Don't Throw That Away! 20 Old China Plates Worth A Fortune.

Most people walk past old china plates at yard sales, thrift stores, and even inside their own cabinets without realizing that one rare mark, pattern, or painter's signature could change everything. Today we're counting down 20 old china plates collectors may pay serious money to own. Remember, age alone does not create value. Condition, rarity, decoration, maker, and provenance matter most. Number 20 Early Blue Willow Transferware Plates Blue Willow looks familiar, but the earliest English examples are far more desirable than modern reproductions. Look for slightly blurred transfer lines, deep cobalt decoration, pearlware bodies, and marks from makers such as Spode, Wedgwood, Davenport, or Rogers. Common 20th-century plates may be inexpensive, while scarce early 19th-century patterns, unusual shapes, and documented makers can bring much stronger prices. Number 19 Antique Haviland Limoges Plates Many families inherited floral haviland plates, but collectors search for particular blank shapes, borders, and discontinued designs. Turn the plate over because the porcelain maker, decorator, and retailer may each have applied a separate stamp. Rare Schlager-identified patterns, hand-painted examples, large intact sets, heavy gold, and unusual colors can be worth substantially more than ordinary floral plates. Number 18 Nippon Moriadge Plates The most collectible Nippon plates often feature raised Moriadge enamel, beaded gold, portraits, landscapes, or elaborate flowers. Their textured decoration can make them look more like miniature artworks than dinnerware. Watch for suspiciously bright reproductions, poorly formed marks, and decoration that appears mechanically printed. Authentic, highly detailed cabinet plates can attract serious collectors, while signed, unusually large, or exceptionally decorated examples may climb higher. Number 17 Shelley Dainty and Art Deco Plates Shelley china is known for delicate shapes, thin bodies, and patterns ranging from soft florals to bold Art Deco designs. The famous dainty shape is especially recognizable, but rarer colors and patterns generally attract stronger bidding. Check for the Shelley shield mark and a pattern number underneath. One common plate may be modestly priced, yet rare pattern groups and undamaged sets can turn an overlooked collection into a valuable discovery. Number 16 Royal Albert Plates in Rare Patterns Old Country Roses is famous, but fame does not automatically mean high value because so many pieces were produced. Better discoveries include discontinued patterns, early backstamps, unusual serving plates, and colors or shapes offered for only a short period. Before selling one for a few dollars, search the exact pattern name and backstamp. A scarce replacement plate can be worth far more than a common plate from the same company. Before we reveal the biggest names, subscribe and tell us which china pattern is hiding in your family cabinet. And if you own a plate with an unfamiliar mark, don't scrub it, repair it, or throw it away before researching it. That tiny symbol on the back could be the most important part of the entire piece. Number 15 Rosenthal Hand-Painted Portrait Plates Rosenthal produced practical tableware as well as highly decorative cabinet pieces. Collectors watch for portrait plates, Art Nouveau decoration, signed painting, and designs connected to recognized artists. Look for a clear Rosenthal mark, an artist's signature, and professional quality gilding. Ordinary later plates may remain affordable, but an early, beautifully painted example in excellent condition can be considerably more desirable. Number 14 Bellic Black Mark Plates Irish bellic is famous for its creamy body, lustrous glaze, and delicate molded decoration. The backstamp helps collectors estimate age, with early black mark pieces receiving particular attention. Plates decorated with basketweave molding, shamrocks, shells, or uncommon painted details deserve close inspection. Because bellic can be extremely thin, chips and hairlines matter greatly. Clean early examples and scarce shapes can command strong collector interest. Number 13 Mason's Ironstone Imari Plates Bold orange, cobalt, green, and gold decoration can signal Mason's ironstone, especially in 19th-century Imari-inspired patterns. Look for impressed Mason's marks, printed crowns, pattern numbers, and a heavy ironstone body. The strongest values often appear when plates form part of a substantial matching service. A Mason's ironstone Imari dinner service dating from the 1820s reportedly brought $3,000 at auction. Number 12 Spode and Copeland Transferware Plates Early spode helped popularize transfer-printed tableware, and collectors chase uncommon views, rare colors, and historically interesting scenes. Blue is common, but purple, brown, green, red, and multicolored patterns can be harder to find. Check for impressed spode marks, Copeland backstamps, pattern numbers, and scene titles. Rare patterns and complete groups can reach hundreds or even thousands when sold as an important service. Number 11 Royal Crown Derby Imari Plates Royal Crown Derby's rich Imari decoration combines cobalt blue, iron red, and lavish gilding. Pattern 1128 is especially recognizable, but age, size, date code, and condition determine whether a plate is