Top 10 Pottery Making Tips For the Beginner

1. Go to pottery making classes. Everyone has to learn somehow. Although it can be comforting to learn on your own it will be much more fun with others. In addition your skills will improve much quicker!

2. Don't be put off by the terminology! Pottery making uses some strange and quirky terms. It wont be long before you know green ware from biscuit ware.

3. Be prepared to get dirty - you can tell a potter by his hands and shoes! Even with an apron it is impossible to stay clean when making pottery. Your hands and shoes will get dirty! Treat it as part of the fun so dress appropriately.

4. Enjoy the experience - even if it goes wrong! It goes wrong for everyone including the experts so don't be afraid to experiment. Remember that your designs are unique and you have the chance to express your own creativity.

5. Read some simple pottery making books. Lots of pottery books are available so choose books with simple descriptions and pictures to get you started. Books,however, are no substitute for classes but they should reinforce your learning.

6. Ask questions. Asking questions aids memory so you learn quicker. Don't be embarrassed to ask even the most simple of questions. Remember you are probably only saying what many others are thinking!

7. Practise then practise some more!This probably should be my number 1 tip on the list. As with most things in life, the more you practise the more skilled you become and the more enjoyable will be the experience.

8. Develop your own style. Don't be afraid to experiment-its your chance to show your artistic flair.

9. Make some pots & give them away. It makes you feel good and you might even find a soul mate.

10. Share your experience with a loved one. Making pottery can become a real passion so don't forget to share your experiences with your loved one. They might even want to join you at the next pottery class.

Start-Up Tips in Collecting Antique Chinese Pottery

One of the most common hobbies in the world is collecting stuff. It can be from collecting pretty mundane stuff like bottle caps to very expensive antique collections. Both are equally challenging and fulfilling in their own rights. However, in a very expensive hobby like collecting Chinese pottery, the challenge is checking for authenticity. If you are a seller or a buyer, you must have enough knowledge to distinguish fakes from authentic pieces. Some people think that gaining such expertise would take decades to perfect. Well, yes and no. Yes because you need enough experience to fully become a real expert and no because you can always start today and appraise your first piece in a few months. Want to know how?

Basic Tips in Collecting Chinese Pottery

1. Start a library- If you are really decided in devoting yourself to this craft, you don't need to go buy your first piece right away. Start with creating a library all about Chinese pottery. Books about history and other things related to the craft will be essential in your study. Also, they may contain pictures that can help you get an idea of what the real thing looks like so you can easily distinguish it in the future. Having a wealth of knowledge is, needless to say, necessary in order to succeed in collecting Chinese pottery.

2. Know More- As soon as you get in the groove, you will realize that the books in your library will never be enough in terms of information. To supplement this quench for more knowledge, you can visit your local library or museums. If you decide to go to museums, you will not only gain knowledge but also see the actual pieces. Also, you can gather bits of information from online forums dedicated to antique Chinese pottery. Just beware of some information there because it may be false or have no intellectual or factual basis.

3. Learn to identify copies- These days, there are many copies of antique Chinese pottery around the market. They are sometimes created as a perfect copy of the original pieces and only thermoluminescence testing can really judge the authenticity of these pieces. As you learn, you will know of some "valuable copies" that were made to honor a certain style or period.

4. Study Chinese calligraphy- You may think this is rather out of place, but learning Chinese calligraphy is an invaluable skill that will help you in your collection. Because some Chinese pottery has certain Chinese characters written in them, you can easily check for authenticity or even the age and origin of a specific item. It will not be necessary but learning how to write and not just read will be of an advantage to you. With this knowledge, you can easily see faults in the strokes and thus be able to detect fakes easily.

Learn to read visual properties- This is one of the key skills one must have in order to prosper in this craft. When a person knows how to read visual properties like lines, cracks, chips and wear, can easily use these clues in appraising or identifying a certain item. For some, these visual details give life and character to their antiques. Seeing them is not always a bad thing unless it totally destroys the whole thing.

Collecting Red Wing Pottery

If you are willing to collect Red Wing pottery then you must know that it can be very hard time after time. The reason why people admire this pottery is that it is old yet very artistic. There are plenty of people who love collecting this pottery because they make a perfect set of dishes. These dishes include colorful plates, cups, vases, bowls, casseroles, figurines, and many other similar dishes.

