Treasures: Vintage dinnerware worth more in sentiment than at auction

Dear Helaine and Joe: I wonder if you can provide information on a complete set of dinnerware, which serves eight. All I know is that the set is very old. The pieces are marked "Mintons, est. 1793, Commodore, Made in England." I would appreciate the age and value. — J.P., Fort Pierce, Fla.

Dear J.P.: Thomas Minton began making earthenware in Stoke, Staffordshire, England, in 1793. The manufacturing of bone china — a type of artificial porcelain using cow bones in its formula — did not begin until the latter part of 1797.

The company's early wares were generally not marked until about 1805 when it began employing a device that resembled the one used by Sevres in France plus the letter "M" with a pattern number below. Between 1816 and 1824, bone china was not made, but production of an improved, whiter body-bone china commenced in 1824 and continues to be made to the present day.

Minton specialized in making tea and dessert services, as well as elaborate ornamental wares that ranged from ewers and urns to mantel garniture sets and beautiful figural pieces. Minton became one of the great names in English ceramics, rivaling such prestigious firms as Wedgwood, Royal Worcester and Doulton (Royal Doulton).

The idea that this is a "complete set" is somewhat incorrect because J.P. is missing serving items, such as one or more different sizes of platters, a vegetable bowl, either the salad or luncheon plates, cream soup bowls and demitasse cups and saucers.

She does have eight dinner plates, eight rimmed soup bowls, eight bread-and-butter plates and eight plates that may be either luncheon or salad, depending upon the size, which we do not know. The luncheon plate, however, has a diameter of 9 inches and the salad plate has a diameter of 7-3/4 inches, so a simple measurement should tell J.P. which one she has.

Minton began making its "Commodore" pattern in 1934, and the mark on the back of the pieces indicates that these items were made between 1934 and 1950 (to most collectors, this would not make them "very old," but more "mid-20th century"). For a part of this time, Minton marked its wares with a date letter that can be seen by holding a plate to the light and looking for a symbol in the clay.