1. BLUE CALICO
Chintz dinnerware first emerged in the early 1900s, but this late bloomer didn't hit tables until 1968. An instant classic, the English earthenware is still in production today by Burgess & Leigh. VALUE: $26 for dinner plate
2. LADY CARLYLE
Based on popular 19th-century English china patterns, this refined dinnerware was launched by Royal Albert in the 1980s and is still in production today. VALUE: $32 for dinner plate
3. TOBACCO LEAF
The 18th century's most coveted china pattern, the flowering motif was first developed in China circa 1780. (The original manufacturer remains unknown.) Today, the design is made by Mottahedeh using 27 colors and 22-karat gold. VALUE: $170 for dinner plate
4. QUEEN VICTORIA
Introduced by Hungarian company Herend in 1966, this still-active pattern commands a high price, as all Herend pieces are hand-painted by highly skilled craftsmen, which limits supply.VALUE: $180 for dinner plate
5. AZALEA
Created by Japanese maker Noritake in 1918, this pattern was offered by the Larkin Soap Company to customers who ordered products by mail. Discontinued in 1941, when U.S. imports ceased during World War II, Azalea got a short-lived second act from 1988 to 1992. VALUE: $25 for dinner plate
6. BUTTERCUP
A less cheery version of Buttercup was introduced by Spode in 1885. But it wasn't until this sunny colorway arrived in 1924 that the happy pattern became a collector favorite. VALUE: $32 for dinner plate
7. OLD COUNTRY ROSES
English maker Royal Albert launched Old Country Roses in 1962. A heavy hitter since its introduction, the pattern has gone on to sell more than 130 million pieces, making it the company's most successful design. VALUE: $24 for dinner plate
8. BLUE DANUBE
Developed in 1951 by Lipper International Inc., Blue Danube was inspired by a similar blue-and- white pattern popular during China's Yuan Dynasty (1260-1368 A.D.). VALUE: $30 for dinner plate
9. BROCADE GREEN
Featuring a graphic rim and floral center, this ornate design was introduced by Minton in 1948. Because it's now rare to find the pattern with intact gold trim, mint condition pieces hold especially high worth. VALUE: $220 for dinner plate
10. SUMMERTIME
In 1932, Royal Winton introduced this bubbly favorite meant to cheer folks up during the Great Depression. The design remained in production until 1960. Crafted from an especially soft clay, the discontinued, very fragile pattern is valuable as there's not much left intact. VALUE: $100 for dinner plate
11. WILD STRAWBERRY
Wild Strawberry was first manufactured by Wedgwood in 1965 and soared to popularity when it was picked up exclusively by Tiffany & Co. Featuring leaves and flowers interlaced with strawberries and rimmed in 22-karat gold, this opulent bone china was an immediate sellout and went on to be one of Wedgwood's best-selling patterns of all time. VALUE: $50 for dinner plate
12. DESERT ROSE
The most-sold dinnerware in American history, this casual pattern was first introduced by Franciscan in 1941. Desert Rose pieces from those early days (California backstamp, 1941-1984) are worth slightly more than those made after the company was purchased by Wedgwood, which moved production to Europe in 1985. VALUE: $30 for dinner plate
Love the pieces you see? They're all available at replacements.com, the nation's largest china warehouse, which features 425,000 patterns.
