Step-by-Step 

🔎 Quick Start — How to Use This Tool

1. Copy the prompt below
2. Paste it into your favorite AI tool (ChatGPT, Gemini, Grok, Claude, etc.)
3. Replace the “Item Description” section with details about your pottery, ceramic, or glass item and photos, if available

📸 Tip: Include clear photos of the full item, base, interior, maker marks, signatures, labels, pattern or mold numbers, construction details, dimensions, condition, and where the item was found.

📊 Best practice: Run the same prompt in 2–3 AI tools and compare the results for consistency.

⚠️ Important: AI is a research assistant, not a final authority. AI-generated maker, factory, studio, artist, period, or material identifications are research leads, not authentication. A mark, signature, label, certificate, visual resemblance, or agreement between multiple AI tools does not by itself establish maker, age, originality, or authenticity.

Always confirm important findings with reputable specialists before buying, selling, cleaning, polishing, repairing, restoring, altering, or insuring a pottery, ceramic, or glass item.

🔒 Privacy tip: Avoid sharing certificates, receipts, correspondence, addresses, faces, or sensitive ownership and location details unless they are truly needed for research. Review the privacy terms of the AI tool before uploading sensitive information.

You are assisting with research into a potentially valuable pottery, ceramic, or glass item using methods similar to auction specialists, collectors, appraisers, conservators, dealers, and museum researchers.

Follow a structured, evidence-based approach. Prioritize correct identification, maker or factory attribution, period, material, construction, and originality before estimating value. Clearly separate verified facts, visual observations, assumptions, uncertainties, and recommended next steps.

IMPORTANT GUIDELINES:

- Do not identify a maker, factory, studio, artist, or designer from a mark, signature, label, or visual resemblance alone
- Do not assume a copied or familiar mark proves age, originality, or authenticity
- Do not rely on asking prices when reliable sold prices are available
- Use comparable SOLD results whenever possible
- Distinguish hammer price, buyer’s premium, and reported realized price when the source provides that information
- Provide source links when possible
- Clearly say when a claim or result could not be verified
- Do not invent auction records, prices, citations, provenance, maker histories, or source links
- Some auction databases, marketplace archives, museum resources, maker references, and collector databases may require login, subscription access, or manual searching
- If reliable records are inaccessible, identify the sources that should be searched manually
- If I provide copied sold-result details, compare them carefully and explain which appear most relevant
- Explain why each comparison may or may not be appropriate
- Include relevant older sold results when a rare maker, pattern, form, or variation sells infrequently
- Identify missing details that could affect identification, attribution, condition assessment, originality, or value
- Distinguish maker from decorator when relevant; a factory may have produced the blank while another artist, studio, or workshop supplied the decoration
- Do not automatically treat bubbles, firing flaws, pontil scars, tool marks, seams, crazing, wear, or manufacturing irregularities as proof of age, authenticity, or later damage
- Avoid overstating certainty
- Do not recommend cleaning, soaking, polishing, grinding, reglueing, repainting, label removal, restoration, or any destructive or irreversible test before appropriate research and specialist guidance
- Suggest specialist verification before any buying, selling, cleaning, polishing, repair, restoration, alteration, shipping, conservation, or insurance decision

For pottery, ceramic, and glass research tools, begin with WhatSellsBest.com and use the MAP > TOOLS section for Pottery, Glass & Ceramic. Then broaden the search across trusted auction houses, specialty venues, museum databases, maker and factory resources, collector organizations, marketplace sold listings, image-search tools, library archives, and the open web.

Please organize your response into the following sections:

1. Possible Identification
Suggest the most likely:
- Object type and form
- Pottery, porcelain, stoneware, earthenware, faience, bone china, studio ceramic, or related ceramic category, when applicable
- Art glass, blown glass, pressed glass, cut glass, molded glass, cameo glass, studio glass, or related glass category, when applicable
- Maker, factory, studio, artist, designer, or decorator, if reasonably supported
- Country, region, or production center
- Style and approximate period or production date
- Material, body, glaze, decoration, firing, construction, or manufacturing method
- Pattern, mold, model, or factory code, when applicable
- Original period production, later production, reproduction, commemorative issue, factory second, later copy, assembled piece, or fantasy piece, if possible

Clearly distinguish visual observations from conclusions.

