
Identify crown marks on fine china by looking at the bottom of the piece for the maker’s mark containing a crown icon. The crown mark is either detailed or a basic design, the latter as seen in Capodimonte porcelain made in the Royal Factory in Italy during the late 1700s. Look for a back stamp or marker stamp.
What do the Crown marks on China mean?
Crown marks, typically found on the bottom of fine china items, are clues that help you determine the age and the manufacturer of each piece, as well as its country of origin.
What is a blue crown on a china plate?
The Dresden decorators covered these porcelain marks with a gold glaze, and then applied their own above-glaze mark: usually a blue crown. Often times a piece of china will bear two marks in this way: one beneath the glaze, indicating the factory that produced the blank, and the second above the glaze indicating the decorator.
How do you mark on China?
Markings on fine china may appear as an impressed stamp added to the piece before its first firing and embedded into the clay, a hand-incised mark in the clay, or a mark painted under or over the glaze. Painted over-glaze marks usually include the artist’s initials or mark added during decoration of the piece.
What is a crown mark on porcelain?
The crown mark is either detailed or a basic design, the latter as seen in Capodimonte porcelain made in the Royal Factory in Italy during the late 1700s. Crown marks differ depending on the manufacturer, date and country of origin.

How do I identify my bone china mark?
There is a back stamp that is found at the back and center of the plate. The back stamp contains information such as the name of the manufacturer, the pattern name, and the date when the product was made. Most if not all bone china is labeled as such. Most manufactures also include the country of origin.
How do I find my Chinese makers mark?
Hallmarks or Maker's Marks Also called backstamps, these markings may be found on the bottom of a vase or figurine or on the bottoms of china plates, saucers or cups.
What do numbers mean on bottom of porcelain?
There are marks that indicate a specific mold called a mold number. These numbers often look like dates such as 1953 or 1789. It is rare that a piece of pottery will have a date stamped or embossed into its base. If a number looks like a date or a year, it is most likely a mold number.
How do you date fine china?
The Backstamp What we consider “fine” china usually has a mark on the back identifying the manufacturer. If there are two marks, one may be the manufacturer and the other the painter/glazer. Backstamps provide a clue as to the date of china, because historically, manufacturers changed stamps frequently.
What does a crown stamp mean on pottery?
Crown marks, typically found on the bottom of fine china items, are clues that help you determine the age and the manufacturer of each piece, as well as its country of origin. Compare the crown shape and any words that go along with it to images on china resource websites to figure out exactly what you have.
How do I know if my old china is valuable?
Look on the bottom of saucers, dishes and cups for hallmarks or monograms. Just because ceramic china dinnerware looks old, it doesn't mean that it's valuable. Spider cracks in glaze coats can happen during the firing process and not just come from age, which makes spidering a questionable identification technique.
What is the most sought after china?
Blue Willow is arguably the most collectible – but it's also one of the most widely produced. Even today, companies are creating Blue Willow patterned china. The rare, original, and very old Blue Willow china pieces are the most collectible and the most valuable, if you can get your hands on them.
How do you identify antique porcelain?
A few factors to look out for when figuring out how to identify antique pottery are the weight of the piece, its translucency or resonance. It's easier to figure out the body if the piece is chipped - simply run your finger along the fracture to identify how hard the grain is.
What bone china is valuable?
The most expensive piece of bone china is commonly known as Joseon Baekje. The costliest Joseon object ever sold was a whiteware vase painted in cobalt blue. It was sold at $4.2 million US.
What is the mark for Chinese silver?
The illustrated mark is that of the Shanghai retail silversmith Luen Wo [LW] and the artisan silversmith who went under the name “Zhou”. The “90” mark is the silver purity mark.
What is the most sought after china?
Blue Willow is arguably the most collectible – but it's also one of the most widely produced. Even today, companies are creating Blue Willow patterned china. The rare, original, and very old Blue Willow china pieces are the most collectible and the most valuable, if you can get your hands on them.
How do you date an unmarked Chinese?
However, you can identify unmarked bone china by examining the design style features of the patterns. ... Most printed or stamped markings were most likely dated after 1850 whereas marks were introduced from 1891. ... Place the piece in front of a light source.
What is the red stamp on Chinese porcelain?
In general, the marks will be red or blue and hand painted or stamped. If you see red marks, the piece was likely created in the mid-19th century, while pieces with blue marks were likely made later. Hand painted marks were used for older pieces, while stamps were used for newer pieces.
How to Identify Crown Marks on Fine China. Crown marks, typically found on the bottom of fine china items, are clues that help you determine the age and the manufacturer of each piece, as well as its country of origin. Compare the crown shape and any words that go along with it to images on china resource websites to ..
