The Clue Is on the Bottom: 5 Thrift Finds to Turn Over Before Checkout

I turn five thrift-store pottery finds over before checkout and use the bottom as a field guide—not a shortcut to a profit. I compare marks, shapes, date clues, glaze, condition, and the real net after fees, repairs, packing, and shipping before making a clear Buy, Research, or Pass call. I explain why a legible mark is only an invitation, why McCoy often deserves a pass, what makes Hull and Roseville evidence more specific, how Rookwood date codes can be undermined by damage, and when a Van Briggle vase becomes a conditional buy. I also show why asking prices can mislead—and why leaving an interesting piece behind can sometimes be the successful decision. 0:00 Why the Bottom Matters 0:37 A Mark Is Not Proof 1:24 McCoy Usually Means Pass 2:28 Hull Mark, Shape, and Glaze 3:37 Roseville Needs Exact Evidence 4:45 Calculate the Real Net 5:27 Why Asking Prices Mislead 6:04 Rookwood Date Codes and Damage 7:16 Van Briggle's Conditional Buy 8:22 Buy, Research, or Pass #ThriftShopping #Pottery #VintageFinds #Antiques #ThriftFlipping