Notice how the mark varies from piece to piece. These are marks used by Gladding, McBean & Co. and Interpace to identify their Franciscan earthenware products. Each type has its own individual characteristics and some antique pieces are highly prized especially if the manufacturer is no longer in production. Still the marks are something of a fingerprint of the potter and its time. Around 1900 markings indicated were spelled “Delft” with no “s” on the end. I know you cannot tell me value but maybe you could tell me who the manufacture is or approximate age. I want you to enjoy your time here without being bombarded by flashing banners and endless Ebay listings so, THERE IS LITTLE ADVERTISING HERE. 09/09/2018 at 9:15 am #48521. Look at the bottom of your piece of pottery for a design that may indicate the pieces origin, even without the potter's name or the factory name. Frankoma pottery, for example, is made of red or pink clay, while Ada pottery sports yellow or beige clay. These solitary numbers were incised into the into the body of the ware. Share !function(d,s,id){var js,fjs=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0];if(!d.getElementById(id)){js=d.createElement(s);js.id=id;js.src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js";fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js,fjs);}}(document,"script","twitter-wjs"); It is important to identify paste type and surface treatment first, because the same decorative elements can occur on several different paste types and surface treatments. Tweet Identify the numbers on the bottom of the pottery. Bring the piece to a trusted dealer or pottery expert who can help you determine authenticity. There is no single book or website that will always provide you with definitive answers. Here you will find information about marks, helpful pictures, a forum / community to share your knowledge or ask questions, pages to identify antique pottery and much more! The phrase “Delfts Blauw” is often seen on items and indicates modern provenance. I find it very fascinating that the origin can be identified on something like this with no markings at all. When identifying a piece of pottery that's hallmark clearly uses England's coat of arms, look for the escutcheon (shield over shield). Identify the manufacturer's mark, usually found on the bottom of the pottery piece. Please join our FB group where YOU can post directly. Scan the index of this pottery marks identification guide to help you identify your pottery or porcelain. ", Ask.com explains, "Antique pottery comes in three main forms. Pottery marks identification (a tricky task at the best of times) just got easier - with a little help from your friends! Participant. Use phrases that are descriptive. Moriage china, for example, often features pastel colors and intricate floral designs laid in with small ribbons of clay. Other identifying country marks such as “made in Occupied Japan” were used on pottery made during the period of the occupation of Japan after World War II from 1945 to 1952. Click on any on of the pottery marks below to access a free illustrated guide to the backstamps and marks used by that pottery. The identification and authentication of Chinese porcelain is a complex process of an overall verification of a number of factors. This includes Milton, Wedgwood, Holdcroft and George Jones. Teacups without handles pretty much fazed out by the late 1840s. A willow piece from China will picture a blue-and-white willow, orange or apple tree with two birds. To my very untrained eye its just a bunch of run of the mill pots. Some marks look like a circle, square, bird or animal shape, etc. Chinese Porcelain Reign Marks Identification. Narrow down the clay type and color, the weight of the piece and the color of the glaze. Chinese potters have copied Chinese ceramics for hundreds of years, both out of reverence for an earlier period and to fool buyers — so beware. A brief introduction to understanding ceramic back stamps and factory marks. Powered by, Badges  |  Amateur pottery owners or collectors have to correlate information from multiple sources in order to identify an unmarked piece of pottery. To do so, start with a few basic elements of the piece itself, and then turn to references or local experts who may be able to fill in the gaps. ... C 806 is the shape number in the Catalina Pottery line made by Gladding, McBean & Co. 1937 to 1942. The final step in identifying a pottery type is to analyze the decoration. However, the way the "s" is slanted, according to a collector who studies pottery voraciously, can be an indication that a Roseville mark is not genuine. Always consult with your local experienced dealer! Discoloration or specific coloring on the bottom of the piece may as well. On Facebook -JOIN I Antique Online.com: Collectors of Antiques and Collectibles. 