Glass and Crystal Condition Designation

Condition Designation Criteria for Ocean Liner China

EXCELLENT—Few or no marks and very little wear. Potter’s marks are visible and sharp. No cracks, chips, or crazing.
VERY GOOD—Few or no marks and very little wear. Potter’s marks are visible, but may be faded. No cracks or chips, but glazing may have some crazing.
GOOD—Few marks, but some wear. Potter’s marks are visible, but may be faded. May have a small imperfection, crack, or chip, but is otherwise fine. Glazing may have some crazing.
FAIR—Some or several marks and a fair amount of wear. Potter’s marks may be barely visible, but can be discerned. May have a crack or chip (or both), but not more than one of each. Glaze may be crazed and/or cracked.
POOR—Some or many marks. May show much wear. Potter’s marks may no longer be visible. May have multiple cracks and/or chips. Glazing may be quite crazed and/or worn.

Some Important Notes on Condition
We use our experience and our eyes to designate the condition of each item. We probably err on the side of counting more flaws to ensure that our customers are getting the best value for their investment. With all due respect to others who offer ocean liner collectibles, it is simply not possible for every piece to be in excellent condition. Further, if an object has a flaw, this affects the condition of the entire piece. We do not believe it is fair or ethical to say that a piece is in excellent condition, except for a major flaw. If an object has a major flaw, it affects the condition of the entire object. There are instances where one separate element of an object may be in one condition and the other in a different condition. For example, a cup may be in good condition, while the saucer is in excellent condition. We leave it to the buyer’s judgment whether such a set is desirable. But we try to be as clear as possible so that you can make that judgment.

Some very desirable pieces of china may only be available in a condition we designate as “fair” or “poor.” Since the price of an item in poor condition is less than for an object in excellent condition, the less expensive one is a way for some collectors to fill out their collections until they can afford one in better condition.