Over the years, people have used numerous kinds of materials and techniques to make usable dishes. As time passed, those materials became scarce, and the techniques died, making those hundred or more years old dishes rare. So rare that some very atypical pieces are sold in millions!
But while every collector wants a special, rare dish in their kitchenware, many don’t know where to start! If you’re one of those people, this list of the rarest antique dishes is for you!
Key Takeaways
- The rarest and most expensive antique dish, the 18th-century Chinese Qing Dynasty Porcelain Vase, was auctioned at the hefty price of $84 million.
- Dishes from limited-production collections, like Wedgewood’s Fairyland Luster collection, often fetch thousands of dollars.
- Look for dishes made with precious & rare materials like hard-paste porcelain (and red porcelain), silver (coin or Sterling), bronze, and ceramic, as those are resold at hefty prices.
- Antique Chinese porcelain dishes are usually rare and worth a lot.
What Makes Vintage Dishes Rare & Precious?
If you’re on the hunt to collect rare, precious dishes, don’t forget to look out for these key features in your old items:
- Rare and unique patterns, such as Flora Danica, Repousse patterns, Scrollwork, etc.
- Authentic markings of the brand, maker, place, production date
- Noteworthy brands like Meissen, Baccarat, Limoges, and more
- Limited edition pieces or dishes that were part of a special series (the Qing Dynasty Pottery, etc.)
- Holds historical or cultural significance
- Owned by or made of a notable figure (e.g., The Thomas Germain’s Tureen for King Louis XV)
15 Exclusive Antique Dishes Worth Money to Find Today!
Here are the 15 most unique and rare dishes you must bid on to upscale your antique kitchen decor!
1. Chinese Qing Dynasty Porcelain Bowl with Daoguang
Coming from the early 19th century, this Qing Dynasty bowl is an attractive dishware piece made of the highest-grade hard-paste porcelain. Being extremely pricey, the Qing Dynasty porcelain dishes were only accessible by the Chinese royalty, making them quite rare.
Valuable Identification Features:
- Qing Daoguang manufacturing years marked at the bottom
- Lively scenic hand-painting of mountains, Chinese men with livestock, vegetation, etc.
- Pastel colors on white porcelain
| Estimated Cost | $50,000 – $55,000 |
| Brand/Maker | N/A |
| Material | Porcelain and Pottery |
| Pattern | Scenery |
| Manufacturing Era | Pre-1800s |
| Origin | China |
2. George Jones Majolica Partridge and Chicks Game Pie Dish
A vibrant oval-shaped pie dish that will enlighten your antique collection! This branded dish features vibrant colors, raised patterns of natural life, and a shiny glaze that will grab every eye. The most fascinating part of the dish is its lid, which is crafted like a partridge’s nest.
Special Valuable Features:
- Interesting pattern on the lid displaying a partridge in a nest with seven chicks around
- Handles decorated with vines
- Grazing rabbits and kits on the sides of the dish
- Pattern number ‘3368’ inked inside the dish
| Estimated Cost | $15,000 – $30,000 |
| Brand/Maker | George Jones |
| Material | Ceramic |
| Pattern | Raised |
| Manufacturing Year | 1873 |
| Origin | England |
3. 110 Pieces Limoges Dishes by Charles Field Haviland
Dating back to the Aesthetic Movement in 1885, this rare set of 110 Limoges dishes will totally upgrade your dining aesthetics. Featuring beautiful, vibrant, unique floral and bird prints on high-quality off-white porcelain, this set is one of the most sought-after dishes from Limoges!
Important Features to Look For:
- Hand-painted polychrome decoration
- Different floral & bird prints on different dishes
- White porcelain on the center and off-white porcelain on the surrounding walls
- Golden Glit on the central rim
| Estimated Cost (for Set) | $30,000 – $33,000 |
| Brand/Maker | Limoges |
| Material | Porcelain |
| Pattern | Floral and Bird Patterns from Aesthetic Movement |
| Manufacturing Era | 1885 |
| Origin | France |
4. Late 19th Century Baccarat D’ore Bronze and Glass Centerpiece
If you want a lavish dinnerware centerpiece to grace your dining table, this premium glass dishware is for you! From its intricately carved bronze stand and frame to the clear crystal glass bowl with unique patterns, this antique centerpiece is worth a spot in your collection.
Rare Identification Features to Spot:
- Interesting Scrollwork on the Bronze frame
- Stand base can be round or square and have a flat base or legs
- Floral patterns on the base
| Estimated Cost | $10,000 – $12,500 |
| Brand/Maker | Baccarat |
| Material | Bronze, Glass |
| Pattern | Scrollwork, Floral |
| Manufacturing Era | Late 1800s |
| Origin | France |
5. Famille Verte Porcelain Large Dish, Qing Dynasty
This extraordinary dish from the early 18th century features an off-white porcelain background with colorful enamel patterns. Look closely, and you’ll see a lively scenic painting of a bird sitting on a rock in a garden decorated with gilt highlights.
