French Country · Encyclopedia · Antiques by family
Tableware, Kitchen and Decorative Objects
Faience and porcelain, glass and silver, copper and kitchenware, candlesticks, boxes, glass, textiles and curiosities. Each entry explains what the object is, how to identify and date it, what to check before buying, and what it is usually worth on the US market. 82 entries.
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Vases & Art Glass
Antique & Vintage Vase
Indicative US retail $30–$3,000 · typical $150
Vases in glass, porcelain and pottery, from Gallé and Daum to Chinese export. Signatures should be acid-etched, engraved or molded in the glass, not painted; Gallé signatures after his death in 1904 include a star.
Milk Glass
Indicative US retail $10–$250 · typical $35
Opaque white glass used for vases, dishes and lamps. Hold older milk glass to light: many pieces show an opalescent "ring of fire" at the edge.
Carnival Glass
Indicative US retail $15–$500 · typical $60
Iridescent pressed glass from 1905-1930. Northwood pieces often carry an underlined "N" mark; color is judged on the base glass (marigold, amethyst, blue, green, red, aqua opal), with red and aqua opal the rarest.
Depression Glass
Indicative US retail $10–$300 · typical $40
Colored pressed glass made in the US in the 1930s. Identify the pattern and color with a reference guide; rare colors and serving pieces (pitchers, cake plates, butter dishes) command the best prices.
Vaseline Glass
Indicative US retail $20–$600 · typical $80
Yellow-green uranium glass that glows under UV light. Test with a UV flashlight first: genuine uranium glass fluoresces strongly; ordinary yellow glass does not.
Porcelain & Faience
Antique French Plates
Indicative US retail $15–$400 · typical $60
Faience, ironstone and porcelain plates from Gien, Sarreguemines, Creil-Montereau, Luneville and Quimper. Turn the plate over: most 19th-century French factories used back stamps, which identify the factory and often a date range.
Oyster Plate
Indicative US retail $40–$800 · typical $150
Plates with wells for oysters, made in French majolica, Limoges and Haviland porcelain. Look for factory marks on the back: Longchamp, Haviland & Co., Choisy-le-Roi (HB), Sarreguemines.
Limoges Porcelain
Indicative US retail $20–$1,500 · typical $100
Hard-paste porcelain from Limoges, France, produced since the 18th century. Most Limoges carries two marks: an underglaze factory mark in green (the white blank) and an overglaze decorator's mark, often in red or brown, applied after painting.
Ironstone
Indicative US retail $25–$500 · typical $90
Heavy white stoneware, French and English, prized for farmhouse decor. Back stamps from Mason's, Johnson Brothers, J.
Haviland China
Indicative US retail $300–$3,000 · typical $900
Limoges porcelain made by the American-founded Haviland company for US markets. Patterns are identified by Schleiger numbers, the reference system compiled by collectors.
Trinket Box
Indicative US retail $15–$500 · typical $60
Small decorative boxes in porcelain, enamel or silver. Limoges boxes are marked "Peint main" (hand painted) and "Limoges France" with a factory mark; cheap copies have printed decoration.
Religious
Antique Crucifix
Indicative US retail $30–$1,500 · typical $150
Religious wall crosses in wood, brass or ivory. Hand-carved wooden corpora show tool marks and age-worn paint; cast metal corpora show casting seams.
Sewing
Antique Thimble
Indicative US retail $5–$300 · typical $30
Sewing thimbles in silver, gold and porcelain. Hallmarks (Minerva head and maker's lozenge on French silver, a crab or eagle on gold) identify metal; sizes are often stamped.
Pottery & Stoneware
French Pottery
Indicative US retail $30–$2,000 · typical $150
Earthenware and stoneware from French regions: Quimper, Vallauris, Dieulefit, Provence. Look for marks and signatures: "HB Quimper," "Henriot Quimper" and painters' initials; "Vallauris" with studio names (Madoura, Capron, Les Archanges); stamps of Gien and Sarreguemines.
Antique Pitcher
Indicative US retail $30–$800 · typical $120
Water and milk pitchers in pottery, ironstone, pewter and glass. Look for marks under the base; check the spout and handle for chips and repairs and the body for hairline cracks (tap gently).
Delft Pottery
Indicative US retail $30–$2,500 · typical $150
Blue and white tin-glazed earthenware from Delft in the Netherlands. Royal Delft marks show a jug, the letters "J.
