Antiues probate
valuations from £30

HMRC-compliant valuation of home contents, delivered in 2-3 days

No visit required in most cases.
Send us your photos. Our expert
valuers do the rest.

Start your valuation

Rated ‘Excellent’ on Google and Trustpilot

Online or in person valuation? Both Available

At Swift Values we provide complete probate valuations whichever route you choose. Most estates suit our online service well, though if your circumstances need a valuer on site, we offer that too.

Online Valuation

£30 single item – £60 multiple items

Suitable for 95%+ of ceramics probate valuations, from everyday ornaments and decorative household ceramics through to smaller groups of better pottery, porcelain or studio pieces. Most estates do not need a home visit: clear photographs are usually enough for our valuers to identify the items, assess their value and prepare an HMRC-compliant report within 1–3 days.

Start your valuation

Best for: 95%+ of estates

In-Person Valuation – from £298

Recommended for significant collections or important specialist pieces where a physical inspection may be more appropriate: for example, a large group of Meissen figures, major studio pottery, rare art pottery, or ceramics where condition, restoration or attribution could materially affect the value.

Enquire Now

Best for: high-value or specialist estates

Not sure which you need? Call the office on 0330 088 4099 and we will be happy to help.

What we can value

We provide specialist probate valuations for ceramics. Whether the estate includes a few decorative items or a more substantial collection, our valuers can assess them for HMRC.

ITEMS WE CAN VALUE FOR PROBATE

Porcelain Figures

Meissen, Royal Worcester, Derby, Lladro, Nao and other collectable porcelain figures.

Studio Pottery

Works by Lucie Rie, Hans Coper, Bernard Leach, William Staite Murray and other signed studio potters.

Art Pottery

Moorcroft, Clarice Cliff, Martin Brothers, Troika, Doulton Lambeth and other decorative art pottery.

Vases & Decorative Ceramics

Porcelain, pottery and ceramic vases, bowls, chargers, plaques and ornamental pieces.

Dinner Services

Wedgwood, Spode, Minton, Coalport and other part or complete table services.

Chinese & Japanese Ceramics

Oriental porcelain, pottery, export ware, blue and white ceramics and decorative objects.

Everyday Ornaments

Royal Crown Derby, Beswick, Royal Doulton, modern china, ceramic ornaments and household decorative pieces.

Need help? Call the office on 0330 088 4099 and we will be happy to help.

“Valuations are the biggest single area of risk, accounting for a large part of our compliance checks. You are strongly advised to instruct a qualified independent valuer.”

Source: Inheritance Tax Toolkit, HMRC, Published July 2018

Your probate valuation in 3 easy steps

Swift Values provides a simple, cost-effective way to meet your probate valuation obligations. Here’s how it works:

Take photos

Photograph each piece with your phone. Watch our short guide showing exactly how. No need to list or itemise each piece.

We value the items

Our expert valuers assess everything, drawing on decades of experience with pottery, porcelain, ornaments and collectable ceramics, and will ask questions if more detail is needed.

Receive your HMRC compliant report

Typically delivered within 1-2 working days and prepared under Section 160 IHTA 1984 – ready to submit with confidence.

✔ No home visit required ✔ 100% transparent with no hidden costs ✔ From just £30

✔ No home visit required

✔ 100% transparent with no hidden costs

✔ From just £30

How to photograph your jewellery for a probate valuation

Simply take clear, useful photographs so our gemmologists can prepare your probate report quickly and accurately.

You do not need professional photos or a home visit. In this short video our founder Mark explains exactly what to photograph, how to capture each piece, and which details help our valuers identify anything that may need closer attention.

See exactly what you’ll receive

Every Swift Values report is a professionally formatted PDF, ready to submit with your probate application. It includes:

Fully illustrated PDF report

High-value item breakdown for IHT 407

Valuer notes to detail specifics

Section 160 compliance statement

Signed declaration for IHT400

Valuer bio

View example report

Online vs In-Person: Real-World Example Valuations

Not sure what each valuation service can cover — or when an in-person visit is really needed?

Let’s take a look at three real-world examples to show what our valuers can provide from photos alone, and when they recommend a closer look.

Moorcroft Collection (online valuation)

A group of Moorcroft pieces inherited by an executor who had been told by the deceased that the collection was particularly special.

