Why "flow blue"? 

About 200 years ago potters learned to duplicate patterns by transferring them on paper from engraved metal plates to pottery which was then was heated in a super-hot oven (kiln) where the pattern fused with the surface. Patterns of this "transferware" sometimes flowed outward forming a blurred halo. Potters began producing this "flow" deliberately with chemicals.

Why? At that time, pottery had many defects, bubbles in the glaze, stilt marks where items rested in the kiln, and poorly matched patterns. The blurring helped to hide these and also reduced the too-precise look of the duplicated patterns.

More and More Blue

Flow blue and other transferware, mostly produced in the Staffordshire region of Britain, were among the first truly mass-produced industrial consumer products: Vast quantities were exported to America: up to 250,000 items in a single shipload. It is the few survivors of these millions that we prize today.

By the mid-1800s transfer technology could produce extremely fine detail with no blurring (known simply as transferware these non-flow blue items are also now highly prized. ( Click here for my Transferware Guide ) But Americans liked the look of  flow (sometimes "flo") blue, and it was produced until in the early 1900s.

Boom, Bust and Boom Again

Flow blue was not collected seriously for another half-century when much had been lost to wear and breakage. In the 1960s, the late Petra Williams, noticed some flow blue at an auction in Kentucky. She wanted to know more about it, began a collection and later published the first serious reference books on flow bue patterns (her Flow Blue China books I, II & III are still standard reference works and are often for sale on eBay.)
As more collectors appeared antique dealers had to compete more at auction for supplies. By the early 1990s prices were sky high. Then eBay arrived, enabling sellers to sell directly to buyers without going through dealers. Higher prices for sellers drew a lot more flow blue onto the market. Prices dropped as sellers competed. Now supply and demand are in balance again, and prices are showing a steady upward trend -- after all, flow blue can only get rarer!

Feeling Blue

Antique sellers are not more -- or less  -- dishonest than any other eBayers. But it is human nature to understate the bad and exaggerate the good. Sometimes, that "tiny nibble" turns out to be much bigger than described. Large, clear photographs are a good sign but even here less scrupulous sellers can use retouching software to reduce stains and spots or even completely hide faults. So what can a savvy collector do?

Secrets of the Savvy

Check out the seller.  Don't try and wade through pages of feedback. Instead go to the website Toolhaus.org enter the seller's eBay name:  all neutral and negative feedback will be immediately displayed. Look for a pattern of complaints, like "not as described".

Beware of sellers who try too hard to reassure: it's okay to say something displays well despite chip under the rim, but a chip above the rim....I don't think so!

Usually, large-volume sellers are safer,  they know what is acceptable,  and their reputation (feedback) matters to them.

If you see what looks like a great bargain from an obviously inexperienced seller use the "Ask Seller a Question" button to tie them down on condition:  for example:  "Does the plate  have any chips, cracks, rim nibbles, hairlines, stains, or deep utensil marks?" They are unlikey to lie on the record, and if they do, you have hard evidence for an official eBay dispute.

Try to choose sellers who:  

• Display large, sharp photographs
  
• Describe items clearly and in detail, and list minor flaws 
  
• Mention any research sources
  
• Offer a no-hassle money-back guarantee
  
• Have an eBay store, or frequent auctions (they'll want you back!)

Armed with these secrets, go forth and collect safely!

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