Stoneware Crock
Indicative US retail $30–$1,500 · typical $150
Salt-glazed storage crocks used for pickling and butter. Cobalt decoration and maker stamps add value; check for cracks, chips at the rim and lime deposits inside.
Majolica
Indicative US retail $50–$3,000 · typical $250
Colorful lead-glazed earthenware of the 19th century, French, English and American. Marks from Minton, Wedgwood, George Jones, Choisy-le-Roi, Sarreguemines and Longchamp help identify; crisp molding, rich glazes and well-preserved color raise value.
Stoneware Jug
Indicative US retail $30–$800 · typical $120
Stoneware and earthenware jugs for water, wine, oil or cider. Tap gently and listen: a sound jug rings, a cracked one sounds dull.
Rugs
Antique Rug
Indicative US retail $150–$6,000 · typical $800
Hand-knotted rugs from Persia, Turkey and Europe, and French Aubusson weaves. Look at the back: on a hand-knotted rug, each knot is visible and the pattern is crisp; machine-made rugs show a regular grid and a backing.
Candlesticks & Fireplace
Candle Holder
Indicative US retail $15–$400 · typical $60
Holders for pillars and tapers, including church prickets. Hand-forged iron prickets show hammer marks and old paint or rust; church giltwood holders keep gesso and gilding, often worn to bole.
Candlestick
Indicative US retail $30–$800 · typical $120
Single candle holders in brass, bronze, silver and glass. Pairs sell for more than double a single, so check that a pair matches.
Andirons
Indicative US retail $100–$2,500 · typical $400
Fireplace firedogs (chenets), in cast iron or bronze. Pairs are essential, so check that both fronts match in casting, size and finish.
Candelabra
Indicative US retail $100–$3,000 · typical $450
Multi-arm candleholders in bronze, silver and crystal. Detachable arms, bobèches and drip pans should be complete and match; crystal drops should be cut, not molded.
Fireplace Mantel
Indicative US retail $1,500–$25,000 · typical $5,000
Salvaged marble or wooden mantelpieces. Check that all pieces are present (jambs, frieze, shelf, often in several parts), that the marble is not cracked or repaired with mismatched pieces, and that the dimensions suit your firebox.
Fireplace Screen
Indicative US retail $80–$1,500 · typical $300
Pare-feu screens in iron, brass and needlework. Check the frame for stability and loose joints, the carving and gilding for losses, and embroidered or tapestry panels for fading, holes and repairs.
Utensils, Molds & Grinders
Coffee Grinder
Indicative US retail $40–$500 · typical $120
Hand-cranked coffee mills from Peugeot, Zassenhaus and others. Peugeot grinders bear a stamped lion and model numbers on the mechanism; check that the crank turns smoothly, that the burrs are not worn, and that the drawer and lid are present.
Butter Churn
Indicative US retail $60–$800 · typical $200
Wooden and stoneware churns for making butter. Dazey glass churns carry embossed marks and patent dates on the jar and lid; wooden churns should have sound staves and hoops that have not cut into the wood.
Tole Ware
Indicative US retail $40–$1,500 · typical $180
Painted tinware: trays, chandeliers and planters. Look for hand-painted decoration with brushstrokes, gilt borders and old lacquer with fine crazing.
Enamelware
Indicative US retail $20–$400 · typical $80
Enamel-coated steel kitchenware: French canisters, pitchers, coffee pots. Complete canister sets, crisp lettering and few chips add value; graduated sets of six with matching decoration are sought after.
Rolling Pin
Indicative US retail $15–$200 · typical $40
Wooden, glass and ceramic rolling pins. A hand-turned pin made from a single piece of beech, maple or fruitwood shows slight irregularities, tool marks and a dark, smooth patina from flour and use.
Mortar & Pestle
Indicative US retail $30–$500 · typical $100
Bronze, marble and wooden mortars for kitchens and pharmacies. Bronze mortars with inscriptions and dates from the 17th to 19th centuries are the most valuable; check for cracks and repairs.
Chinoiserie & Gilding
Chinoiserie
Indicative US retail $50–$3,000 · typical $300
European decor imitating Chinese style, in lacquer and porcelain. Black, red or green lacquer with gold figures, painted decoration on wood or tole, and blue and white porcelain; check for lacquer loss, flaking, cracks and repainting; most pieces on the market are 20th-century.
