Pottery Marks Explained
Pottery marks sometimes can seem like a frighteningly huge subject to tackle, but never fear, your online guide is here to help you through this maze of china marks! How can you get a quick working knowledge of porcelain marks? Read on below to find out ...... 
First you need to know some general rules that apply to identifying china marks. Just knowing these will make you seem like a bit of an egg-head expert to your friends! For example, if you are looking at pottery marks in the US be aware that after 1890 all china and porcelain marks had to have the country of origin shown on all imported goods. There's a good tip for a start. Look For the Pottery Mark Clues!
Ok, remember this one also - amazingly, printed marks incorporating the Royal Arms must be of a 19th century date or later. In addition, if the name of the pattern is included on the backstamp of an English china mark, it must be after 1810. Use of the word 'Royal' denotes a date after the 1850's and the words 'bone china' on a pottery mark means that the ware must be of the 20th Century. The famous Staffordshire knot only occurs after 1845 and was used most prolifically from 1870 to 1890. A diamond shaped registration mark occurs only after 1843. Remember that the trade-marks act came in in 1862 so therefore incorporation of the words 'Trade Mark' in a mark must be later - normally after 1875. Similarly, the word 'Limited', or 'Ltd' denotes a date after 1861. The abbreviation 'R N' (for Registered Number) followed by numerals means a date subsequent to 1883. The US makers began to follow suit eventually, bearing in mind many of the American wares started off as utilitarian in nature, only gradually becoming more and more decorative and ornate, culminating in the fabulous and award winning bone china of Knowles Taylor Knowles. Lennox, Haviland, Gorham and Franciscan, to name but a few, are other American china makers with a fine pedigree and names to look out for. Some general guidelines for Lennox would be to look out for a green wreath pottery mark. This marking was used on wares between 1906 and 1930. 'Made in USA' was added in 1931. This ceramic mark continued to be used until 1953 when the green color was changed to a gold. The gold wreath continues until present production. To understand Haviland marks, you first have to understand the various Haviland companies who were entwined in a morass of competition, merger and re-merger. On this site there is a special Haviland Dinnerware page which enlightens this subject and is reviewed for accuracy by one of the leading Haviland experts in the US. Use my page alongside the Haviland ceramics marks page of china antique site 'China Collectibles' in order to get a feeling for the Haviland pottery markings. I also admire the artistry of
Franciscan Pottery (see my listing here)
and have found a fascinating website
"Franciscan Marks Brochure (1962)"
which has published a 1962 pottery marks catalog from the Franciscan archives - showing 20 pages of just about every trade-mark or backstamp Franciscan ever used.
These European hand-painted markings can be more of a disadvantage than an advantage in identifying pottery marks due to the fact that they are so easily copied. Look out particularly for the examples of Emile Sampson's copies of Worcester, Meissen and Chelsea, made in the 1800's. There are also many French hard-paste reproductions of early soft-paste Sevres. Similarly, in Dresden they are adept at making replicas of early Meissen - all signed with pottery markings made to look suspiciously similar to those of the true originals. 
It may well be that you have a set of marks you need to identify for valuation purposes and you need further help. You would be best to use the services of specialist valuers in that case. There's no getting round the fact that you may need to pay a small fee to online valuation specialist like 'What's It Worth To You?' In reality, there are two jobs to do if you seriously need to value your china set: One is to identify the specific pottery mark and then find out the value. If you follow the links from this site's China Manufacturers A to Z guide you will see that with each listing there is a link to a live online auction which gives a quick idea of the prices a particular maker may be fetching. However, it is always good to get a second opinion from a professional . So Pottery marks, whether present or not present, are the key characteristic and identifying symbols and trade-marks which enable collectors or sellers to get a handle on the value of their china. Handwritten symbols and initials are more than likely European porcelain (valuable!). No markings on plain old looking utilitarian looking wares can mean old (valuable!). Lack of the words 'Royal' and 'Bone China' on English famous makers wares can suggest very old (very valuable). Luckily, if you prefer not to splash so much cash in one go, the internet has come to our rescue (again) and provided us with the same information online for a lot less money. A modern day alternative to buying these books are the various 'Porcelain and China Marks' websites which, for a lot less dosh, will give you direct access to their vast databases (hooray for technology!). One such company, run by the ever vigilant John and his wife, has a sponsored banner link at the top of this page. So what will you find online here for free? Actually, lots!
The most comprehensive free china, pottery and porcelain makers guide on the internet.
If you think this to be a false claim, let me know and tell me which one is better!! 
In the main, even the most comprehensive of the pottery markings text books give no real background or history of the company, just names and marks. Let's face it, they leave out the most interesting bit which, of course, is the story of the company, the people, the places, the genius of the founder (or a decedent etc.). Personally, I like to find out the thing which made the difference between success (very hard to achieve in this high cost business) and failure (the 'default' result). In my line of work, I have been privileged to personally know some of the folk who have achieved success in this business in modern times. I can tell you now, they have to be a special kind of person with a special way of thinking. That is where this website comes into its own. I cannot publish every pottery mark of every china maker (too vast an undertaking for free!) I can't even publish a small fraction of the English china marks (let's leave that to the specialists), but I can look back into the past to research the most notable potteries and china makers. Some you will have heard of, some you will not. I have an opinion about almost every china maker and I don't mind sharing it. You can get a working knowledge of virtually any china firm you are interested in just by browsing this site. In addition, if you can't find the maker you are interested in on the website, contact me and I will move mountains to find out about the maker. Online valuations:
Online valuations here
Go to this special D.G.L.B. page for full details. Return from Pottery Marks to Homepage Have A Great Story About This Topic?Do you have a great story about this? Share it! What Other Visitors Have SaidScroll up to make your own contribution (use the simple form above) ...
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