Valuable Identification Features:
- Finely detailed, hand-painted floral pattern and small flowers on the outside
- Famille Verte Palette with colored-enamel colors like orange, red, green, blue, & yellow
- Shallow dish with petal-shaped edges and scalloped rim
- The central roundel of the plate surrounded by twelve small panels with floral and tree patterns
| Estimated Cost | $17,000 |
| Brand/Maker | N/A |
| Material | Porcelain, Enamel, Gilt |
| Pattern/Style | Qing, Floral Patterns |
| Manufacturing Era | 1700 – 1709 |
| Origin | China |
6. Chinese Porcelain Rose Medallion Bowl
This Chinese dishware dates back to the early 19th century, so you may not find any brand or year marking on this one. But what makes it rare and precious is its distinctive rose Medallion pattern featuring traditional Chinese people and vegetation in Medallion-style panels on the walls and inner base.
Special Features to Look For:
- Hand-painted enameled patterns of flowers, leaves, birds, and humans
- Prints on the inside as well as outside the bowl
- Classical scenes in oriental panels around the central roundel
| Estimated Cost | $6,000 – $8,000 |
| Brand/Maker | N/A |
| Material | Porcelain, Enamel |
| Pattern | Traditional Scenic Patterns, Natural Patterns |
| Manufacturing Year | 19th Century |
| Origin | China |
7. Royal Copenhagen Flora Danica Dänische Wappen Plate
This beautiful plate with Flora Danica pattern is worth thousands! Featuring gorgeous decoration on the edges and rims, you will see a detailed hand-painting of two men standing at the sides of a Coat of Arms.
Notable Features to Spot:
- Intricate metal (copper) work on the rim and edge
- Holes of different geometrical shapes near the slightly ruffled edges
- Marked at the bottom
| Estimated Cost | $7,000 – $9,000 |
| Brand/Maker | Royal Copenhagen |
| Material | Porcelain |
| Pattern | Flora Danica |
| Manufacturing Year | N/A |
| Origin | Denmark |
8. Boch Freres Keramis Dish with Charles Catteau Pattern
Bored of regular small-size dishes? This rare large, 20 inches wide dish is going to catch your eye. You can spot this Art Deco dish with its light green background and colorful motifs.
What makes it rare is its popular Charles Catteau’s ‘Polychrome design with floral motifs,’ which is commonly found only on large vases.
Notable Features to Spot:
- A matte enamel-on-earthenware make
- An even brown border on the rim
- “D. 1847” and “KERAMIS” marked at the base
| Estimated Cost | $3,000 – $5,000 |
| Brand/Maker | Charles Catteau and Boch Frères Keramis |
| Material | Ceramic, Enamel |
| Pattern | Floral (Polychrome Design) |
| Manufacturing Year | 1847 |
| Origin | China |
9. Chinese Blue Guan Ru Glaze Twin Fish Brush Washer Bowl
This rare Chinese bowl displays two unique twin fish figures carved on the inside. You can also see two raised handles on the longer sides of the oval-shaped bowl. And don’t forget to look for a lotus stand with drop-shaped holes that accompany the bowl!
Notable Features to Spot:
- Matte blue Guan or Ru ware finish
- Basket-style twisted rope design on the bowl rim
- Interesting pattern on the base rim with Chinese marking in the center
| Estimated Cost | $5,000 – $6,000 |
| Brand/Maker | N/A |
| Material | Porcelain, Pottery |
| Pattern | Brush Washer |
| Manufacturing Year | 18th Century |
| Origin | China |
10. Northwood Aqua Opal Good Luck Unstipled Bowl
This stunning Northwood aqua opal bowl looks luxurious with its radiant, colorful shine. Known for its pie-crust-edge and ruffled walls, this vintage antique glass bowl will have a ribbed Back and a circular base rim.
Valuable Identification Features:
- Sawtooth edges of the bowl
- Glass oozes vibrant pastel glow under bright light
- ‘GOOD LUCK’ and a horse-shoe embossed on the base rim
- Northwood floral patterns near the inner base
| Estimated Cost | $2,000 – $3,000 |
| Brand/Maker | Northwood |
| Material | Glass |
| Pattern | Floral Patterns |
| Manufacturing Year | 1910s |
| Origin | USA |
11. Wedgwood Fairyland Luster Dish
This Wedgewood dish can be spotted with its whimsical pattern inspired by fairy tales. And that’s why this collection is called “Fairyland Luster.” Another special feature is its rare iridescent luster glaze, resulting from the metallic oxides painted on the surface.
