Japanese Antique Plates

In many families, people pass down treasures to their loved ones.  Many of them aren’t worth any money, but sometimes, it’s possible to harbor a hidden treasure in your attic or basement.  If you have some Japanese antique plates, then you would definitely be pleasantly surprised to find out that they were highly valued.  There are plenty of things that will factor into this though.

Are Your Japanese Antique Plates Worth a lot of Money?

One of the main things that determine if Japanese antique plates are worth any money is the condition that they’re in.  You will need to look the plates over thoroughly to see if there is any damage of some sort.  Damage could be in the form of stains, chips, or small cracks.

You may not be able to see the damage done to Japanese antique plates with the naked eye.  To be thorough about it, it’s best that you examine them using a magnifying glass.

Your Japanese antique plates may have a special mark or stamp on them.  Look for a signature or date of some sort.  This is usually found on the bottom of the plates.  Finding this information will help you determine who made the plates and when they were made.

After examining your Japanese antique plates yourself, you may want to write down everything that you have found out about them.  This is especially important if you want to sell them.  You will need to have them appraised professionally, and sharing the information that you have found out yourself will make the process much easier.

Unless you know a great deal about old items such as Japanese antique plates, then you won’t be in much of a position to estimate its value.  People spend a number of years studying these antiques.  Therefore, a professional would examine the plates thoroughly over the course of a few days and determine how much they’re worth approximately.

This process certainly isn’t free though.  If you’re merely interested in getting a rough estimate, then you can purchase an identification book and discover more details yourself  You would have to spend time trying to locate an identical photo of the plates to glean their worth.

If you have Japanese antique plates, you will need to care for them properly over the years.  If you don’t, then they will diminish in value.  Some people actually use their antique plates to eat on.  This certainly wouldn’t be every night though, as eating on them on special occasions would be fine as long as you’re extremely careful.

After eating on them especially, it is vital that you wash them carefully.  You want to avoid leaving any food on them because it can lead to stains.  They should also be stored in a safe location like a cabinet or chest.  You want to avoid letting anyone touch them as much as possible.

Dirt and dust can collect on the Japanese antique plates over time even if you never use them.  Take them out every so often and clean them.  You should only clean them by hand though since putting them in the dishwasher can lead to accidental damage.