Ormolu
Indicative US retail $200–$10,000 · typical $1,000
Gilded bronze mounts and decor, French specialty. Mercury gilding has a warm, rich color, often with darker and brighter areas from burnishing and matting, and survives in recesses even when worn on high points; electrogilt is brighter, thinner and more uniform.
Figurines & Tiles
Antique Tile
Indicative US retail $5–$200 · typical $25
Encaustic, cement, Delft and majolica tiles. Reclaimed tiles come in lots: count enough to cover your area plus spares, check thickness and size consistency, and look for chipped edges, worn surfaces and old mortar.
Staffordshire Dog
Indicative US retail $80–$1,500 · typical $300
Ceramic spaniel figurines, made in pairs in 19th-century England. Period dogs are press-molded and hand-painted, with crisp but softened details, enamel colors over the glaze, and kiln marks on the base; the base is usually open or has a small vent hole.
Figurine
Indicative US retail $15–$1,000 · typical $80
Small porcelain, ceramic or bronze figures. Marks under the base identify most factories (Meissen's crossed swords, Sèvres' interlaced Ls, Lladró's flower, Quimper's HB or Henriot); fakes of Meissen and Sèvres marks are common.
Serving Pieces
Salt Cellar
Indicative US retail $20–$600 · typical $80
Small dishes for salt, in silver, crystal or porcelain. Silver cellars carry hallmarks: the Minerva head for French silver after 1838, older French marks with a cock or an old man's head before.
Gravy Boat
Indicative US retail $20–$400 · typical $80
A sauce boat, often with underplate. Marks on the base should match the service; check the spout lip and handle, the parts most often chipped or restored.
Butter Dish
Indicative US retail $20–$300 · typical $70
Covered dishes for butter, in glass, porcelain or silver. Check that the cover is original to the base and free of chips; covers are often lost or replaced.
Cake Stand
Indicative US retail $30–$500 · typical $100
Footed stands for cakes, in glass, porcelain and silver. Check the foot and rim, the most exposed parts, for chips and repairs, and the join between stem and plate on two-part stands.
Serving Platter
Indicative US retail $40–$800 · typical $150
Large oval or round serving dishes. Read the back stamp to identify the maker and period; check rims for chips and the glaze for crazing, knife marks and stains.
Soup Tureen
Indicative US retail $80–$2,500 · typical $300
A covered serving bowl with ladle, a centerpiece of 19th-century tables. Check that the lid belongs to the base: decoration, color of the glaze and the mark should match, and the lid should sit without rocking.
Bowls, Jars & Misc.
Apothecary Jar
Indicative US retail $40–$1,000 · typical $150
Glass and porcelain pharmacy jars, often with labels. Ground-glass stoppers should fit snugly; gilt labels, Latin names and pharmacy names add value.
Cookie Jar
Indicative US retail $20–$600 · typical $80
Ceramic cookie jars, especially American figural jars from the 1940s-70s. Maker marks under the base help identify; reproductions and fakes are often about 10 percent smaller because they are cast from originals, with blurred details and weaker colors.
Vintage Pyrex Bowl
Indicative US retail $15–$400 · typical $50
Patterned Pyrex mixing and serving bowls from 1950s-70s. Pattern names, complete nesting sets and rare colors add value; check for dishwasher damage, which leaves a dull, chalky, faded surface, and for chips, scratches and utensil marks.
Decanter
Indicative US retail $40–$1,200 · typical $150
Glass and crystal decanters for wine and spirits. Original stoppers should match the body in style and fit; numbers etched on the stopper and the neck sometimes match.
Olive Jar
Indicative US retail $300–$3,000 · typical $900
Large terracotta jars from Provence and the Mediterranean used to store olive oil. Look for wheel-thrown bodies, a partial interior glaze, thumbprinted or rope-like rims and potters' stamps; old jars show weathering, lime deposits and wear.
Dough Bowl
Indicative US retail $60–$800 · typical $200
Hand-carved wooden bowls for kneading dough, now popular as decor. A one-piece carved bowl shows tool marks inside and out, uneven walls and old repairs with metal staples or butterfly patches; a dark, smooth patina from flour and handling is desirable.
Glass Carafe
Indicative US retail $20–$400 · typical $70
Simple water and wine carafes, including French bistro and pharmacy carafes. Hand-blown carafes show pontil marks, bubbles and slight asymmetry; advertising carafes carry printed or enameled logos that should be crisp and complete.
