Pottery Mark - Antique or Vintage China Query - WHAT in the world do I have here?

by Ken
(Ohio)

Unknown Pottery Mark Antique/Vintage China Query - Antique or Vintage China Tea set WHAT in the world do I have here?:- I have a COMPLETE setting of this China tea set. I love researching antique china items on the net, however, I can NOT seem to find who might have made this China.

ANY HELP?

Ken

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Reply from Peter (admin) below - just scroll down

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Reply by Peter (admin)

Many thanks, Ken, for your antique or vintage china / porcelain mark query. I appreciate you taking the time to upload your tea cup image.

Well, you have set us a difficult one indeed! I am an enthusiast like you, not an antique china expert and, as such, do not instantly recognize the mark. However, like you I love researching both on and off the net.

First of all, as Ken points out, I must say researching pottery marks online is a time consuming and often thankless task. Free pottery mark online information is often limited to the websites of antique dealers who tend to have only selective information. The most thorough antiquarian online databases are private and levy a charge. Some are better than others, but a good one can often be both cost effective and time saving.

But getting back to the mystery tea set, by a process of elimination and simple deduction I can give you some great tips to continue your research in identifying this pottery mark.

First, the artwork on the tea cup looks distinctly oriental rather than British/English, European or American. I just don't think Western ceramic artist could reproduce this type of artwork if even if they wanted to.

In addition, I have looked up the ceramic mark in every pottery and porcelain encyclopaedia I own. The mark is not amongst any of the Western pottery marks I could find. This again suggests oriental.

Again, looking at clues, if you turn the picture up the other way, the 'E' mark becomes the Japanese character for the 'J' of Japan (or rather 'N' for Nippon). Therefore, the porcelain mark is actually telling us this is a Japanese china tea set. So its the squiggly 'ticks' markings we are trying to identify.

Now, with a Japanese antique china manufacturer you are getting into specialized knowledge, so I recommend you visit Gotheborg.com, the excellent website of oriental specialist Jan-Erik Nilsson, to continue your research there.

On my China Replacement page, I show you how to search the internet properly.

I give general tips on pottery marks here .

Ken, I really appreciate your time on this one and thanks for you contribution. Please be sure to write in (use the comments page) and let us know when you track down the makers. I, for one, would be interested in knowing who the makers are and the story of the manufacture, and also the history of the tea set.

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.