How to Identify Crown Marks on Fine China. Crown marks, typically found on the bottom of fine china items, are clues that help you determine the age and the manufacturer of each piece, as well as its country of origin. Compare the crown shape and any words that go along with it to images on china resource websites to ...
Crown marks, typically found on the bottom of fine china items, are clues that help you determine the age and the manufacturer of each piece, as well as its country of origin. Compare the crown shape and any words that go along with it to images on china resource websites to figure out exactly what you have
Crown marks, typically found on the bottom of fine china items, are clues that help you determine the age and the manufacturer of each piece, as well as its country of origin. Compare the crown shape and any words that go along with it to images on china resource websites to figure out exactly what you have.
Crown marks, typically found on the bottom of fine china items, are clues that help you determine the age and the manufacturer of each piece, as well as its country of origin. Compare the crown shape and any words that go along with it to images on china resource websites to figure out exactly what you have
Crown marks, typically found on the bottom of fine china items, are clues that help you determine the age and the manufacturer of each piece, as well as its country of origin. Compare the crown shape and any words that go along with it to images on china resource websites to figure out exactly what you have.
What is the blue crown on porcelain?
The Dresden decorators covered these porcelain marks with a gold glaze, and then applied their own above-glaze mark: usually a blue crown. Often times a piece of china will bear two marks in this way: one beneath the glaze, indicating the factory that produced the blank, and the second above the glaze indicating the decorator.
What is the name of the first porcelain mark?
The earliest porcelain mark in the history of European production is the monogrammed Meissen "AR" mark, which stands for Augustus Rex, sometimes known as Augustus the Strong. As king of Saxony in the eighteenth century, Augustus commissioned the first production of European hard-paste porcelain.
What is the green underglaze mark on Haviland china?
Much Haviland china, for example, bears the green underglaze mark "Haviland France," and the red decorators stamp: "Haviland & Co. Limoges.". In this case, the china bears two marks even though the pieces were produced in different parts of the same factory. (Click here for a complete explanation of Haviland marks.)
What does the green underglaze on china mean?
Much Haviland china, for example, bears the green underglaze mark "Haviland France," and the red decorators stamp: "Haviland & Co. Limoges." In this case, the china bears two marks even though the pieces were produced in different parts of the same factory. (Click here for a complete explanation of Haviland marks.)
What are the Meissen marks on porcelain?
Most porcelain marks on fine antique china, such as the Meissen marks, are "underglaze"--meaning, they were applied to the piece prior to firing. For the first hundred years or so of porcelain production there were only two known pigments that could withstand the high firing temperature necessary: iron red and cobalt blue.
What is porcelain mark?
Porcelain marks are the fingerprints of antique china. 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. For any piece of fine china, the porcelain mark is a symbol of pride in the manufacturer's workmanship.
Who were the Dresden artists?
The now-famous Dresden artists were, in their day, considered to be Meissen imitators and some decorators, such as Helena Wolfsohn or Carl Thieme, even faced lawsuits brought against them by the Meissen Royal Manufactory for their use of deceptively-similar marks.
What are the marks on Chinese porcelain?
Markings on fine china may appear as an impressed stamp added to the piece before its first firing and embedded into the clay, a hand-incised mark in the clay, or a mark painted under or over the glaze. Painted over-glaze marks usually include the artist’s initials or mark added during decoration of the piece. Under-glaze marks occur after the first firing, but before the second glaze firing. Fine Chinese china that's thousands of years old may not have any identifiable markings at all, so you'll need the services of a professional.
Why do porcelain plates have pattern numbers?
Famous porcelain brands and vintage pottery companies have gotten into the habit of including pattern numbers on the bottoms of cups, saucers and plates to aid in identification of the pattern when you need to replace broken items. Other pieces, such as vases or figurines, may include a number that identifies the mold that was used to make the piece.
What is the oldest European mark?
The Oldest European Mark. The company that first made porcelain china in Europe called itself Meissen, and is now known as Meissen Couture more than three centuries later. In 1708, the company identified itself with the town where the deposits of kaolin clay were found near the banks of the Elbe river in Germany.
Where was porcelain made?
The company that first made porcelain china in Europe called itself Meissen, and is now known as Meissen Couture more than three centuries later. In 1708, the company identified itself with the town where the deposits of kaolin clay were found near the banks of the Elbe river in Germany. Its first maker’s mark, the initials AR, stood for the name of the king of Saxony at that time: Augustus Rex. In later years, the company changed its maker’s mark to the well-known crossed swords symbol.
