Question:
I am cleaning out my parent’s attic and just found an Orleans Tea Pot in great condition. I am wondering how to go about selling it and what it may be worth. I live in the PA/MD/VA area. Thanks for your help!

Answer: The value depends greatly on the condition. Orleans teapots are popular with collectors but they are also easy to find in average condition. The rose finial on the cover and the protruding spout chipped easily. Hairlines and staining are also common problem. An Orleans teapot free of nicks, chips, hairlines and stains with bright crisp artwork would be highly prized by collectors and worth $100 or more. But an average teapot with any of the standard problems would be worth $25 to $75, depending on the amount of damage.

As for selling your teapot, living in the eastern United States puts you at a disadvantage. While there are Red Wing collectors all over the country, most of them live in midwestern and western states. You’ll likely have better luck selling via an online auction such as eBay rather than through a local antique shop or consignment auction.

Larry