Cast Iron
Cast Iron Cauldron
Indicative US retail $60–$900 · typical $200
Cast-iron pots for hearth cooking. Foundry marks and capacity numbers are cast on cast iron; check for cracks, which are serious, and old repairs.
Griswold Cast Iron
Indicative US retail $30–$1,500 · typical $120
American cast-iron skillets and pans from Griswold (1865-1957). The logo dates the piece: the "large block logo" (a cross in a double circle with "Griswold Erie PA") is typical of 1920-1940, smaller logos later.
Statues & Curiosities
Antique Statue
Indicative US retail $100–$5,000 · typical $500
Statues in bronze, marble, plaster and spelter. Bronze is heavy, cold and shows reddish-gold metal when lightly scratched; spelter is lighter and shows gray metal and breaks rather than bends.
Sculpture
Indicative US retail $100–$10,000 · typical $600
Decorative and fine sculpture in bronze, wood and stone. Signatures in the bronze, foundry stamps, reduction marks (the Collas mechanical-reduction seal) and edition numbers help identify; posthumous casts and modern fakes are common, often with soft detail and a uniform brown patina.
Decoy
Indicative US retail $40–$10,000 · typical $300
Hand-carved wooden duck and bird decoys. Original paint with honest wear, glass or tack eyes, a carver's brand or initials on the base and lead weights indicate authentic working decoys.
Antique Bell
Indicative US retail $20–$500 · typical $80
Brass and bronze bells, school and farm bells. Cast inscriptions, foundry names and dates add interest and value; a crack spoils the sound and lowers value sharply.
Bust
Indicative US retail $150–$5,000 · typical $600
Portrait busts in marble, plaster or bronze. Carved marble shows tool marks and often a signature on the side or back; plaster busts should have an old patina, perhaps a maker's stamp, and should not be bright white; bronze busts carry foundry marks.
Copper & Cookware
Antique Kettle
Indicative US retail $30–$600 · typical $120
Copper, brass and cast-iron kettles. Look at the seams: a hand-made copper kettle is joined with dovetailed or brazed seams visible as a zigzag line; spun or pressed kettles, later, are seamless.
Terracotta Pot
Indicative US retail $30–$1,500 · typical $120
Hand-thrown terracotta pots, including Anduze vases. Look for wheel-thrown marks, an uneven, mottled glaze on Anduze vases, a potter's stamp near the base, and a weathered patina with lime deposits and moss.
French Copper Cookware
Indicative US retail $80–$1,200 · typical $250
Heavy copper pots and pans from French makers: Mauviel, Dehillerin, Gaillard. Copper thickness is the key: 2 to 3 mm is professional quality and feels heavy.
French Confit Pot
Indicative US retail $80–$700 · typical $250
Glazed terracotta jars from southwest France used to preserve duck and goose confit. Old pots show wheel marks, a worn glaze with crazing and natural staining from fat and salt; the base should be weathered and slightly irregular.
Glass, Crystal & Barware
Vintage Wine Glasses
Indicative US retail $10–$250 · typical $35
Stemware for wine, from French bistro glasses to cut crystal. Crystal is heavier than glass, rings clearly when tapped and refracts light; Baccarat, Saint-Louis and Daum often etch marks under the foot.
Champagne Bucket
Indicative US retail $80–$1,200 · typical $250
Ice buckets for champagne, often branded by champagne houses. Branded buckets are collected by house and period; the logo should be crisply engraved, embossed or cast, and the maker's mark is often under the base.
Champagne Coupe
Indicative US retail $10–$200 · typical $40
Shallow wide champagne glasses, popular from the 1920s to 1960s. Etched marks under the foot identify crystal (Baccarat's circle with a decanter and glasses, Saint-Louis, Daum France); hand-blown glasses show subtle variations; check rims for chips and bowls for cloudiness.
Silver & Flatware
Silverware & Flatware
Indicative US retail $150–$3,000 · typical $600
Sterling and silver-plate cutlery, including French Christofle and Ercuis. Hallmarks are the key.
Silver Plate
Indicative US retail $10–$400 · typical $50
Base metal items electroplated with silver: trays, teapots, serving pieces. Marks distinguish plate from sterling: EPNS (electroplated nickel silver), "Sheffield," "Christofle" with a square mark, "Ercuis" or hotel names.
