What a fair price looks like
Condition on WishThrift is described by the seller against five grades, and nobody inspects it on your behalf — so the description and the photographs are what you are buying on.
| Condition | Typical | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| New with Tags | £45 (~$60) | Unused, tags or seals intact |
| Like New | £38 (~$51) | Barely used, no visible wear |
| Good | £29 (~$39) | Light signs of use, complete and working |
| Fair | £20 (~$27) | Heavily used, or a described fault or missing part |
| For Parts | £11 (~$15) | Not working or incomplete, sold as seen |
Sterling guide ranges with an approximate US dollar equivalent at £1 ≈ $1.33 (July 2026). Sellers set their own asking price; these are a starting point for judging an offer. All five grades explained.
The checklist before you pay
On garden machinery, whether it starts from cold rather than warm. On glass and ceramics, chips and hairline cracks that do not show in a photograph.
Run through these before money changes hands — they are the things that decide whether a vase is worth what is being asked:
- Chips on the rim and foot
- Hairline cracks that ring dull
- Water staining and lime scale inside
- Mass-produced pressed glass
And the things worth paying more for, because they hold their value:
- Signed studio and art glass pieces
- Recognised potteries and designers
- No chips, cracks or restoration
- Larger and more unusual forms
Common faults and fakes
Reproduction and ‘in the style of’ pieces sold as originals, particularly in glassware and lighting.
Ask for a video of machinery starting from cold. On glass, ask the seller to photograph the piece against a bright window, which reveals cracks.
WishThrift does not authenticate, inspect or grade anything, and no marketplace check replaces your own. If a seller will not answer a direct question about condition or origin, that is the answer.
Questions to ask the seller
These are the three that get asked most often about a vase, and the answers tell you most of what you need:
Fill it and leave it standing on paper for an hour. A seeping hairline is invisible dry and obvious wet, and it is the fault buyers most resent discovering.
Photograph it rather than transcribing. Collectors identify makers from marks far more reliably than from a written description.
Measure it. Scale is almost impossible to judge from a photograph and it is the second question every time.
Also worth establishing before you commit:
- Photograph the base and any mark clearly
- Run a finger around the rim feeling for chips
- Tap gently and listen for a clear ring
Photographs to ask for
If the listing does not already show these, ask — a seller who has the item will send them in minutes:
- The vase whole against a plain background, in even light
- The base and any mark, filling the frame
- The rim all the way round
- The interior, plus any chip, crack, crazing or repair
Details to confirm before you commit
- Height and widest diameter, and the opening diameter
- Material — glass, ceramic, porcelain, stoneware or metal
- Maker and any mark, photographed
- Whether it holds water, and any chip, crack or crazing
Live vase listings
Nothing matching is listed at the moment. Browse home & garden for what is live now, or everything on the site — stock changes daily and new listings are free to post, so it is worth checking back.
When to buy
Steady year round with a lift before Christmas and in spring. Named studio and art glass makers sell within days when correctly identified.
Prices move against that cycle for a buyer: the cheapest time to buy is when sellers are listing most, not when demand peaks.
Paying and collecting safely
WishThrift does not process payments, hold funds or offer buyer protection — you agree the price and the method with the seller directly, which is what keeps the platform free on both sides. Meet somewhere public where you can, inspect before you pay, and keep the conversation on the site so there is a record of what was agreed. Be wary of any seller who wants to move the conversation elsewhere before you have agreed anything.
Selling one instead?
If you already have a vase sitting unused, it is free to list and there is no commission — the price you agree is the amount you keep. Read how to sell vase for what to photograph and how to price, or what vase is worth at each condition grade.
Frequently asked questions
What should I pay for a used vase?
Around £3 to £29 in good condition, more for barely-used examples and less for anything with a described fault. Compare against the seller’s photographs rather than the grade alone.
How do I check a vase before buying?
Ask for a video of machinery starting from cold. On glass, ask the seller to photograph the piece against a bright window, which reveals cracks.
Is buying a vase second hand safe?
Yes, with the ordinary care any private sale needs. WishThrift does not authenticate, inspect or hold funds, so inspect before you pay where you can, meet somewhere public, and keep the conversation on the site. On garden machinery, whether it starts from cold rather than warm. On glass and ceramics, chips and hairline cracks that do not show in a photograph.
See also: all buying guides · vase value guide · selling vase · Home & Garden · condition grades.