by Pamela Siegel
When it comes to ceramic figurines, there’s a type for every taste and budget. From delicate antiques worth thousands to cute collectibles going for a few dollars each, you can home in on elegant decorative objects or seek examples that are nothing short of fun.
The porcelain figurines you’ll run across when buying secondhand usually fall into the inexpensive to moderate price range. It’s a buy-it-if-you-like-it situation no matter where you’re shopping for them. Nevertheless, it’s important to learn what to look for so you’ll know how to spot one of those more valuable treasures when you run across it.
Goebel figurines featuring Disney characters
Understanding Marks on Porcelain Figurines
When an avid collector runs across a porcelain figurine “in the wild,” as they’re wont to say, the first thing they do is check the bottom for one or more marks. Various marks and other stampings on porcelain can provide valuable information to help you decide whether to buy the piece and how much to pay for it.
Three things marks on figurines can tell you are:
1. The manufacturer. A maker’s mark, sometimes called a backstamp, is the most important stamping on a figurine. Identification and valuation research always begins with knowing which company made a piece. Marks can be printed in ink either under or over the glaze. Alternately, some are incised into the ceramic material during the manufacturing process.
2. How old it is. Changes in marks can provide clues to help date figurines, especially when the lifespan of a company covers a long period of time. Marks used by most major manufacturers during various periods have been documented by advanced collectors extensively studying those objects.
3. The name or model. Auxiliary marks have been employed by many manufacturers of collectibles to identify each individual design. Some state the name of the design or a particular line, while others simply denote a number. You won’t find these on antique examples as readily as on those sold in higher quantities like Hummel and Lladro figurines.
Once you make a note of all the different marks on your figurine, you can do online searches to look up the brand, figure out how old it is using marks guides, and come up with the name of the design, if applicable.
Mark on a Royal Doulton figurine
How to Know if a Collectible Figurine is Valuable
After doing your initial research to determine exactly what you have, using resources like completed item searches on auction sites and price guides will help you assess the value. When perusing auction listings, be sure to look at closed items instead of asking prices to get the best estimations.
As you peruse prior sale prices, there are some general factors to keep in mind about the most valuable figurines, including:
Rarity. Rarities vary from manufacturer to manufacturer. Sometimes early versions of figurines made prior to their mass production end up being rare. Other times items were made in short production runs. Just remember that objects sold specifically as “limited editions” aren’t always rarities worth more money than average.
Complexity. Across all makers and types, figurines with highly detailed designs taking a great amount of effort to produce will generally be more valuable. These can take the form of a group of dancing characters, a horse-drawn carriage, or several children playing together. Because of the difficulty and manhours required to design and create some of these pieces, they can also fall into the category of small production runs.
Condition. This is a factor with all types of collectibles, but breakable items like ceramics are even more vulnerable to devaluation because of damage. Be sure to check each one for chips, cracks, and elements that have been repaired. If you can, carry a small ultraviolet light with you when you’re shopping. They can be particularly helpful in detecting glues used to repair intricate figurines.
Several Royal Doulton figurines
Valuable Collectible Figurines to Look for While Hunting
Most companies associated with collectible figurines made a wide variety of products over a long span of time. Some are still going strong. It’s always important to look up each one individually since there are almost always a few high-value exceptions, regardless of the brand.
For example, Precious Moments figurines, first made in the 1970s, were marketed specifically as collectibles, made in mass quantities, and sold very well. They are plentiful in the current secondary marketplace and are usually valued quite low. A few of them, however, can be worth hundreds today.
Some other valuable exceptions can also be found for other brands, such as:
Hummel. The most valuable Hummel figurines made by Goebel fall into two categories. The first is single figures produced in the 1930s that have the earliest Hummel mark. Several multi-figure Hummels made decades later are also more valuable than average. Prices for rare pieces range from hundreds to thousands. Other figurines by Goebel can also be collectible, although most are reasonably priced like many of the mass-produced Hummel figurines.
Lladro. Figurines by Lladro vary widely in price. The most valuable items to look for are those with multiple figures in the design. Some of these complex examples of porcelain artistry took dozens of workers hundreds of hours to create. These were also produced in limited quantities, making them hard to find and worth good sums.
Lladro "Love's Tender Tokens" figurine
Royal Doulton. Literally, thousands of figurines have been made under the Royal Doulton brand. Those with the earliest mark used from 1913 to the late 1930s are often worth more to collectors. Examples made in small production runs, artist-signed pieces, and varying colors in clothing can also make one figurine in the same style more valuable than another.
Capodimonte. Italian porcelain, known as Capodimonte, has been made by many different companies. Their products decorated with hand-formed flowers are the most familiar among shoppers. Ceramic figurines have also been produced with a crowned N mark indicative of Capodimonte. If you happen to find one in a complicated design with multiple figures, or an antique version dating to the 1700s, they can indeed be worth thousands. The antique Capodimonte figurines can be distinguished by the small size of the character’s head in proportion to the body.
There are many other types of figurines you may run across. A few of those brands include Snowbabies, Royal Copenhagen, Herend, and Richard Ginori. You may also find antique German pieces, like Dresden Lace and Meissen figurines, and Sevres pieces originating in France. Regardless of the origin or age, when possible, seek values within the past year since some examples bringing crazy sums years ago now sell for far less.
A grouping of Royal Copenhagen figurines
Best places to buy collectible figurines
The best selection of figurines can be found in online marketplaces, including auctions. Because decorative figurines are regularly part of household liquidations, the estate sale auctions on AuctionNinja can be a great place to start your hunt. Internet-based multi-dealer venues like Ruby Lane and Etsy also offer alternatives for internet shoppers. Figurines show up in listings on Mercari and Facebook Marketplace fairly frequently as well.
When in-person shopping is a preference, thrift stores offer the best chance for bargains, followed by flea markets and garage sales. A wide variety of figurines can also be found in local antique malls, but knowledgeable dealers usually price them at or a bit above current market value. No matter where you’re doing your in-person buying, don’t be shy about asking for the “best price.” Sometimes a simple request can yield a discount of at least 10 percent, and maybe even more.
Ready to add to your figurine collection? Start by shopping all the Porcelain and Fine China selections offered by sellers on AuctionNinja.com.
Written by:
February 6, 2023 Updated 01:10 PM
As a freelance writer, Pamela Siegel covers lifestyle topics ranging from antiques and collectibles to interior design and everything around the home. Her work appears on The Spruce where she shared tips and research as the site’s antiques expert for many years. She also writes for House Digest, Kovels Antique Trader, Worthpoint, and Mashed. In addition to penning thousands of articles for online resources and print-based pubs, Siegel authored several books including “Warman’s Costume Jewelry” and “Buying & Seling Antiques and Collectibles on eBay.” She also shares her expertise with other magazine writers along with doing television, radio and podcast interviews. As often as possible, Siegel loves shopping flea markets and estate sales for her next great find, home decorating, foodie pursuits, and exploring the world on cruise ships.
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