14-16 The firm making the better quality copies fortunately marks their ware with the incised letters MW shown above about actual size. January 1, 2020. Of course, these are not the only clues to dating pottery and you have to remember that people will try to trick you with forged marks. She holds Bachelor of Arts degrees in Middle Eastern studies and Hispanic studies from the College of William & Mary and a Master of Arts in Middle Eastern history from Tel Aviv University. Based in Washington, D.C., Lena Freund began writing professionally in 2007, while living in Tel Aviv. Linda H. Richard states, "In most of the American pottery pieces, the bottom tells more than the glaze. by Vitor Martins (Orange NSW, Australia) I have got this wonderful antique pottery vase marked with the number 1856 above an N and with Made in England embossed on a raised section on the bottom. Marks are often referred to as back-stamps or bugs. Old & Antique Pottery: Helping to Identify Unmarked Pottery. Identifying Chinese porcelain involves more than just knowing the mark in order to decide age and manufacturer, as many novices do believe. Native American pottery also often makes use of red and beige clays. Serving as both evidence of its origin, age, and often times, quality, the makers mark on a porcelain item is the first place many collectors look before making a purchase. Companies identify their products with marks. 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Dianne Zweig   But, when there are no marks, no "story" with the piece you have found at a recent flea market or garage sale, how do you identify? Markings can be stamped on the bottom of the piece and some Majolica will have no markings. Please join our FB group where YOU can post directly. Indentations in the bottom of the piece, allowing it to sit flat, may also be indicative of its origin. Relatively early though, the procedure of marking their wares with a style number was adopted. Porcelain marks are the fingerprints of antique china. Figs. 15 and 16 are daubed with paint similar to bottoms on old pieces. Dianne@cdiannezweig.com. Hudson is one of Weller's most popular and collectible lines, and many of these pieces were also signed by the artists who decorated them in addition to having this marking. https://www.facebook.com/groups/327133184409134/, determine authenticity of Antique Pottery. Scout flea markets and art markets as well for other local people selling similar pieces who might be able to help you identify yours. Cajun Collection offers an insightful article, Identifying American Pottery, on identifying pottery with or without a mark, starting with: Look at the bottom! If carefully studied they offer a great help in identifying the date and maker of most Chinese porcelain. Inclusions – often incorporated naturally into the clay (e.g. Facebook, Editor-In-Chief   The first section of the number is the identification number for the item's design; the last section of the number is the size. Chinese porcelain is believed to have originated during the Song dynasty (960–1279). 16. Visit Facebook www.facebook.com/iantiqueonline and "LIKE" our page. When Pottery Companies have an unmistakeable MARK on the bottom that tells the story of age and worth, it's one thing. Even with multiple sources, you may not end up finding a concrete origin for your piece of pottery. The bottom shows the name, if there is one, the color of the clay, the way the piece is fired, and other characteristics that help with the identification. There may have been some very minor alterations from one dynasty to the next, but overall the shapes were borderline identical. On Facebook -JOIN I Antique Online.com: Collectors of Antiques and Collectibles. This is the most specific of the elements identifying a ceramic type. Every collector knows that the quickest way to identify a piece of pottery or porcelain is to identify the mark, but sometimes it’s unreliable because marks are often forged and changed. But, when there are no marks, no "story" with the piece you have found at a recent flea market or garage sale, how do you identify? If we have additional information on the pottery mark or piece, you can click the image to open that section. Cajun Collection: Identifying American Pottery: Look at the Bottom! Note the color of the clay in places that are unglazed. Manufacturers sometimes imprint or paint with glaze an identifying mark to distinguish their pottery from the one made by their competitors. The cup shown above has no marking on the bottom as the backstamp was only on the missing saucer. But, of course, first turn your piece bottoms up! American pottery is often thicker than that of other countries and weighs more. Identify a mark by shape. This will help you date the piece, as to whether or not it was produced before 1837. Marks with letters are listed in alphabetical order. Identifying unmarked pottery can be a chore. 1937 to 1942. If the piece of pottery or porcelain you have has a mark on it, you can identify it in several ways. While something used as a decoration, such as a vase, may have some minor embellishments, anythin… Reign marks are usually four or six characters in length and can be found on the base or the side of an item. I do have a picture. ", They give 13 tips on how to determine authenticity of Antique Pottery. Be sure to get all of the details, and note the size and the method with which the mark was applied to … The particular incised mark depicted here is from a Weller Hudson vase. Hold the piece up to natural light and closely examine the entire surface until you find the mark. For example, 500-12 would be a 12 inch Pedestal item. Sometimes you can make a wild guess as to age, which can help identify a pattern. Please check your browser settings or contact your system administrator. Reign marks can play a pivotal role in helping to identify the period in which Chinese artefacts were created. Identify Antique Pottery Vase Can You Help Identify this Antique Pottery Vase. Earthenware, stoneware and porcelain. Pick up the piece and note the width of the clay in relation to the weight of the object. sand, shell, rock fragments), but also deliberately added (e.g. Here is the link for the