Karlsbad Vase

Q: What can you tell me about this 12-inch vase? I found it in a garbage basket awaiting the garbage truck in the 1950s. The black dots near the center of the flowers are raised from the surface of the vase. The bottom is stamped with a green mark with a crown over the entwined initials “CK” and “Karlsbad, Austria.” Is this worth keeping or is it junk?

A: This mark was used by the Karlsbad Porcelain Factory Carl Knoll from about 1916 to 1918. Karlsbad became part of Czechoslovakia in 1918, and is now Karlovy Vary, Czech Republic. The initials “CK” are those of the founder, Carl Knoll. The factory was in business from 1848 to 1945, when it was nationalized. It made dinnerware, decorative porcelain, giftware, and porcelain dolls’ heads. The vase is worth keeping. It could sell for as much as $500 or more.