What Was Submitted
Our Assessment

Our ceramics valuer identified the collection as modern Moorcroft pottery, including a Nicola Slaney Eventide-style vase, eleven dishes, an octagonal plate titled Designer’s Medley, and two framed lids.

They explained that Moorcroft is a recognised and collectable name, but that values vary significantly depending on age, artist, pattern, condition and current demand. In this case, the collection was attractive and saleable but the market for many modern Moorcroft pieces is more modest than families often expect.

Estimated Range: £250 – £350

Suggested Probate Value: £300
Next Steps & Outcome

No further action was needed. The executor used the online valuation figure for probate, and the beneficiaries were satisfied with the explanation and outcome. One beneficiary had suggested arranging an auction house visit, but the online valuation gave the estate a clear HMRC-compliant figure without the additional cost of an in-person appointment.

Royal Lancastrian Lustre Vase (online valuation)

A single piece of art pottery inherited by a family who had always been told it was valuable, but were unsure what it was or whether the marks underneath were significant.

What Was Submitted
Our Assessment

Our ceramics valuer recognised the vase as a Royal Lancastrian lustre vase by Gordon Forsyth for Pilkington, dating from circa 1910. They explained that this was a specialist piece of British art pottery, with value driven by the maker, artist, lustre decoration, condition and current collector demand.

From the photographs provided, our valuer gave an estimated probate range of £1,500 – £3,000, depending on condition.

Suggested Probate Value: £2,500
Next Steps & Outcome

Because condition can materially affect the value of important ceramics, we explained that an in-person valuation could be arranged for £298 if the family wanted further confirmation. In this case, they were satisfied with the online assessment and used the £2,500 figure for probate.

The vase was later sold at auction for £2,400 hammer, which supported the online valuation and showed that a home visit had not been necessary for probate purposes.

Trusted by

Why executors choose
Swift Values for ceramic valuations

Most executors have no idea where to start with ceramics.

Ceramics can be surprisingly difficult to assess. An estate might include tea services, dinner sets, vases, figures, ornaments and decorative pieces, with no obvious way to tell what matters and what does not. Some pieces may be collectable, while many have very modest resale value.

That is exactly what our service is designed for. Simply upload your photos and our ceramics valuers will assess the items, identify anything that needs closer attention and provide a clear, HMRC-compliant figure you can submit with confidence.

No research, no guesswork, no sorting through cupboards wondering what is important. Just a professional valuation that makes the process easier.

Swift-Values-Probate-Valuations-For-Executors

Trusted by thousands of executors

Rated ‘Excellent’ on Google. Over 1,000 valuations completed UK-wide.

I was overwhelmed by my mother’s estate. Swift Values made it simple and sent a professional report within two days. The service was perfect.

Barbara, Ipswich

Clear, thorough and incredibly quick. Exactly what we needed for probate to go through quickly.

Richard, Southampton

The report was far more detailed than I expected for the price. HMRC accepted it without question.

James, Salford

What’s included in your probate valuation?

Our online ceramics valuation starts at just £30 for a single item and £60 for multiple pieces, which suits the vast majority of estates.

If anything requires specialist input, we’ll tell you early and confirm any additional costs before proceeding. No surprises.

Service

Single item

Multiple items

Price (ex. VAT)

£30

£60

The £60 service is subject to a fair use policy. We know ceramic collections vary enormously: one estate might contain a few ornaments or tea cups, while another may include a large collection of porcelain figures, named pottery or specialist pieces.

Our pricing is designed to keep the process simple and fair for normal household collections. You will always receive a valuation from the £60 service. If the collection is unusually large, complex or likely to require detailed individual research, we will explain this clearly and quote for any additional work before proceeding further. No surprises.

Ready to start your probate valuation?

From just £30. Delivered in 1-3 working days.

HMRC-compliant – guaranteed, or your money back.

Start your valuation

Questions? Call the office on 0330 088 4099

Swift Values FAQs

Can you really value ceramics from photographs?

Yes. Most ceramics, pottery, porcelain figures, ornaments, vases and dinner services can be valued from photographs. A clear image often tells us a great deal: the form, decoration, quality, maker, age, condition and whether any visible marks are significant.

If we need more detail, we will ask for it. Sometimes that might mean extra photographs of the base, marks, damage, restoration or a close-up of a particular area. In most estates, this is enough to provide a clear and proportionate probate valuation without arranging a home visit.
What types of ceramics can you value?

We can value most types of ceramics found in estates, from everyday ornaments and tea services through to collectable pottery, porcelain figures, studio ceramics, art pottery and decorative vases.

