Why Collect Pottery?
What is your reason?
- For love of the pieces: Is it that you buy pieces you like? If so, your collection will derive its value from the amount of enjoyment it gives you.
- For the investment: Are you interested in collecting contemporary or historical pottery as a form of investment? If so, I must caution you. Prices are based on what the market will give, not on intrinsic value. As such, prices may go up but are also vulnerable to downswings and devaluation.
- For the "impressing" value: Are you collecting pottery as a means to impress other people? Perhaps as a means of saying "I have arrived"? If so, I must again caution that this can backfire on you. If you do not love the pottery for itself, you are in danger of coming across as a snob.
Who Made My Pottery?
Pottery manufacturers usually stamp their products with their name and location. Contemporary potters and students often (but not always) sign their work or use a potter's mark, an impressed symbol, in lieu of a signature. However, a lot of potters from the 1800s and before did not, and a lot of contemporary potters don't as well.
When you consider the thousands of potters and pottery students at work currently, and the thousands and thousands who have created pots in the past, it becomes an impossible task to catalog who made each of the pots produced.
Because of this, it is important to get and record as much information as possible when buying the pot such as who made it, when, where, clay body and glazes, and any other information.
How Do I Find an Appraiser?
How do you find someone who can tell you what a particular piece is worth, especially of older or historical pottery? Appraisers have specialties. Find one that deals with ceramics or pottery antiques. Some places to begin are:
- The American Association of Appraisers
- The American Society of Appraisers
- The International Society of Appraisers
The International Society of Appraisers also has a pamphlet available online as a PDF on giving seven questions to ask before hiring an appraiser.
Tip: Inventory
Here's a tip for anyone who collects anything. You really do need to keep an up-to-date inventory of the items you have. The inventory listing should include
- a detailed description,
- several photos from different sides, plus clear, up-close photos of any potter's or manufacturer's marks,
- the latest monetary value assigned to the item (appraisal or the price you paid), and
- all notes and documentation on the pot, such as who has owned it, who made it, where and when it was made, and so on.
Inventories should be kept at a safe place away from the colelction, such as a safety deposit box, in case of fire, flood, or other disaster. Another means of insuring its continued existence is to email it to yourself and keep it in a "Saved Mail" folder.
Tip: Insurance
Very rarely will standard homeowner's insurance cover artwork or collectibles. You need to talk with your insurance agent to ensure your coverage. You may also want to go through an agency that specializes in insuring collectibles or fine arts.
Be sure to check out any new company you are thinking about doing business with. Ask for references, then check them out. If the company says it is a member of a professional organization, contact that organization and double-check that the company is indeed a member in good standing. Also check with the Better Business Bureau for any complaints lodged against the company, and the circumstances of those complaints.