Great Discoveries: Antique Plate Found at Goodwill Could Fetch Thousands

John Carcerano recently discovered an antique Chinese porcelain plate at a Goodwill store in Evanston, Illinois. Carcerano, who has been collecting antiques for over 35 years, paid $4.99 for the plate—and it could be worth far more.

Carcerano referred to the Evanston Goodwill as a favorite destination since customers can see items as they’re being put on shelves. He said he had been visiting the store “for about two or three months straight from opening to closing” before he found the plate.

The day Carcerano found the plate, he and three other Goodwill shoppers were checking out a cart filled with items. “There was nothing great. They had walked away from (the cart), and I was done too, but just as I was walking away, I saw the cart at a different angle,” Carcerano said.

Carcerano found the antique plate beneath a contemporary plate of a similar size. He noted that the plate he bought had pigments similar to those used in producing porcelain plates made in China in the 18th century.

After purchasing the plate, Carcerano performed a Google Lens search and found a similar plate sold at auction for $4,400. A specialist in Chinese export art from auction house Sotheby’s confirmed that Carcerano’s plate dates back to the Qing dynasty’s Qianlong period, which took place around 1755.

Sotheby’s indicated that Carcerano’s plate could be worth up to $6,000. It represents the most valuable discovery of Carcerano’s career as an antique collector.

At this point, Carcerano is debating whether to auction the plate in June. “If I can hold on to the plate as a kind of a good luck charm, I’ll do it, but at the last minute I could end up bringing it to Sotheby’s,” Carcerano stated.

Several examples of plates from the Qing dynasty’s Qianlong period are available in our WorthPoint Price Guide.

Dan Kobialka is a self-employed content writer and editor with about a decade of experience. He produces content across a wide range of industries, including antiques, insurance, and real estate. To learn more about Dan, please visit his website. 

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