Don’t despair because the chances are that Chinasearch (01926 512402; www.chinasearch.co.uk), will have what you’re looking for.

And if they don’t, they will scour the country for it. There’s no registration fee, nor any obligation to buy. They contact you when they find the piece you need (anything from a saucer to a full dinner service).

Prices depend on availability/rarity, so they can’t quote until sourced, but generally it will be in good, used condition, and sometimes new.

If you have a household tip that you would like to share with Aggie’s followers – send it to us for publication – go to https://aggiestips.wordpress.com/do-you-have-a-tip-to-share-with-aggie/