simply decorative or genuinely collectible. Look underneath for the crown mark, pattern number, and date cipher. Early examples with crisp gilding may sell for hundreds. While matching groups can be worth considerably more. Number 10 Colport Cabinet Plates Colport created decorative plates intended for display rather than everyday use. Valuable examples may feature hand-painted landscapes, birds, fruit, portraits, jeweled enamel, raised gold, or elaborate cobalt borders. Artist signatures and retailer marks can add interest. Examine the painted scene carefully because genuine handwork usually shows subtle brush variation. A beautifully signed plate may be valuable, while rare exhibition-quality pieces can move into four-figure territory. Number 9 Minton Artist and Potsur Pot Plates Minton produced some of the most impressive British ceramics of the 19th century. Collectors prize artist-painted plates, raised gilding, reticulated borders, and potsur pot work where pale relief decoration appears against a colored ground. One Minton plate from around 1880, decorated with painting, gilding, and raised details, carried a Bonhams estimate of $700 to $900. Number 8 Royal Worcester Painted Fruit Plates These plates can resemble miniature oil paintings. Look for realistic peaches, grapes, apples, berries, and flowers painted over a mossy ground, often accompanied by an artist's signature. Names such as Richard Seabright can matter greatly. Bonhams sold two Seabright Painted Fruit Plates for $1,020, including premium. Painter, date, condition, border color, and the quality of the gilding all influence value. Number 7 Early Worcester Porcelain Plates Do not confuse Royal Worcester with earlier 18th-century Worcester porcelain. Early pieces may carry crescent marks, workman's symbols, or no obvious factory name at all. Blue and white Chinese-inspired patterns, pierced borders, and pieces connected to specialist decorators can be highly desirable. Identification is difficult, so even a simple-looking plate from the 1750s or 1770s deserves expert examination. Number 6 Royal Copenhagen Flora Danica Plates Flora Danica is one of the most prestigious botanical services ever produced. Each plate is finely painted with a plant specimen, often identified in Latin on the reverse, and finished with gilded decoration. In April 2026, Christie's sold 12 20th-century Flora Danica dinner plates for $5,715. Individual plates can therefore be valuable, while older examples, unusual shapes, and large services may command substantially more. Number 5 Wedgwood Frog Service and Early Creamware Plates Most Wedgwood plates are not fortunes, but pieces tied to historically important services are different. The frog service was commissioned for Catherine the Great, and decorated with British views, with each piece carrying a small green frog. Christie's has handled individual plates from this service. Early creamware, rare transfer prints, royal commissions, and documented provenance can push one Wedgwood plate into elite collector territory. Number 4 Chinese Export Armorial Plates During the 18th century, wealthy European and American families ordered porcelain from China decorated with their coats of arms. Look for a shield, crest, initials, motto, crown, or heraldic animal. Ordinary export plates may sell modestly, but examples become valuable when the family, merchant, ship, or historical owner can be identified. Rare Kangxi-period armorial pairs have appeared at major Sotheby's auctions. Number 3 Meissen Plates with Crossed Swords Marks Meissen was Europe's first successful hard-paste porcelain manufacturer, and early 18th century plates are intensely collected. The blue crossed swords mark is famous but has been widely copied, so the body, painting, shape, and mark must agree. Look for chinoiserie, harbor scenes, mythical animals, armorial decoration, or named services. Sotheby's has offered rare Meissen plates dating from the 1730s and 1740s. Number 2 Chelsea Gold Anchor Plates Chelsea porcelain was produced in 18th century England and can carry the desirable gold anchor mark. Plates featuring exotic birds, fruit, botanical painting, molded borders, or documented service history may be worth thousands. Because Chelsea-style reproductions exist, never rely on the anchor alone. Specialists also examine glaze, porcelain paste, natural wear, painting style, and firing flaws before confirming that a valuable plate is authentic. Number 1 Royal Sèvres Service Plates At the top are 18th century Sèvres plates connected to royal or aristocratic services. The finest combine soft-paste porcelain, turquoise, or deep blue grounds, flowers, birds, gilding, date letters, painter's marks, and extraordinary provenance. Christie's has offered plates made for Madame de Pompadour, Empress Maria Theresa, Marie Caroline of Naples, and Empress Josephine. A documented royal service plate can be worth thousands or far more. The lesson is simple. Never judge old China only by whether the pattern looks fashionable today. Turn every plate over, photograph the mark, measure its diameter, check for signatures, and inspect it under good light for cracks, restoration, and worn gilding. Most old plates will not make you rich, but the right maker, rare pattern, artist, or royal connection can transform one forgotten dish into a remarkable discovery.