To start your very own collection of Red Wing pottery then you must have some knowledge about this pottery and you must also have patience, courage and some money to spend. The first step you need to do is to browse different guide books related to this pottery, such as "Collectors Encyclopedia of Red Wing Art Pottery: Identification & Values" by B.L. and R.L. Dollen, which can be bought on large bookstores and on the Internet.

After buying this book you need to look into the designs, patterns and prices and determine what your collection will look like. It is very advisable to join Red Wing collectors' groups online which will offer you more knowledge. Afterwards you need to visit antique shops or online auctions to decide which dishes you will buy.

If you are lucky enough you might also end up buying cheap antiques on flea markets. But before you go out on a shopping spree for these antiques you should always research on different sources about this pottery so that you will not end up buying fake pottery. After creating your artistic collection your next task will be to find the proper place to display it. It is very nice to display your antiques on a closet next to your dining room so that everyone will know that you are a collector. Wishing you the best of luck!

Start-Up Tips in Collecting Antique Chinese Pottery

One of the most common hobbies in the world is collecting stuff. It can be from collecting pretty mundane stuff like bottle caps to very expensive antique collections. Both are equally challenging and fulfilling in their own rights. However, in a very expensive hobby like collecting Chinese pottery, the challenge is checking for authenticity. If you are a seller or a buyer, you must have enough knowledge to distinguish fakes from authentic pieces. Some people think that gaining such expertise would take decades to perfect. Well, yes and no. Yes because you need enough experience to fully become a real expert and no because you can always start today and appraise your first piece in a few months. Want to know how?

Basic Tips in Collecting Chinese Pottery

1. Start a library- If you are really decided in devoting yourself to this craft, you don't need to go buy your first piece right away. Start with creating a library all about Chinese pottery. Books about history and other things related to the craft will be essential in your study. Also, they may contain pictures that can help you get an idea of what the real thing looks like so you can easily distinguish it in the future. Having a wealth of knowledge is, needless to say, necessary in order to succeed in collecting Chinese pottery.

2. Know More- As soon as you get in the groove, you will realize that the books in your library will never be enough in terms of information. To supplement this quench for more knowledge, you can visit your local library or museums. If you decide to go to museums, you will not only gain knowledge but also see the actual pieces. Also, you can gather bits of information from online forums dedicated to antique Chinese pottery. Just beware of some information there because it may be false or have no intellectual or factual basis.

3. Learn to identify copies- These days, there are many copies of antique Chinese pottery around the market. They are sometimes created as a perfect copy of the original pieces and only thermoluminescence testing can really judge the authenticity of these pieces. As you learn, you will know of some "valuable copies" that were made to honor a certain style or period.

4. Study Chinese calligraphy- You may think this is rather out of place, but learning Chinese calligraphy is an invaluable skill that will help you in your collection. Because some Chinese pottery has certain Chinese characters written in them, you can easily check for authenticity or even the age and origin of a specific item. It will not be necessary but learning how to write and not just read will be of an advantage to you. With this knowledge, you can easily see faults in the strokes and thus be able to detect fakes easily.

Learn to read visual properties- This is one of the key skills one must have in order to prosper in this craft. When a person knows how to read visual properties like lines, cracks, chips and wear, can easily use these clues in appraising or identifying a certain item. For some, these visual details give life and character to their antiques. Seeing them is not always a bad thing unless it totally destroys the whole thing.

Where to Find Prices of Roseville Pottery?

If you are looking forward to purchasing a Roseville pottery for your pottery collection, or you just want to display it to show others how much you care about pottery, then you also need to know the approximate prices of the pottery. A pottery's price depends on a few factors, such as the period it belongs to, the place it was made, size, design, cracks, numbers of reparations the pottery underwent and so on. However, to get a more precise idea you need to look into a few sources which include websites and books.

If you would rather search into a website, then you can start with Arts & Crafts Antique Gallery inventory which can be found through a search engine. It includes pictures and prices. Another great site is eBay where you can find many sellers who will give you their offer which you should consider. There is also another site which is Michiana Antique Mall that features pictures, prices and other details. If you rather prefer to find out prices on another way, you can go to an antique shop which sells Roseville pottery and you will get the information needed.

