large part dinner service, circa 1792-93, sold at auction at Bonhams for nearly £50,000 in 2022

Mark Hill, of Mark Hill Auctions and an expert on TV’s Antiques Roadshow, says: ‘These sets are languishing at excellent value at the moment – you can go to Ikea and pick up a dinner set and it would cost you more.

‘But I think more people are starting to look again at items that bring warmth, comfort and nostalgia. It is early days, but the green shoots of recovery are there.’

So should that old tea set that has been gathering dust be consigned to the nearest skip or is it worth holding on to?

WHAT’S IT WORTH?

There is no typical size of dinner service – they often range from 16 to 24 pieces, but sets can be much larger if they include additional items such as a butter dish, tureen or serving platters.

There is also no standard design. Colours, patterns, themes and shapes will depend on the designer and year it was created.

Household names include Royal Doulton, Wedgwood, Royal Albert, Royal Worcester and Minton. These are among the brands Andrew Ewbank, a partner at Ewbank’s Auctioneers, sees at auction or being brought in for valuation most frequently.

Sticking with these major names can be a good strategy for anyone coveting a set, because it means any item will be easier to replace if it is lost or broken – however, being common can also affect the value of an item.

But that is not the only thing to consider, says Mike Garside, owner of Vintage Farmhouse Antiques: ‘These days, people want items that can go through the dishwasher and microwave, and that rules out a lot of antique sets.’

Joseph Clementson Pekin Staffordshire china serving plate, circa 1830-1860

Anything with gilt or platinum detailing on the rim, for example, is not practical for such use.

Pastoral and woodland scenes in red and white or blue and white are on trend, says Garside, but highly decorated Royal Doulton and Worcester designs are out.

Royal Doulton sets that sold for the equivalent of £1,000 in the 1960s and 1970s are now going for £50 at auction.

‘Their use is fairly limited outside of high-end dinner parties, which few people host these days,’ says Garside. ‘People increasingly want practical items that can be used day-to-day.’

These buyers should look for ironstone china – pottery developed in the 19th century. He rates brands including Broadhurst, Spode and Johnson Brothers.

‘Seaforth is a mark that gets people excited. They are of a Georgian or Victoriana style, but were made in the mid-20th century so are modern and robust,’ he adds.

Older pieces, made from the 1890s through to the First World War, remain popular. Look out for Ridgway Blue pieces, says Garside. ‘They are rare, and many of the items that remain are in poor condition, so if you find a good one they are worth a lot.’

He estimates that plates from the brand made in the 1820s to 1840s can fetch £60 to £120.

And there are still sets that fetch significant sums.

Ewbank recently sold a part set of Royal Crown Derby in a Gold Aves pattern at auction for £5,200, while a Spode dinner service went for £1,524. ‘The former highlights the importance of a rare pattern, and the latter the significance of good condition,’ he says.

Dan Hatfield, expert valuer, says that it would be foolish to write off Wedgwood (Wonderlust Jasmine Bloom Teacup and Saucer) – he foresees a resurgence in the next decade

HOW TO BUY AND SELL 

Those in the market to buy should look for pieces with a good shine and the glaze in top-notch condition.

Don’t think you need to stick to buying a full set – individual pieces can often be easier to sell on because people frequently need replacements. Besides, many people lack the space at home for a full set – another factor that has led to their decline.

So-called Harlequin sets are also a growing trend, where collectors mix and match from different designers and patterns to create their own unique set.

You can use artificial intelligence tools such as ChatGPT to find out more about the history of a set. It should be able to help pin down the name of the designer, the year it was made and a valuation.

You can input a description into the AI tool on your smartphone (it can be downloaded as an app) – or take a picture of it – and ask it to tell you about its history. Answers can be flawed, so you should take them with a pinch of salt, but it can be a good starting place.

You can also access market auction databases to see how much similar items have sold for and contact a local auction house for advice. ‘Most offer free valuations, so you have nothing to lose in asking,’ Ewbank says.

Be wary of using eBay to gauge the value of an item – there is no guarantee that a lot will sell for its listed price, so search for ‘sold items’ for a better idea. This will tell you what items actually went for, rather than the speculative price that sellers are hoping for.

Garside adds: ‘You might find something for £1 in a charity shop, but if you can find the context, and the item’s back story – who produced it, where and when – it could be worth £600.’

Online marketplaces such as eBay and Etsy can be a great place to buy and sell lower-value sets, but watch out for shipping – if possible, it’s best to arrange collection to avoid high costs and potential damage. For rarer patterns and sets, Ewbank recommends going to an auction.

Above all, pick something you love, says Hill. ‘These things were made to be used. Trends are cyclical and change over time, so pick something that shouts the style you want.’

DON’T BIN WEDGWOOD

Dan Hatfield, expert valuer, says that it would be foolish to write off Wedgwood – he foresees a resurgence in the next decade.

‘While Wedgwood is enduring difficult times at present, I believe better days lie ahead for this national treasure,’ he says.

‘While these sets may not feel fashionable, many of us are throwing them away. And in doing so, we’re not only missing the chance to make money in the future, we’re also filling up landfills.

‘In years to come, this attrition will make Wedgwood items rarer, and thus more valuable.’