John Sandon discovered the wonderful world of glass on leaving school, when he joined the combined porcelain and glass department of Phillips in London's New Bond Street, one of the world's leading auction houses, where he has been able to handle many magnificent glass collections. The continuing popularity of Antiques Roadshow enables John to share his enthusiasm with a wide audience.

Forming a collection of antique porcelain is surprisingly simple with the aid of this book, written by a foremost authority. John Sandon presents the essential information in a style which is both accessible and readable, offering all manner of practical advice to the novice and beginner. Where should you buy, what should you look for and how do you avoid fakes? Should you get a damaged piece restored? How much should you spend? The answers to these questions and many more are clearly presented. From its discovery in ancient China, the story of porcelain unfolds country by country as the secrets of manufacture were slowly passed from continent to continent. Clear colour illustrations have been carefully chosen to show the unique attributes of each kind of porcelain. Each entry lists specialist books which offer more information. This guide concludes with a general bibliography, details of makers' marks and the dates of Chinese reigns. Altogether this is a very special kind of reference book; its readable and knowledgable yet compact presentation will be appreciated by committed collectors and enthusiasts whilst giving the novice the confidence to follow in their footsteps.