"Antiques Roadshow" Pocket Guide

This reference guide is aimed at collectors, bargain hunters, junk shop browsers and antique dealers. It offers a short introduction to pottery and porcelain, and information on tableware, bedroom pieces and other domestic and decorative items. There is a section on care, maintenance and insurance.

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These four pocket guides are portable treasure troves of information for collectors, bargain hunters, junk shop browsers and even dealers. Small and concise for easy reference, they also contain full colour pictures and detailed drawings which will take the guesswork out of buying, bidding and bargaining at auctions, and also add to the enjoyment of this task. "The Antiques Roadshow Guide: Pottery & Porcelain" is organized into short chapters for instant access to every stage of collecting. It begins with a short introduction to the history of pottery and porcelain and the variety of materials used to make it. A section on tea and coffee wares covers tea services, teapots, cups and saucers and coffee services. The tableware section describes dinner services, plates and platters, bowls and dessert services. Other domestic items are also included, such as jars, baskets, sweet dishes and punch bowls. Moving out of the kitchen, bedroom pieces such as basins, tapersticks and dressing-table sets are included, showing how versatile pottery and porcelain is.
Each of the four pocket guides contains a checklist of points to watch out for when distinguishing between original condition and bodged renovation. There is also an informative section on the care, maintenance and insurance of pottery and porcelain. The useful glossary of terms uncovers the meaning behind the language that antique dealers use.