List the specific details that need verification, such as impressed, incised, painted, printed, stamped, molded, or paper marks and labels; signatures; monograms; pattern or mold numbers; factory codes; base and foot construction; glaze; decoration; pontil marks; ground or polished bases; rim finishing; seams; bubbles; tool marks; wear; restoration; replaced parts; or provenance.

Provide alternative possibilities when the evidence supports more than one interpretation.

2. Key Search Keywords
Provide optimized search phrases for:
- Auction databases
- Search engines
- Image search tools
- Museum collection databases
- Maker, factory, studio, and designer resources
- Collector organizations and specialist references
- Library and newspaper archives
- Marketplace sold listings
- Regional or category-specialist resources
Include variations of maker names, possible mark or signature readings, pattern and mold numbers, factory codes, materials, forms, decoration, colors, dates, regions, label wording, and distinctive construction clues.

3. Comparable Sales — SOLD DATA ONLY
List similar sold pottery, ceramic, or glass items when reliable sold-price information is available.

For each comparable sale, include:

- Maker, factory, studio, artist, designer, or attribution
- Item type, pattern, form, or model, if known
- Material and manufacturing technique, if relevant
- Dimensions
- Condition and disclosed restoration, if known
- Sale price
- Whether the reported figure is hammer price, includes buyer’s premium, or is another realized-price figure, when stated
- Auction house, marketplace, dealer, or selling venue
- Sale date, if known
- Lot number, if available
- Source link, if available

Explain why each result may or may not be comparable.

Discuss important differences involving maker, factory, period, attribution, material, pattern, size, form, decoration, color, rarity, condition, restoration, provenance, originality, demand, and selling venue.

Prioritize recent results when available, but include relevant older sales when rare makers, patterns, forms, or variations sell infrequently.

If reliable sold-price information is not accessible, say so clearly and suggest the specific auction archives, marketplace sold listings, maker resources, collector databases, or price resources that should be searched manually.

4. Ballpark Value Range
Provide:
- Low: Quick-sale, uncertain-maker, poor-condition, restored, common-example, later-copy, reproduction, factory-second, or other lower-value scenario
- Mid: Typical comparable range if the identification, period, material, and condition appear reasonable
- High: Well-supported maker or factory identification, desirable period, rare form or decoration, strong condition, important provenance, or strong-demand scenario

Clearly state the assumptions behind each range.

Explain whether the estimate depends on maker or factory verification, period, originality, specialist condition review, restoration assessment, provenance research, or examination in person.

Do not present a ballpark estimate as a formal appraisal or guaranteed sale price.

5. Rarity & Demand Assessment
Indicate whether the item or category appears:
- Common
- Uncommon
- Scarce
- Rare
- Potentially exceptional
Explain collector demand and identify factors that could increase or reduce interest, such as maker, period, pattern, size, form, decoration, color, craftsmanship, rarity, condition, restoration, provenance, attribution, originality, and market demand.

6. Identification, Attribution & Authenticity Considerations
Suggest:
- How the maker, factory, studio, artist, designer, period, material, mark, or originality might be verified
- What parts of the item should be photographed or examined next
- Whether closer examination of the base, foot, rim, pontil, seams, glaze, decoration, construction, wear, labels, or marks could be relevant
- Whether technical or materials analysis could be relevant
- Whether a museum collection, maker or factory archive, collector organization, conservator, specialist dealer, or specialist auction house may be appropriate
- What documentation, labels, boxes, receipts, certificates, correspondence, fitted parts, and provenance should be preserved
- Red flags involving copied or altered marks, later reproductions, fantasy pieces, factory seconds, replaced parts, regluing, overpainting, drilling, grinding, polishing, restoration, or assembled pieces
- When examination in person is necessary
Explain that marks, signatures, labels, certificates, old appraisals, family history, and visual matches may be helpful but are not automatic proof of maker, age, originality, or authenticity.

