If you think that the china plate your grandmother passed down to you is an antique than you have to find out to know for sure one way or another. Try to think about how it came to be in your family. Did your family buy it from an auction sale it or did they acquire it at a flea market? Some individuals have purchased these simple items for a low price not understanding what they were.
One of the single ways that you will master the art of identifying these pieces is if you study them first. Invest in magazines or books that will help to teach you what you have to look for and what the most common pieces are. They will provide you with tips on how you can pick out a fake and methods used to determine where it came from.
After a bit of studying you can study the piece that you have. Look at it all over and try to find the mark of the manufacturer. This is normally settled on the bottom. This may be a number, symbol, or a name. Frequently when the manufacturer made each piece they will stamp or indent the mark that is on it.
Do a bit more research on the mark that you discovered to determine what era it was produced in. The art work and design have to also help to determine the year. This will assist you to understand not simply who made the piece but also how rare they might be. It will assist you to understand what materials were used to make it.
If you think that you have an antique teapot or plate than you will be ready for the last step. It is time to take it to an appraiser who will find out how special it is and how much it is worth. They can tell you what makes it particular or why it is a Fake id top.