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