Pottery Mark Query - Blue Crossed Arrows / Torches ?

by Michael Fitzgerald
(Decatur, GA USA)

Pottery Mark Query - Blue Crossed Arrows / Torches ?

I purchased this colonial figure from an estate sale. When purchased it had a note taped to the bottom that said French, Hard Paste 1770. All my attempts to confirm or disprove this have met with no success. Can anyone help? The mark is on the back side of the base. There are no markings on the bottom.

Regards

Michael

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reply by Peter (admin) below - just scroll down...

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Reply by Peter (admin)

To:- Pottery Mark Query - Blue Crossed Arrows / Torches ?

Hi Michael

Many thanks for your clear photos - a great benefit to all of us interested visitors.

Very interesting submission - lots of talking points. I am no kind of expert in the history of decorative ceramics but I know enough about sculpting to know very high quality sculpting and manufacture when I see it.

For me, and you would have to confirm this with a true antique china expert, this is a reproduction of a French original made by the German firm of Kalk in the late 19th or early 20th Century. This is what this figurine appears to be to my eye.

The downward pointing three feathered crossed arrows mark is typical of that period. Importers from the Far East also used the same mark later in the 20th Century, but you can tell the difference in the quality of the the sculpt - the Far East being far inferior to your example.

You can get a fascinating insight into Kalk here:-

Porcelain Marks of Kalk

Even though Kalk did a lot of repros in order to try to survive in a difficult market their wares are genuine antiques and at the right auction can fetch reasonable figures.

On this public forum, I do what I can to help identify mystery pottery marks, but I never undertake valuations as I am not qualified. Anyone needing valuations or verifications, please go to this antique china expert link.

On that page, I tell you how to self-value as well as give you the chance to liaise with experts if that is what you feel you need.

Hope this helps.

Best regards,

Peter (admin)

p.s. The following page is a 'must see' if you are researching fine china - for value and identification:-

Researching the identity and value of antique and vintage fine china.

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