Home Linens
Antique Quilt
Indicative US retail $80–$2,000 · typical $300
Hand-stitched quilts, American patchwork and French boutis. Count the stitches per inch: fine hand-quilting is dense and slightly irregular; machine quilting is perfectly even.
Vintage Pillow
Indicative US retail $30–$400 · typical $100
Pillows made from antique textiles. The fabric should be genuinely old: soft, faded, with honest wear and handwoven irregularities; reproductions are crisp and uniform.
French Linen
Indicative US retail $40–$400 · typical $120
Antique linen sheets, towels and table linen, often monogrammed. Handwoven linen has slubs and irregularities; a central seam signals a narrow handloom.
Boxes & Smoking
Jewelry Box
Indicative US retail $30–$1,000 · typical $120
Boxes for jewelry in wood, silver, enamel and gilt metal. Open it: a fitted interior with original silk or velvet, removable trays and a working lock with key add value.
Bread Box
Indicative US retail $20–$300 · typical $70
Kitchen bread bins in enamel, tin or wood. Lettering and few chips add value on enamel boxes; check for rust and a working lid.
Cigar Box
Indicative US retail $20–$500 · typical $80
Humidors and cigar boxes. Cedar linings with their characteristic aroma, inlaid lids, silver plaques, original keys and working hygrometers add value.
Baskets & Wicker
Antique Basket
Indicative US retail $20–$400 · typical $80
Woven baskets for markets, eggs and gathering. Handmade baskets show irregular weave, old repairs, darkened handles and wear on the base.
Vintage Suitcase
Indicative US retail $50–$2,000 · typical $200
Leather and canvas luggage. Look inside for maker labels and stamped serial numbers on locks; luxury cases often carry the address of the shop, which helps date them.
Egg Basket
Indicative US retail $30–$300 · typical $90
Wire and wicker baskets for collecting eggs. An old basket is twisted by hand, with slightly uneven loops, wraps and spirals, and shows gray patina with spots of rust.
Coffee & Tea
Antique Teapot
Indicative US retail $40–$2,000 · typical $150
Teapots in silver, porcelain, pewter and earthenware. Hallmarks on silver identify maker, date and purity; check the joints of handle and spout for repairs and dents.
Tea Caddy
Indicative US retail $80–$2,000 · typical $300
Lockable boxes for storing tea, 18th and 19th century. Fitted interiors, original foil linings, mixing bowls and keys add value; check inlay for losses, hinges for repairs and feet for replacements.
Coffee Pot
Indicative US retail $30–$800 · typical $120
Coffee pots and percolators in silver, enamel and porcelain. Silver verseuses are hallmarked on the body and lid; check the wooden handle for cracks and replacements, and the spout for dents.
Toys & Games
Antique Doll
Indicative US retail $100–$10,000 · typical $800
Bisque, composition and cloth dolls; French Jumeau and Bru. Maker marks are incised on the back of the head or shoulders (Jumeau, "Déposé Tête Jumeau," SFBJ, AM 390); paperweight glass eyes, closed mouths and original wigs, clothes and shoes add value.
Vintage Toy
Indicative US retail $20–$1,500 · typical $100
Tin toys, wooden toys and die-cast cars. Original boxes greatly increase value, often doubling it.
Antique Fabrics
Toile de Jouy
Indicative US retail $20–$200 · typical $60
French printed cotton with pastoral scenes in one color. Antique toile was printed from engraved copperplates and shows fine, detailed lines; the repeat may be very large.
Tapestry & Needlework
Tapestry
Indicative US retail $150–$10,000 · typical $800
Woven wall hangings, French Aubusson and verdure tapestries. On a handwoven tapestry, the back shows the same image with loose threads; machine-woven ones show a regular grid and the same image on both sides without irregularities.
How we write these guides: identification notes are general guidance written by French Country; a style name, a region or a resemblance does not by itself date or attribute a piece. Price ranges are indicative US retail asking prices for antique and vintage examples in sound condition (dealers, specialist marketplaces and auctions), estimated and rounded as of November 2026; check recent sold results before relying on a figure. They are not appraisals or offers to buy or sell: condition, provenance and documentation can move a value far outside the range. For insurance, estates or sales, ask an independent, qualified appraiser for a written valuation.