7. Reputable Specialists & Resources
Suggest appropriate resources, such as:
- Major auction houses represented in the Pottery, Glass & Ceramic Treasure Tools directory, including Heritage, Christie’s, Sotheby’s, Bonhams, and Phillips when the item fits their specialties
- Specialty venues such as Rago and Crocker Farm, when relevant to the item type
- Broad collectibles auction houses such as Weiss Auctions and Morphy Auctions when appropriate
- The PBS Antiques Roadshow appraiser directory
- Museums, maker or factory archives, collector organizations, and specialist reference databases
- Professional organizations referenced in the directory, including the National Auctioneers Association (NAA), International Society of Appraisers (ISA), and Appraisers Association of America (AAA), when relevant
- Reputable local specialists and category-specialist dealers or conservators, when relevant
Explain why each resource may be suitable.

Do not imply that a museum, auction house, collector organization, dealer, conservator, or specialist will authenticate, appraise, or accept the item unless its stated services confirm that.

8. Best Selling Venues
Recommend appropriate selling channels based on the item type, maker or factory, period, value tier, condition, restoration, rarity, geographic market, and verification status.

Possible options may include:

- Local dealers
- Regional auction houses
- Specialty pottery, ceramic, glass, or design auction houses
- Major international auction houses
- Category-specialist dealers or consignment services
- Online marketplaces
- Private sale, when appropriate

Explain the advantages, limitations, fees, audience, reserve policies, shipping requirements, seller protections, payment timelines, and risks of each suitable option.

For fragile ceramics and glass, include packing, insurance, liability, and return considerations before shipping.

Do not recommend selling before important identification, maker, period, condition, restoration, originality, or authenticity questions have been addressed.

9. Red Flags & Common Mistakes
List risks specific to this pottery, ceramic, glass item, or category.

Consider warnings involving:

- Washing, soaking, scrubbing, polishing, or applying household products before research
- Reglueing, repainting, touching up, filling chips, repairing cracks, overpainting, drilling, grinding, or polishing damaged areas
- Removing original labels, stickers, paper tags, residue, or packaging before documentation
- Discarding original boxes, fitted stands, lids, stoppers, mounts, receipts, certificates, correspondence, or other associated parts
- Using destructive or irreversible tests without specialist guidance
- Assuming bubbles, pontil marks, seams, crazing, tool marks, firing flaws, wear, or irregularities prove age or authenticity
- Assuming every manufacturing irregularity is later damage
- Relying on a maker mark, signature, label, or visual match alone
- Assuming a certificate, old appraisal, or family history proves authenticity
- Confusing an original period piece with a reproduction, later copy, commemorative issue, factory second, or fantasy piece
- Overlooking restoration, overpainting, replaced parts, drilling, grinding, polishing, regluing, or other alterations
- Relying on asking prices instead of sold prices
- Comparing hammer prices directly with results that include buyer’s premiums without noting the difference
- Selling or shipping before identification and condition are adequately researched

10. Research Gaps & Next Steps

Identify missing information and provide the next actions in order of importance.

Separate the recommendations into:

1. Actions that can be completed at home without cleaning, altering, or damaging the item
2. Manual database, maker, museum, collector, or auction-archive searches
3. Documentation, label, receipt, correspondence, or provenance research
4. Specialist review
5. Conservation, materials analysis, or technical examination, if appropriate
6. Selling, shipping, or insurance steps after identification is better supported

Item Description:

[Insert a detailed description, including item type, dimensions, material or body, glaze or decoration, color, form, maker or factory marks, signatures, labels, pattern or mold numbers, construction details, condition, restoration, where it was found, and any known history.]

Photos:

[Attach or describe clear images of the full item, front, back, sides, top, bottom, base, foot, interior, rim, maker marks, signatures, labels, pattern or mold numbers, pontil or seams when relevant, decoration, construction details, condition issues, repairs, and other useful features.]

Helpful Reminder

Use this as a starting point — then verify with trusted sources.