Free advice is worth what you paid for it.
Is there an antique dealer near who sells a lot of Asian material or is a specialist?
Ask her if she does estate appraisals.
An estate appraisal means that you are not looking for a cash offer, or an insurance value, but are deciding in the family how to split up the estate fairly.
This would be a written appraisal on the dealer's letterhead.
You should expect to pay for it. (We charged $50 or 2% of the appraised value, whichever was higher. Our appraisals would stand up in court if necessary.) (Vastly different field.)
You should expect the dealer to demand that you or your agent be present during the appraisal. This is for her security not yours.
Make an appointment. Turn up for the appointment (or be ready when the dealer arrives.) Don't talk unless you are asked.
A expert should be able to give you a good idea of what is common, what is rare, and what is valuable. Rare is not always valuable, and a common item with high demand can fetch good money.
Because of the huge number of reproductions and counterfeits coming from China these days, eBay may not be the best place to sell. The dealer should be able to give you the names of reputable auction houses. She will get a commission for finding you.
If you do decide to go with eBay, or the Red Road or the ETC, the written appraisal and any other invoices or other provenance documentation you have, will go a long way to proving that you are offering the real thing, and getting you the best price.