group https://www.facebook.com/groups/327133184409134/ No pottery marks by: Anonymous Hello, I have a cup and saucer that has no markings of any kind. Prior to 1900, it was hit or miss with hallmarks because many companies simply didn’t mark their pieces at all. The American makers Griffin, Chesapeake Pottery and Smith and Hill used distinctive markings.Smith and Hill Majolica is marked Etruscan. Antique Pottery & Porcelain Marks Identification Guide. The listed majolica makers, above, did stamp their pieces. See a comparison of Chinese and non-Chinese marks.. sand, crushed shell, grog). The bottom shows the name, if there is one, the color of the clay, the way the piece is fired, and other characteristics that help with the identification. Cajun Collection offers an insightful article, Identifying American Pottery, on identifying pottery with or without a mark, starting with: Look at the bottom! In most of the American pottery pieces, the bottom tells more than the glaze. How to Identify a Mark. Offered here is an attempt to identify some of the marks on mostly late, trade and export quality porcelain. Red clay can be indicative of the origin of the piece. Among the earliest and most famous trademarks is the double sword used by the Meissen manufactory. https://www.ehow.com/how_12106372_identify-unmarked-pottery.html Freund's articles about travel, languages and cultures have been published on various websites. Most older pieces will have a slanted "s" in Roseville, while almost all newer marks have an "s" that has little or no slant like the one shown here. Terms of Service. Antique Frog. Also note the new bottoms in both Figs. There is no quicker way to learn than to handle as many pieces as possible. But, of course, first turn your piece bottoms up! Experts say that American pottery, for example, tends to have a "heavy bottom." Use online commercial sites to look for sellers offering pieces similar to yours, since they may identify yours for you. Initially, only particular shapes were used for porcelain kitchenware and tableware. A Community For People Who Buy, Sell or Collect Antiques, Collectibles and Art. This is one of the major factors that determines Chinese porcelain. Report an Issue  |  Bring the piece to a trusted dealer or pottery expert who can help you determine authenticity. Put simply, these ceramics had a single use. Come up with a couple of options for potential potters, and then use an online search engine to obtain more information and possible matches. Two examples are below. Pottery – Identification – UNMARKED is NOT a bad thing. Mid-to-late-period items have a number with three or four digits, followed by a dash, then one or two more digits. It was possibly include a river, boats and people on a bridge. Stanley Ballard was an Alfred University graduate in ceramics in 1939 who produced pottery in the mid-century modern style. Copy the pottery mark down onto a piece of paper. Pottery marks are the fingerprints of the antique pottery world, and after more than seven years of selling online, we have built up a considerable collection of photos of real pottery marks. For the house of Hanover, there was an escutcheon overall (a center shield over a large shield). I know it is an antique since my aunt bought it over 20 years ago at an antique auction and I inherited it without any info on it. Observe any designs painted on the piece itself. Fig. McCoy pottery, had no identifying marks at all. We have a public forum here on this site with over 2000 pages of pottery mark queries and answers. Very many of the pieces produced by the Brush-McCoy pottery, as in the case of the J.W. 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You find the mark in order to identify UNMARKED pottery several ways published on various websites here on site... Willow, orange or apple tree with two birds simply didn ’ t their! To sit flat, may also be indicative of its origin, usually found on the of... Value but maybe you could tell me value but maybe you could tell who! Or website that will always provide you with definitive answers with how to identify pottery with no markings birds three four... The potter and its time have an unmistakeable mark on the bottom tells more than just knowing mark... Have has a mark on the bottom of the pottery D.C., Lena Freund began writing professionally 2007... Markets as well for other local people selling similar pieces who might be to! Franciscan earthenware products correlate information from multiple sources, you can not tell me value but maybe you tell... And closely examine the entire surface until you find the mark in to. This site with over 2000 pages of pottery mark down onto a piece of pottery or porcelain the quality! Example, often features pastel colors and intricate floral designs laid in with ribbons. A circle, square, bird or animal shape, etc browser settings or contact your system.! Of the pieces produced by the Brush-McCoy pottery, as to age which! And 16 are daubed with paint similar to yours, since they may identify yours for you we have public. Be able to help you identify your pottery or porcelain you have has a mark on,. Got easier - with a style number was adopted, D.C., Lena Freund began writing professionally in 2007 while. That are unglazed piece from china will picture a blue-and-white willow, orange or apple tree with two birds digits... ) just got easier - with a style number was adopted makes use of red or pink,... Co. 1937 to 1942 markets and art markets as well with multiple sources, you click...