This includes names such as Moorcroft, Clarice Cliff, Royal Crown Derby, Meissen, Wedgwood, Royal Worcester, Martin Brothers, Lucie Rie, Hans Coper, Bernard Leach and many others. We can also assess mixed household groups where the executor simply does not know what, if anything, may be valuable.
How do you value ceramics for probate?

You upload photographs of the items, and our ceramics valuer reviews them for maker, age, condition, quality, collectability and current open-market value.

The aim is not to produce a retail or insurance figure. For probate, the valuation needs to reflect realistic open-market value at the date of death, in line with HMRC requirements. Our report gives you a clear figure that can be used for probate, supported by professional judgement and relevant market knowledge.
When would an in-person ceramics valuation be needed?

An in-person valuation may be useful for a significant collection, very high-value ceramics, or pieces where condition, restoration, attribution or authenticity could materially affect the value.

For example, a large collection of Meissen figures, important studio pottery, rare British art pottery or valuable early porcelain may justify closer inspection. However, most estates do not need this. We will only suggest an in-person valuation where it is genuinely proportionate, not as a way to upsell a home visit.
Do I need to know the maker or pattern before submitting?

No. You do not need to identify the items yourself. Many executors come to us because they have cupboards of ceramics, ornaments, figures or dinner services and have no idea where to start.

Send us the photographs and we will assess what is there. If marks, signatures or patterns are important, our valuers will review them as part of the valuation and ask for additional images if needed.
How much does a ceramics probate valuation cost?

Our online ceramics valuation starts at £30 for a single item and £60 for multiple pieces. This suits the vast majority of estates, including normal household groups and smaller collections of better pottery or porcelain.

If a collection is unusually large, complex or likely to require detailed specialist research, we will explain this clearly and quote for any additional work before proceeding further.
Will my ceramics probate valuation be accepted by HMRC?

Yes. Every report is prepared in line with Section 160 of the Inheritance Tax Act 1984 and HMRC’s open-market value requirements and we have had a 100% acceptance rate by HMRC.

Our reports are designed for executors, solicitors and estate administrators who need a clear, defensible figure for probate. We also offer a money-back guarantee if HMRC does not accept the valuation.
What if most of the ceramics turn out to have little value?

That is very common, and it is one of the main reasons executors use our service. Many estates contain tea sets, ornaments, figures and decorative ceramics that look important but have limited resale value.

Our role is to separate the modest items from anything that needs closer attention. This helps prevent overvaluing ordinary household ceramics, while still making sure genuinely valuable pieces are properly considered.
How long does a ceramics probate valuation take?

Most online ceramics valuations are completed within one to two working days once we have received the photographs and details.

Larger or more specialist collections may take slightly longer if further research is needed, but we will explain this clearly if it applies.
What if I live abroad but need a UK ceramics probate valuation?

Antiues probatevaluations from £30

HMRC-compliant valuation of home contents, delivered in 2-3 days

Online or in person valuation? Both Available

Online Valuation

£30 single item – £60 multiple items

In-Person Valuation – from £298

What we can value

Porcelain Figures

Studio Pottery

Art Pottery

Vases & Decorative Ceramics

Dinner Services

Chinese & Japanese Ceramics

Everyday Ornaments

“Valuations are the biggest single area of risk, accounting for a large part of our compliance checks. You are strongly advised to instruct a qualified independent valuer.”

Your probate valuation in 3 easy steps

Take photos

We value the items

Receive your HMRC compliant report

✔ No home visit required ✔ 100% transparent with no hidden costs ✔ From just £30

✔ No home visit required

✔ 100% transparent with no hidden costs

✔ From just £30

How to photograph your jewellery for a probate valuation

See exactly what you’ll receive

Online vs In-Person: Real-World Example Valuations

Moorcroft Collection (online valuation)

Royal Lancastrian Lustre Vase (online valuation)

Trusted by

Why executors choose Swift Values for ceramic valuations

Trusted by thousands of executors

Barbara, Ipswich

Richard, Southampton

James, Salford

What’s included in your probate valuation?

Service

Single item

Multiple items

Price (ex. VAT)

£30

£60

Ready to start your probate valuation?

From just £30. Delivered in 1-3 working days.

Swift Values FAQs

Antiues probate
valuations from £30

Why executors choose
Swift Values for ceramic valuations