Crafted Auctions is an online auction house that specializes in decorative arts, collectibles, and fine objects — with particularly deep roots in the world of art pottery. The business grew out of Just Art Pottery, a brand that's been buying and selling high-end ceramics since 1997, and it's led by Greg Myroth, a collector and expert with over 30 years in the field. It's family-owned, which is worth mentioning because that kind of structure tends to shape how a business treats its clients. There's a personal touch here that bigger, volume-driven auction houses often lack.

The niche is specific but broader than you might expect at first glance. While art pottery — think Roseville, Rookwood, Van Briggle, Weller, Teco, Grueby, Newcomb College, George Ohr — remains the foundation, Crafted Auctions has expanded into fine art, art glass, antique and estate jewelry, luxury watches, decorative arts, and even pop culture collectibles like vintage comic books, Pokémon cards, and video games. That's a pretty wide range, and it tells you the team isn't just pottery people who branched out — they've built category knowledge across multiple collecting fields over decades of hands-on work.

On the seller side, the process is straightforward. You submit photos and descriptions through a confidential form, get a free evaluation, and from there the team handles research, cataloging, professional photography, marketing, and shipping. As a reviewer, I think it's worth highlighting that they do all the packing and shipping in-house, which is a real comfort for anyone consigning fragile pottery or glass. Sellers get paid within 30 days of the sale closing, along with a detailed settlement report. They also offer cash advances against anticipated sales in some cases, and there are no hidden fees — just a commission based on value and volume.

One thing that sets Crafted Auctions apart from the massive auction platforms is their curated approach. Instead of dumping thousands of lots into a single sale and hoping buyers sift through the pile, they run smaller, focused auctions where each piece gets proper attention. It's the difference between a carefully arranged gallery show and a warehouse clearance — and for sellers with quality items, that focused presentation tends to attract more serious bidders. Their auctions run on their own platform at bid.craftedauctions.com, but items also get listed across third-party sites like LiveAuctioneers, HiBid, and Bidsquare, which widens the buyer pool considerably.

The estate and professional services side of the business is well-developed. They handle probate and estate settlement auctions, offer dedicated services for executors and trustees, work with attorneys on estate liquidation in Michigan and Illinois, and partner with estate liquidators who encounter specialty items outside their usual scope. If you've ever dealt with settling an estate — and honestly, it can feel like navigating a maze blindfolded — having an auction partner who understands both the emotional weight and the market value of a lifetime collection makes a real difference. They've put together an Estate Auction Knowledge Center on their website that answers common questions and helps families and professionals understand the process before committing.

In my opinion, the depth of expertise in art pottery specifically is where Crafted Auctions really shines. Identifying makers, spotting restoration, attributing unmarked pieces — these aren't skills you pick up from a weekend course. Greg Myroth and his team have evaluated thousands of pieces across decades, and that kind of accumulated knowledge directly affects how items are described, marketed, and ultimately priced. When a bidder sees a catalog entry that accurately identifies a rare glaze variation or a specific production period, it builds confidence and pushes bidding higher. That's good for everyone involved.

The operation runs from two offices — one in Germantown Hills, Illinois and another in Fort Gratiot, Michigan — with drop-off locations also available in Tampa, Florida and St. Louis, Missouri. For larger collections, they coordinate nationwide pickup, so geography isn't much of a barrier for consignors anywhere in the country. They've also launched a mobile app (available on both iOS and Android) that gives buyers easy access to upcoming auctions and curated lots, which is a smart move for keeping their collector base engaged between sales.

Beyond the auction platform, Crafted Auctions operates two retail sites: JustArtPottery.com for pottery enthusiasts and CraftedArts.com for a broader range of decorative objects. These give buyers who aren't auction-inclined a way to shop at fixed prices, while also providing additional sales channels for consignors. The marketing mix — targeted ads, social media, email newsletters, search engine visibility, and multi-platform auction listing — ensures that pieces get in front of the right eyes rather than just sitting in a digital catalog waiting to be discovered.

For collectors, estate professionals, or anyone who's inherited a shelf full of pottery they can't identify, Crafted Auctions fills a gap that generalist auction houses tend to miss. The combination of category expertise, a curated sales model, full-service handling, and transparent terms makes it a solid choice for selling decorative arts and specialty collectibles. The fact that so many clients come back year after year — as stated on their site — speaks to the kind of trust and results that are hard to fake.

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