Nope; not into that sort of thing. I probably nipped up the Ivory Frog of Shanghai into my backsplash. (Does that make my house worth millions now???) haha...

But here's a funny thing: There have been numerous times when I'm in the thrifts when there are other women around looking for- I can only assume- valuable pieces. I look at a plate for coloring & cutability only. Oh, and I will usually turn a piece over to find the price tag.
On several excursions, I found things, turned them over to see if they were cheap enough, and these women were watching me. As soon as I moved along the shelf, they'd go to the stack of dishes I was just at, and pick it up and flip it over. Weird. Then another day a woman actually approached me to ASK what I had found, seeing only one of this, or one of that in my hand, and I pointed her to the dishes I just picked out, and she hurried over to take a look.
All I was looking for was a price tag- LOL!

Had to laugh the other day when I was browsing on eBay and found a 100-pc nipped set of Royal Doulton china pieces. They wanted $100 for it!!! Crazy. Especially when I just saw that pattern in TJ Maxx the other day. Whatever. They can keep it.

If it's colorful, has flowers, it's broken - no matter the name on the back. Join us - you'd like it.

I mince nothing.......nothing is safe when it gets into my hands..............if it has all the colors I'm needing...it's a smashing good time!!!

I bought many antique plates in the beginning and paid more than I should for some to break,but it's what I wanted so I broke it anyway.I still pay more than I should for some at Marshalls etc,but we don't have good GS or TS here so it's what I have to do.I'm finding glass is Very pricey for me also,guess because I can't cut with out wasting a lot...thats why to sell anything and make anything at all you gotta price it pretty high.I envy those that live in areas wher you can buy plates for 1-2 dollars.Used to buy all kinds of plated off e-bay but now shipping will kill you.

That's funny MM...sounds like you caught me shopping.

Thanks Slow:)... but I'm afraid that I'd first have to
overcome my 'Antiquing' mentality. Still one of those people looking for that elusive century's past find.

I got a set of Dansk "Mosaic" pattern on shopgoodwill.com, I looked them up on EBay when they came as they were beautiful. They were selling for $173.00 per place setting, so to save my conscience, I listed them on EBay and let the auction run for 7 days. no takers, so I took them to the studio and started nipping. I will now do 2 urns that belong in my yard with hostas in them.
I even think for a second or two about the Fiesta before I break it,but usually I need the color, so crack it goes.
I look on the bottoms to see the maker sometimes @ SA or GW, but if it is priced right, I buy it. Any thing that I get at GS is fair game.
I buy for color and pattern like Slow, I don't really care about names!
Hope this helps?

Helps? First you'll have to pick me up off the floor.
$173 a "place-setting"???
It's not so much a money thing I guess...don't get me wrong, I like the money...but more of a history thing.
But I don't know, they still make 'Fiesta' right? Still
think I'd have a hard time cracking it up. That's why I'm living vicariously through your current pieces Flag.

I'm hoping through your responses that maybe I'll
get a little china-desensitized.

Fiesta is sold all over ebay by people who have access to the factory seconds...if that eases your conscience any...I nip away...
However, if it was my GRANDMOTHER'S Fiesta...that's a different story.

I'm not an antiqueR... if I want it and I want to use it... I won't care what it's worth just as long as I got it cheap! LOL

I wouldn't know a valuable piece if it hit me.... and I don't want to know ! The pleasure I get from breaking stuff is worth more to me ......

Well, I will check eBay. I figure if I can get some $$$ for it I will.More money to buy more plates, glass tools etc. Having said that, haven't found anything worth it. Ususally anything I find with a "good" name brand usually is all chipped up.

If it was some "family" historic item, why'd they give it away?

Maria

I think a lot of good stuff ends up in GW after
a passing.
Maybe I'll crash a few weddings where they break plates ;)...
me and my broom & dustpan.

I scored 2 sets of these today at the SA Thrift for 50¢ a plate, and while I saw them going for $39.99 on a BIN at one auction, it looks like they haven't sold recently at any price. Phew...but you guilted me into checking; you're so bad!!!

Here is a link that might be useful: Debbie Mumm Spring Bouquet Dishes

yeah but history wise... I like to think that being incorporated into a pice of art is honoring that history better than it living in some china cabinet onle to go to a life of ebay/ flea market and rummage sales...

if by using it well in a good piece of art, it contributes more than it's own value... then do it! Just think, if you don't and it goes on to be accidently broken by someone later, it may go into the trash! FOR SHAME! lol

Point taken.

