Hi there, I operate TEA_PAST_TIMES on EBAY and am coming up on my 6th year of selling vintage and antique china.  Over the years, we have done much research and will post a few things here that may help new buyers of China correctly date the items they are bidding on.

       You may have noticed that almost all sellers on Ebay list china items as collectable, vintage, antique, old, very old etc.  But are they really?  Here is a little smattering of facts that may help you correctly date the china you have inherited, or kept in the family through the years.  Or it may help you correctly date what you are considering bidding on, or what you want to sell on Ebay.

    So in no particular order, here are a few rules of thumb, to keep in mind when bidding on china on Ebay.

1. Backstamps that are pressed into the item, rather than printed on, indicate an older item, that may date between 1850-1899.  By the early 1900's most backstamps were printed.  So if someone tells you it was made in the 1800's and the backstamp is printed in ink, they would in most cases be wrong.
2. If the backstamp of your china item has no country of origin, it was likely made before 1891.  If the item has no backstamp at all, it was also likely made before 1891.
3. If you item has the words "Made in", as part of the backstamp, it was made after 1921.  Antiques are items that are at least 100 years old, so people who list items as antiques that say "Made in" on the back are listing incorrectly.  These items should be described as vintage or collectable.
4. Registration numbers only tell you the date the pattern was registered, not when it was made.  Some patterns are hundreds of years old.
5. Most, but not all, old pottery should have crazing lines in the finish.  Be cautious buying "ANTIQUE" items that have no crazing at all.  If it is a hundred years old or more, there is often some crazing.  Sometimes when I am trying to determine betwen an antique and a reproduction, it's the crazing I look for to determine.
6. Just because your china has a certain name on it, doesn't mean it is old.  Some trade names have been in use for over 100 years, (for example: WEDGWOOD), but are still made new today.  There are many helpful sites on the net, such as wwwthepotteries.org that will show you year by year pictures of backstamps.  This is very helpful in determining what year your china could have been produced.
7. If you want to know if something is old, look closely at it.  Does it look hand crafted or mass produced.  Older china has slight imperfections, from marks coming out of the mold, to extra lumps or dents, uneven painting, slight variations from item to item.  China making was once an artform performed by renowned craftsman, an antique item should look like this.
8. If your item is gilded with gold in 14KT or 24 KT and that is marked on the item it is very likely an antique and valuable.  They don't use real gold on china anymore.  At $600 an ounce is it any wonder?
9. Sellers love the word RARE, hoping to boost the value of the item by convincing you of it's rarity. Before you buy a china item on Ebay, look to see how many of these items are for sale on Ebay at that particular time.  If you could get 50 of them right now, how old can it be, or how valuable.  Conversely, if you look up an item you wish to buy and it is one of only one or two being offered, you have probably found something good.  I am never happier than when I have the only one of something listed on Ebay. 
10. And finally, if someone is selling ANTIQUE china, shouldn't they put in their listing how they know it's an antique.  I see scads of sellers that list something like RARE PRECIOUS ANTIQUE CUP AND SAUCER.  When you go into the listing, all they tell you is it's condition and size.  If a seller thinks their item is rare and precious, why not share why, unless they are just making it up.  From a neighbourhood rummage sale to you I say in that case, and be careful.

     Well I've never written a guide before, I hope that when you are out treasure hunting, you will develope a little mental checklist as I have of what to look for when turning over and inspecting all those wonderful china items for sale out there.  Take care. TEA_PAST_TIMES