Key Features to Identify:
- Rare “Jumping Faun” design by Daisy Makeig Jones
- Brand/Maker’s marking printed at the base
- Limitedly produced collection
| Estimated Cost | $5,000 |
| Brand/Maker | Wedgewood |
| Material | Porcelain |
| Pattern | Art Deco |
| Manufacturing Year | 1920 |
| Origin | United Kingdom |
12. S Kirk & Son Coin Silver Repousse Bowl with Lion Handles
We all know silver dishware is one of the best antiques, and that’s what makes this 19th-century bowl a point of attraction. It features an ornate Repousse floral decoration all over. Besides, you can also spot it with its plain round handles, held by the repoussed lions (mouth).
Valuable Features to Spot:
- Brand name “S Kirk & Son” with “110z” etched on the base
- A round decorated base with a short cylindrical stand
- “MWB from EAJ February 10, 1880” engraved on the rim
| Estimated Cost | $2,000 – $3,000 |
| Brand/Maker | S Kirk & Son |
| Material | Coin Silver |
| Pattern | Repousse |
| Manufacturing Year | Late 19th Century (1850-1899) |
| Origin | N/A |
To know if the silver is real or fake, use a little bit of bleach. If the silver dish turns black (tarnish), it’s real.
13. St. Clement Dish With Hand-Painted Faience
This simple and minimalist Emile Gallé for St. Clement dish is a rare piece of fine tin-glazed pottery. Featuring curved corners and three legs, this dish showcases a clean lining pattern on the rim and handles and colorful floral, bird, and butterfly patterns on the surface.
Important Features to Identify:
- A singing bird printed in the center enclosed in a rectangular box
- Emile Gallé signed at the bottom
| Estimated Cost | $1,000 – $2,000 |
| Brand/Maker | St. Clement |
| Material | Faience |
| Pattern | Floral |
| Manufacturing Year | 1870s |
| Origin | France |
14. Gorham Coin Silver Figural Covered Butter Dish
Now, this lavish butter dish is a luxurious addition to your dinnerware set. Dating back to the 1860s, this butter dish is made of coin silver and features a silver frame around the dish and a plane lid with an animal figurial in the center (as the lid handle).
Other Special Features to Look For:
- Detailed figurial of a goat on the dish lid
- Medallions pattern on the sides of the dish
- Four small inwardly curved legs
- Finely detailed lion Heads carved on the handles
| Estimated Cost | $1,000 |
| Brand/Maker | Gorham |
| Material | Coin Silver |
| Pattern | Figurial |
| Manufacturing Year | 1860s |
| Origin | N/A |
15. Antique Royal Crown Derby 1128 Rare Pedestal Dish
This antique pedestal cake dish is a perfect example of English craftsmanship. It displays a round plate with Art-Deco-style Medallion patterns at the center and small patterned panels near the edge. The plate is supported by a short baluster-shaped pedestal with a patterned round base.
Other Special Features to Look For:
- Handpainted dish with a glossy finish
- Shiny golden border at the dish rim and the rim of the pedestal base
- “ROYAL CROWN DERBY” marked at the bottom of the pedestal
| Estimated Cost | $900 – $1,500 |
| Brand/Maker | Royal Crown Derby 1128 |
| Material | Bone China |
| Pattern | Figurial |
| Manufacturing Year | 1914 |
| Origin | England |
8 Most Expensive Antique Dishes Ever Sold!
If the first item on this list seemed pricey to you, you may want to hold your seat now. Because now we’re talking about dishes that were sold for millions of dollars!
Intrigued? Check out this table below:
| Rare Models | Special Features | Origin | Auctioned Price |
| 18th-Century Chinese vase | Made of Qing Dynasty Porcelain, Commissioned for China’s 18th-century Qianlong Emperor | China | $84 million |
| Ru-Ware Bowl | Made of rare Chinese porcelain, Ru-ware, glazing finish | China | $37.7 million |
| Blue & White Meiping vase | Around 500 years old, A part of the Meiyintang collection | China | $21.6 million |
| Thomas Germain’s Soup Tureen | Made of Silver, Made for KingLouis XV of France, Was a part of the French royal household dishware | France | $10.2 million |
| Kangxi Red Lotus Bowl | Features rare Blood Red Porcelain, Made with a unique technique that was lost after the Qing Dynasty’s decline | China | $9.5 million |
| Juste-Aurèle Meissonnier Tureen | Made for the second Duke of Kingston between 1735-40, Weighs around 40 pounds | Paris | $5.2 million |
| Blue & White Ming Porcelain Dish | Belongs to the Ming Dynasty Porcelain (15th Century), Features a Chinese mythological dragon | China | $5.1 million |
| Nicola Da Urbino Istoriato Maiolica Dish | Features rare style – Istoriato Maiolica (16th Century), Tin-glaze, Depicts stories in patterns | N/A | $1.72 million |
If you’ve been confused about finding that one perfect dish to add to your unique collection, this list will surely help you. Just make sure to read the key features so you don’t pay for a fake piece!
To find more valuable rare pieces to add to your kitchenware, check out my detailed listicles on “rare salt and pepper shakers” now!