Good point...those collectors on eBay or wherever are looking for perfection, and will pass over those with flaws. And if that discourages a person enough, it will end up in rummage sales, etc.

Fortunately, many people also realize the 'trash/treasure' mantra, and will say "SOMEbody might want this" before they completely trash an item. Such is the case of items that find themselves at GW/SA, or "the giveaway section" at your local dump. It becomes "too good to throw away, but not worth anything to a collector." Those are good finds.

I usually get mine at GW. But I did get some on Ebay and she emailed me today to say she noticed a small chip and she's sorry and do I still want it and she'll throw in a 3rd plate that has 2 chips if I want! Of course I said YES!
I didn't tell her I was just gonna break 'em anyway!

Those plates are to die for! You are so lucky to get them for only .50! I'm tempted to bid on them, they are so lovely...but the price is still too high. Hopefully she won't sell them and relist them at an even lower price!

Those Debbie Mumm's ARE gorgeous! I'd have paid a dollar even, heck, maybe two! But 4.25 is a bit pricey, plus shipping.

I get a kick when I buy a pile of plates, and they oh so carefully wrap them, knowing I'm going to just bust 'em up. The other day I bought some at a flea market, and like CINDI the lady pointed out a small chip on the edge and did I still want it. 'Course I said yes, and didn't have the heart to tell her I was gonna break it anyway. She DIDN'T offer me a bonus though!

That same flea market I had once told another lady that I was going to break them, and I believe she had a really hard time handing me the bag, poor thing!

Oooh, I have 2 of those plates. Don't remember what I paid, not more than $2. I've been saving them and babying them for "just the right project" I love them so much I don't want to mess up when I use them!!

Maria

I know what you mean Linlee...although I have not bought any plates but a few here and there I always did worry they would be worth something. But I got over it...I think because of watching everyone here..hee hee..

I keep telling my Mom that when shes gone the chinas mine and it aint gonna stay in one piece...I think she's willing it to someone else!!!!!

I do agree that if I buy something it really is only worth what I want it to be...meaning if I feel I get my moneys worth out of making a mosaic out of it then I got the better part of the deal.

I have read about an artist that uses gems (real ones) and gold in her works and doesnt worry about it..I cant remember what her reasons were but they were cool.

I would love to be at a table at the antique road show nipping priceless plates while the stunned people watch...that would be worth the whole thing!!!!

I guess IMHO its up to the owner to determine whether or not they can break it, use it, and live with it!!!!

OMG- can you picture it? Going to the 'initial' appraisal part, finding out your piece is worth thousands of dollars (you only went for the fun of it, had every intention of using it for mosaic)...then when they come get you in the green room for your tv spot, there you are, nippers in hand, the production crew's jaws are on the floor, and you've got this puzzled look on your face saying: "What's the problem?"

bwahahahahah!!!!

What a fun thread. I wondered how others felt
about breaking plates as well.

I'll be honest, I flip things over just out
of curiosity, but likely would not know a fine
piece from a fud, so if the piece is found in the
thrift store, it's fair game to me. Smash! :-)

Recently I was picking up a box of discards, things
they would otherwise toss into the trash bin, when
a collector began snooping through my box. The clerk
told him the items were paid for already, so he backed
off and proceeded to mention something about plates
displaying only 'China' are usually older. Apparently
the newer things have 'Made in China' on them.

I love to get plates with markings on them, but it
doesn't stop me from cracking them in half.

One of my favorite phrases...It's only worth what
someone is willing to pay for it.

:-) KM

That's exactly what I was going to say...."It's only worth what someone is willing to pay for it".

I've been collecting plates and other dishes for the last few months. I look on the back, but I really wouldn't know if it were valuable or not. I mainly look to see if it will be easy to break...LOL.

I do have some limits though....I wouldn't buy any dish over $2-$3 each if it were going to be broken for mosiac and if it was obviously a collectible, I don't think I'd have a heart to break it either.

I cringe when someone asks me what I am doing with them. I laugh and I say to them, "You probably don't want to know." At that point, they just gotta know, and I tell them. Most people don't care because they made money off the piece....probably because they knew it was a piece of junk to begin with....LOL

There is this junk shop I frequent, and the owner has started saving broken china for me and just giving it to me. I really want to make her a sign for her store, but I am still collecting items for it. I can't wait to see her face when I get it done. I have some great costume jewelry flower pieces that I think would be perfect for it.