There are also plenty of books which feature prices only for this pottery. These books can also be purchased online and on a few cases, they are also downloadable as e-books. There books include "Collector's Encyclopedia of Roseville Pottery" written by Sharon Huxford, Bob Huxford and Mike Nickel in 2001. "Bassett's Roseville Prices" is another great book by Mark Bassett which features many helpful details and was published in 2004. Other books such as "Roseville Price Guide" by Chris Mollring in 2004, "Roseville Pottery: A Waraman's Companion" by Mark Moran published in 2006 and many others are a big help too. So now, all you have to do to find out the prices is to decide which method you will be using to discover new pottery and their prices.

Where to Look For Red Wing Pottery Prices

Red Wing pottery is a very famous pottery which was originally produced in a small town of Minnesota also called Red Wing. The company which first produced this pottery still exists nowadays and and it is pretty successful having sold thousands of remakes and antiques belonging to this pottery. When looking on the market for this pottery you will find many antiques which have a relatively high price. However if you are interested in finding out more information about the prices of this pottery, you should check out a few books that specially include prices, pictures and examples of this special pottery.

There are plenty of books which were originally written to show prices and interesting facts about this remarkable pottery. These books can usually be purchased as hard copies on most large bookstores or as downloadable e-books on many online bookstores. Typical examples of these books include "Red Wing Dinnerware" written by Ray Reiss which usually costs around $15 or even less. This book includes pattern information and prices. Another great book is "Red Wing Art Pottery Two" also written by Ray Reiss and costs $30. This book includes valuable info about the pottery's past and development and can also serve as a guide if you don't know much about this type of pottery. "Red Wing Stoneware, An Identification and Value Guide" written by Dan DePasquale, Gail Peck and Larry Peterson costs less than $15. This wonderful book provides arguments related to patterns and designs.

There are also cheaper books that can be found on the Internet too, but if you are lucky enough you will also find free e-books that will help you out too. In general, books like the ones previously mentioned will also give you other useful information such as how to tell authentic pottery from the fake reproductions, combining it with the interior of your home and so on. Do not hesitate to buy these books because they will last forever and they will also guide you while looking forward to purchasing this unique pottery. Good luck!

Tips For Buying Antique Pottery

Buying vintage or antique pottery is actually easier than you may think and being able to determine dates, companies and value can be achieved just by using some simple research tips.

Many people all over the world spend their weekends at local antique fairs or digging through yard sale boxes, thrift stores and second hand sales, looking for antique pottery that people might be getting rid of by accident. Being able to identify older pieces compared to more contemporary designs will help you know which ones to look at and which are not worth further investigation. Many people have no idea about how to identify the different types of pottery. Once you are able to do this, shopping at these kinds of places becomes much easier and you will be able to spot a bargain almost immediately. The following tips will help you get knowledgable about pottery and will therefore help you in the buying process too.

This is a pretty obvious tip really, but the best way to get experience and knowledge about the different types of pottery is to use a book. A good pottery book will help you be able to tell the difference between stoneware, porcelain and the different styles that have come from different timeframes and countries. Japanese pottery is totally different to Polish pottery and you should be able to tell the difference. There are so many different styles and forms of pottery that a book will be your most invaluable friend and will teach you lots. If you can spend a small amount on a book but save on accidental or uninformed purchases, then it will have been a worthwhile purchase.There are many books available on websites like Amazon that have pictures and descriptions of the pottery pieces.

The next tip is to use the Internet to research pottery types and styles.There is a place on the internet where thousands of pieces are listed and sold each day - eBay! You will find almost every single kind of pottery on eBay, ranging from commonplace everyday types to real antiques worth lots of money. eBay is no longer just the place to buy cheap batteries and DVDs, the antiques market on there is huge! eBay can also tell you how much items have sold for too. Simply select the "Completed Items" option from the "Advanced Search" and you will be able to see the final sale value for each kind of pottery being sold. Its a great research tool. Also, eBay is a good place to bag a bargain. Most things sell for less money on there, so it is an excellent place to start your collection.

Comparing prices with similar items will also help you understand which items are worth money and which are not. Being able to compare is also a great way to judge the value of pottery items you find.