Made briefly from 1826 to 1838, fragile Tucker china pieces are rare. William Ellis Tucker was a bright, enterprising Quaker in Philadelphia who taught himself the process of making porcelain. He enlisted other painters to depict American landscapes and city scapes on pieces that emulated the shapes and forms of English, Paris and Meissen porcelain. Prices start at $1,000. A pair of vases went at auction several years ago for $291,500.