I'm not a plate breaker, either, but I don't think I could do it to something I knew was valuable. Like Linlee, I have a hard time from the history aspect, but I also agree that it's better to be broken and displayed than left whole and stuck in a closet. Nothing like straddling the fence, huh?

My great aunt died several years ago, and the task fell to me to clean her house. There were several pieces of broken china that got tossed and it just makes me sick to think about it now. I tell myself that I didn't know about using plate mosaics at the time. It helps a little, but I still feel bad, especially since I could have made something that would remind me of her.

Well the first plates i used were the dragon ones for the Birdbath. And i would use any plate really. Well maybe. Having been an antique dealer i know some are very high, only perfect though. So hmmmmmm i would have to see first.

Linlee,

I do check the backs but if there are chips or a crack I nip as soon as I get them home so I do not agonize over weather to nip or not. LOL

I do try to preserve anything I think might be a real treasure.

Right now I have a set of dinner plates. The 50's green glass. Saw them go high on Ebay awhile back and hate to cut them up after seeing that. So here they sit.

Sometimes I use the pretty dishes for awhile until another prettier set comes along and then I cut up the old.

Chris

I found these plates on Ebay and made the seller an offer of $4.00 but she came back with $6.00 but with her shipping charge being $9.50 it's not worth it...

I love nipping plates! I too look on the back first, for price, some are ridiculous! I like to find ones that match sets I have, so I can make accessories! GW here has them for mostly 50c. I check the back too to see how thick the footer is! But some is sacred. I have the set my dad brought back from Japan after the war. I would never break those!

Hi everyone,
I am so excited to find this place. I have been researching and researching and right off the bat I find threads that answer many questions!! I have been wanting to do mosaics and broken china jewelry for a while. Just gathering up necessary tools and knowledge...however, china is NOT a problem. I have been in the china replacement biz for 20 years, selling mostly to big replacement dealers and then for the last 5 years I've been selling on Ebay. Now don't cry but last year I dumped 2 van loads of stuff off at our local thrift shop to make room. My hubby is still mad but I tried to tell him, if we've tried to sell it for 5 years and never have, why do we store it? My house and shed were full! I've been collecting up any broken stuff for "the day" I get to play. I also have wondered with the cost of shipping that anyone would spend much on whole pieces. Or If I were to sell a box of broken pieces (the pretty parts anyway), how to wrap it so the mailman didn't have a heart attack if he heard it rattle, even if the buyer knew I was sending pcs, LOL.

I look forward to learning alot from you. I first found this by googling broken china jewelry and found a thread where the discussion was about shaping hearts, but the pics were all gone - darn. I really want to make charms and jewelry so if you gals are still here, please let me know so I can learn about that shaping technique with the pics! Thanks!!

I loved this thread too! I look at antique pieces often (if only at thrifts and GW), as the designs are often more intriquite and the plates break more cleanly than chalky new ones. I also like the edgings, as they make beautiful eaves on my birdhouses. I look at the backs for interest and sometimes use the pattern name as the name for the house! Here's Minuet...

OH gosh, Milliesgirl - I think you are bringing me to tears dear or at least I'm hyperventilating! china - thrown out... WAHHHHHHH! LOL

okay. I cut my charms with a ring saw, here are the pics.

here I am gluing the hearts on as templates (plus I was checking with toomuchglass if she could solder something that small - thus the ruler)
{{!gwi}}

then here's the cutting process

then Toomuch did the foiling, soldering and sent them to be plated and I made these for my DDs

I know there was another cutting tutorial from Mango on how to nip hearts by hand but I having seen her post in a long time so if her pics are gone, we're outta luck

Oh, I, too, ached at reading this about your tossing out all that china. Glad you've joined us, and you'll find lots of ways to use what you have left. Nice to see the pictures of the bird house and jewelry again.

Beautiful birdhouse!!! And of course I could drool over those little hearts all day, Nicethyme!!!

Wow, Nicethyme! You cut out pieces with a "ringsaw"? I am going on line immediately to see what that is! Those are wonderful! I love the necklace! Will you share how you finish the edges and attach them? BEAUTIFUL!

The finishing was done by TooMuchGlass, she treated them similar to stained glass - foiled and soldered and she added a little ring to each one for me to attach a jump ring and go on to the chains.