How to sell old ornaments online

Clearing a loft, spare room or a parent’s house can unearth many small things wrapped in old newspaper. You may have stumbled upon ceramic animals, glass figurines, brass figures or a tin of ‘60s Christmas decorations. Whatever the ornament, if they’re not your style and you’re considering selling them, this guide is for you. We’ll cover what we mean by ornaments, how to identify the maker and how to sell them online.

What is an old ornament?

An ornament is a decorative object made mainly for display, and this covers ceramic and porcelain figurines, pottery, glass and brass pieces. They can range from Royal Doulton figures and Swarovski crystal to studio pottery. Anything over 20 years old is usually called vintage, and over 100 years old is antique. But age alone doesn’t make a piece more valuable; the maker, condition, rarity and current demand can all have an impact.

How to identify your ornament before selling

Knowing the maker can be useful when assessing an ornament, but it is one part of the overall picture alongside condition, rarity and current demand. If you’re considering selling your ornament or a collection, checking makers’ marks is a good starting point, and they appear in several forms:

• Ink-stamped backstamps
• Impressed or incised marks
• Hand-written signatures from decorators or modellers
• Underglaze or overglaze marks

Figurines sometimes have paper labels instead of marks; they were common on mid-century pieces and often no longer survive intact. In this case, we recommend checking the interior of hollow pieces, since some makers marked areas that would later be covered.

For more background, it’s worth cross-checking the mark against the body, glaze, base and construction of the piece, and comparing it with documented examples from museum collections, factory records and reliable reference sources.

Providing details on condition and photographs for a quotation

We always consider condition alongside maker and rarity, looking for chips, cracks or repairs. Holding an ornament to strong light can reveal hairline cracks, while carefully checking the edges under good light can help identify small chips or areas of damage.

If you’re selling your ornaments, great photographs are essential. We advise taking photos in natural daylight and with a plain background. Photograph the whole piece from the front, back and both sides, plus close-ups of the base, any marks, signatures and any damage.

Find out more about the places to buy and sell your ornaments and how to take the best photos.

How to sell ornaments online

There are three key routes: general marketplaces, auction houses and selling directly to a specialist dealer.

Marketplaces like eBay reach the widest general audience and suit items with a clear, searchable sales history. Auction houses typically assess the item and recommend the right sale. Commission structures vary between houses and categories, sometimes with photography, cataloguing and insurance included in the fee.

Selling directly to a specialist dealer like us avoids listing fees, auction commission and lotting fees altogether, and we can give a next-day quotation.

Selling privately: things to consider

It’s always wise to search completed or sold listings for comparable pieces of the same maker, period and condition, and use those figures as your baseline. Don’t purely rely on what other sellers are currently asking. Clear, honest communication with buyers about condition and prompt responses to questions are standard good practice for any private sale.

Packaging is where fragile ornaments most often come unstuck. We recommend a sturdy double-walled cardboard box that isn't too tight or too loose around the item, as either extreme increases the risk of breakage. Use cardboard dividers for multiple items, plenty of bubble wrap and clearly label your parcel as fragile. Always include a return address on the outside and contact details inside, in case the parcel becomes separated from its label. It's also worth photographing the item before packing and the box once packed, as proof of condition if a dispute arises.

What recognised makers do we buy and sell?

Our ceramics range includes a wide spread of recognised names, including Moorcroft, Royal Doulton, Royal Crown Derby, Royal Worcester, Clarice Cliff, Lladró, Beswick, Coalport, Wedgwood, Minton, Spode, Poole Pottery, Goldscheider, Royal Copenhagen and Hummel/Goebel. These sit alongside vases, bowls, figurines, plates and smaller decorative pieces chosen for their maker, pattern, colour or the statement they make.

Two of the best-known names, Royal Doulton and Lladró, sit at opposite ends of the same collecting tradition. Royal Doulton began figurine production in 1913 and has produced thousands of models, many reflecting the culture and fashions of their period. Lladró was founded in 1953 near Valencia by brothers Juan, José and Vicente Lladró, who began creating plates, vases and ceramic figurines from their family home. The brand later became particularly well known for its handmade porcelain figures and distinctive delicate style.

If you are interested in selling an old ornament, please contact us with clear photographs, and we’ll identify the piece and explain how completeness and condition may affect interest or value. You’ll receive a no-obligation quotation within 24 hours.