# Need help- China Pattern question **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [February 13, 2000, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-help-china-pattern-question/13725 "2000-02-13T19:23:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![BoBettie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4af34b/32.png) [@BoBettie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BoBettie)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2000, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-help-china-pattern-question/13725/1 "2000-02-13T19:23:00Z")
Hey all- Believe me, I’ve scoured the net looking- this is my last resort. A close friend of mine gave me a set of china she got for her first wedding (about 20 years ago) that is in MINT condition. Never used- just sat in a box in the attic. She said I should feel free to sell it if I could. I want to list it on E-bay- it’s Noritake Essex pattern. Unbelieveably, there are NO OTHER PIECES listed on E-bay of that pattern! (There is something called Essex court, but that’s not it). I don’t want to just give it away, but I’m unsure of it’s value. I believe the pattern is discontinued, but I’m unable to fine the “going rate” so to speak. ## Any ideas? Zette Love is like popsicles…you get too much you get too high. Not enough and you’re gonna die… [Zettecity](http://www.angelfire.com/ny3/zettecity/index.html) ---
**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/original/2X/e/e489c3b7d8fce19c4b355dd4fc3f88cc39c34b87.png) [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2000, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-help-china-pattern-question/13725/2 "2000-02-13T19:43:00Z")
Take a piece down to your local china shop. They usually have books of all the older patterns, including what’s available and how much it costs. Barring a match, they can at least give you a pretty good estimate. Dr. Watson ---
**Author:** ![OJSimpson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/b487fb/32.png) [@OJSimpson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OJSimpson)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2000, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-help-china-pattern-question/13725/3 "2000-02-13T19:53:00Z")
the louder it is when you smash one on the driveway the more its worth. ---
**Author:** ![aseymayo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a88e57/32.png) [@aseymayo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aseymayo)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2000, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-help-china-pattern-question/13725/4 "2000-02-13T20:15:00Z")
**Zette** - head to the library and the reference section. There are all kinds of price guides available, including Noritake books. (Pay attention to the mark - the color and style identify when your stuff was made.) ---
**Author:** ![okatym](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/76d3ee/32.png) [@okatym](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/okatym)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2000, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-help-china-pattern-question/13725/5 "2000-02-13T21:18:00Z")
The International Association of Dinnereware Matchers has links to companies that buy and sell China. I found some complimentary pieces to our china through them. [http://www.iadm.com](http://www.iadm.com) Good luck! -Katy ---
**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/original/2X/e/e489c3b7d8fce19c4b355dd4fc3f88cc39c34b87.png) [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2000, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-help-china-pattern-question/13725/6 "2000-02-13T22:31:00Z")
Here’s a couple of sites which buy & sell Noritake china, and list several Essex patterns (sometimes patterns change slightly over the years, and get assigned 2 or more pattern numbers). The pattern numbers should be stamped on the bottome of the pieces, right by the pattern name. [http://www.networkpatternmatching.com/](http://www.networkpatternmatching.com/) [http://www.replacements.com](http://www.replacements.com) * * * Sue from El Paso Siamese Attack Puppet - Texas Experience is what you get when you didn’t get what you wanted. ---
**Author:** ![BoBettie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4af34b/32.png) [@BoBettie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BoBettie)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2000, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-help-china-pattern-question/13725/7 "2000-02-13T23:06:00Z")
Thanks you guys- I’m going to try those links, and my next step is a Barnes and Noble/Starbucks “reading” day 🙂 Zette * * * Love is like popsicles…you get too much you get too high. Not enough and you’re gonna die… [Zettecity](http://www.angelfire.com/ny3/zettecity/index.html) ---
**Author:** ![handy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5a626/32.png) [@handy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handy)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2000, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-help-china-pattern-question/13725/8 "2000-02-14T00:07:00Z")
Noritake Essex, sugar, no bids, $9.95 on ebay. You forgot to search completed items I guess… [http://cgi.ebay.com/aw-cgi/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=252777701](http://cgi.ebay.com/aw-cgi/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=252777701) ---
**Author:** ![BoBettie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4af34b/32.png) [@BoBettie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BoBettie)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2000, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-help-china-pattern-question/13725/9 "2000-02-14T00:31:00Z")
Handy, You are absolutely correct- I DID forget to check completed auctions- I forgot you could do that! Thanks for the tip and the link 🙂 Zette * * * Love is like popsicles…you get too much you get too high. Not enough and you’re gonna die… [Zettecity](http://www.angelfire.com/ny3/zettecity/index.html)