What are the marks on fine china?
The markings on fine china are like fingerprints that can lead you to the identity of the manufacturer or the artist, and the piece's age and origin. The marks may appear as letters, symbols, numbers, dates, logos or even signatures, based on the company or potter who made the item. Fine china generally refers to porcelain or bone china, ...
When do under glaze marks appear on Chinese porcelain?
Under-glaze marks occur after the first firing, but before the second glaze firing. Fine Chinese china that's thousands of years old may not have any identifiable markings at all, so you'll need the services of a professional.
What is the country of origin mark?
All items imported into the United States since the Tariff Act of 1930 require a country of origin mark to identify the country where the item was produced. For example, Tuscan Fine English Bone China uses those words above a symbol of a crown with two large wings attached to either side of the crown.
What is the difference between the Minton mark and the Pompey mark?
The only difference between the standard Minton mark shown in Goddens and the Pompey or Pompeyi mark above is that "Minton & co" is written above the crown, replacing the word Pompeyi. I don't know the colour or size of this marking as the reference an illustration in black and white. Somehow a large red Minton mark seems unlikely.
Where was the above reticulated vase made?
Above Reticulated Vase Made in Hungary 1880-90 with the standard Zsolnay Pecs 5 chimney tower (stamped in blue).
What does "Pompeyi" mean?
p.s. the Pompeyi might mean the 'pattern' - i.e. the bejewelled majolica collection of that particular manufacturer.
When was the word Majolica first used?
Incidentally, some sources say that the word "majolica" was first coined in 1851 by Minton. Interesting!
Where are Pratt mugs made?
The attractive and colorful cream-tinted earthenware jugs and mugs with relief decoration have long been known as Pratt ware, although they were also made elsewhere in Staffordshire, as well as at Leeds, Castleford, and several other potteries. It looks like the finest old Italian majolica apparently.
Where is the oldest pottery in Staffordshire?
ONE OF THE oldest Staffordshire pottery works was that of Felix Pratt at Fenton, which was in operation continuously from 1775 to 1885...
Is it possible to identify a crown without initials?
These two things together are incongruous, and get my attention. The solo crown mark without initials is the worst possible to identify as so many hundreds of makers used a crown. Most better known makers almost always put initials or some other distinguishing mark to further identify their wares.
What is the RKG on porcelain?
Many of the porcelain marks include an image of a crown and the letters RK or RKG for Rudolf Kämpf Grünlas. Some of the marks feature the country of origin. Bohemian china made between 1911 and 1945 featuring the RKG mark tends to be dinner sets with a few tea and coffee services.
What is the name of the region of Bohemia that was annexed by Nazi Germany in 1938?
The border regions of Bohemia known as the Sudetenland had a primarily German population and were annexed to Nazi Germany in 1938. Some porcelain pieces made between 1940 and 1950 feature an eagle mark with a swastika above a crown and the letters RK.
Where is Bohemian china made?
Bohemian fine china made in Czechoslovakia has a variety of makers marks stating that the item is made in Czechoslovakia, typically on the bottom or sides of the pieces. Featuring floral and bird patterns with vivid colors, most of the pieces were made between 1918 and 1938. Some sets feature newer marks from the 1980s up to 2006.
When did Dartmouth Pottery acquire Ashley Clough?
Dartmouth Pottery acquired Ashley Clough, Buckfast Potteries around 1958 and absorbed the Design part of the business into a new venture called Britannia Designs. It specialised in souvenir items and was well-known for the Jam pots it produced and decorated for Elsenham Jam and Preserves. [Read more on the Torquay Potteries website, here ].
When did capital letters replace numbers?
In 1878 capital letters replaced the numbers completely and from 1878’s N continued through to 1888 and Z (missing out O and Q). The O was used in 1889. In 1890, the latter a appears in lowercase – clearly intending to follow the previous pattern, however, the McKinley Tariff Act meant the the country of origin had to be included on all export ...
When was the Royal Worcester logo invented?
Dating Royal Worcester 1867 to 1927. The modern Royal Worcester mark (without the words Royal Worcester England and the dots) was first introduced in 1862. Initially two numbers in addition to the logo indicated the date (eg 63 for 1863 impressed or printed). In 1867 the number was printed or replaced with a Capital letter ...
Is it expensive to collect Chinese porcelain?
Chinese Reign Marks. Collecting old chinese pottery and porcelain is not as expensive as some might have you believe. For example in Spain there is a love of Blue and White that spans generations and cultures. You can find pieces in most places that you look and many will be chinese.
