Blue Jasperware, matt Black Basalt, cream-coloured Queen's Ware or fine bone china — each Wedgwood body has its own market. We identify the body and the backstamp, then assess the form, decoration and condition.
Single pieces, part-services or whole collections. Written valuation. Free insured postage. Paid in 72 hours.
With ceramics and glass we are principally interested in larger, worthwhile collections rather than single pieces. Because they are fragile, please don't post anything straight away — contact us first and email several photographs: a few overall shots of the whole collection plus close-ups of any maker's marks, signatures or damage. We'll then advise on the safest way to pack and send, and for larger or more valuable collections we can often arrange to collect in person.
Wedgwood was founded by Josiah Wedgwood in Staffordshire in 1759 and developed several distinctive ceramic bodies that still define the name. Identifying which body a piece is made from is the first step in valuing it, because each has its own collectors and its own range of desirable forms and decoration.
The famous matt stoneware with applied white relief, most familiar in pale blue but also made in green, lilac, black and rarer multi-colour combinations. Classical figures and cameo-style decoration are typical; relief quality and colour both matter.
A fine black stoneware used for busts, vases, medallions and tea wares, with a smooth matt surface. Crisp modelling and undamaged edges are important, as the unglazed body shows chips and wear readily.
The cream-coloured earthenware that made Wedgwood's early reputation, used for tablewares and decorative pieces. Later transfer-printed and hand-decorated services fall here; pattern, completeness and condition drive the assessment.
Fine bone china tablewares and giftware, plus decorative lustre lines. The Fairyland Lustre designed by Daisy Makeig-Jones is especially sought after; pattern, form and condition of the lustre and gilding are assessed closely.
Most Wedgwood is marked, and the mark — together with the body and decoration — helps place a piece in its period. You do not need to decode anything yourself; a clear photograph of the base is enough.
| On the base | What it can indicate |
|---|---|
| Impressed WEDGWOOD | An impressed (pressed-in) upper-case mark is typical of much genuine Wedgwood. The exact style helps place the period. |
| Printed marks | Printed marks, often with device or urn symbols, appear on later wares and can carry the word England or Made in England, which helps with dating. |
| Date and pattern codes | Letter and number codes from certain periods can indicate the year or the pattern. We read these where present. |
| Body & colour | The body itself — matt Jasper or Basalt, cream Queen's Ware, translucent bone china — is a strong clue alongside the mark. |
| Artist & pattern names | Named patterns or decorators, such as Fairyland Lustre attributions, are recorded and can influence collector interest. |
Once the body and mark are established, condition drives the offer. We look at four areas and note each honestly on camera.
Chips, hairline cracks, flakes to applied relief on Jasperware, and any restoration. Crisp, undamaged relief and edges are preferred.
Rubbed gilding, worn enamels, fading of lustre and any repainting. On decorative lines the quality and condition of the decoration matter a great deal.
Lids, liners, stoppers and matching pieces of a service. A complete, matching set is recorded as such where the pattern and marks agree.
The backstamp, any date or pattern codes, and original boxes, certificates or paperwork, which help confirm identity and period.
Fair Vintage is an independent vintage and collectables buyer and is not affiliated with, authorised by or endorsed by Wedgwood or its current owners. Backstamps, marks and codes can help with identification, but they can be copied or misleading; a physical inspection may be required before a final valuation or offer.
Clear photographs let us give a preliminary identification before anything is posted. Please send:
Photographs help with identification and condition, but they do not prove authenticity on their own; a physical inspection may still be needed. There is no need to clean the piece for a photograph.
Call us on 01234 815116 or email support@fairvintage.co.uk.
Get your free label →We buy across the Wedgwood range — Jasperware in blue and other colours, Black Basalt, cream-coloured Queen's Ware, bone china tablewares and decorative pieces, and earlier or unusual bodies where present. Fairyland Lustre and other decorative lines are of particular interest. Single pieces, part-services and full collections are all considered. If you are not sure what you have, email a photograph and we will identify it before you send anything.
Most Wedgwood carries an impressed or printed WEDGWOOD mark on the base, and from certain periods the marks and any date or pattern codes help place the piece. The body itself — the matt stoneware of Jasperware and Basalt, the cream tone of Queen's Ware — is also a strong clue. Backstamps and marks help with identification, but they can be copied or misleading, so a physical inspection may be needed before a final valuation or offer. Send clear photographs of the base and the piece and we will do the first identification for you.
No. Condition affects the assessment but rarely reduces a piece to nothing, particularly for scarcer bodies and decorative lines. Chips, hairline cracks, restoration, rubbed gilding and crazing are all noted honestly and reflected in the offer. It is worth telling us about any damage rather than hiding it, so the valuation is accurate from the start.
Not necessarily. Pale blue Jasperware is the most familiar, but other colours such as sage green, lilac, black and the rarer three-colour pieces can be more sought after depending on age, form and condition. Early pieces, unusual shapes and fine relief detail all influence the assessment. We look at the body colour, the quality of the relief and the overall condition together.
Only very gently. Do not scrub, soak or use harsh cleaners on Wedgwood before valuation — matt Jasperware and Basalt in particular can be marked by aggressive cleaning, and old repairs can be disturbed. A light dust with a soft dry brush or cloth is enough. Send the piece as it is, with any box, certificate or original paperwork you still have.
Body identified, backstamp read, decoration and condition noted on camera. Written offer per piece. Opened and documented. Paid within 72 hours.