How to Identify Porcelain and Pottery Marks

Turn over a plate, vase or figurine and you will often find a mark that names the maker or country. This guide is for estate sale shoppers, sellers and new collectors who want to read those marks, use them to narrow down age, and avoid being misled by marks that were widely copied.

Porcelain or pottery?

It helps to know what you are holding before you research the mark.

• Porcelain is fired at high temperatures and is usually white, hard and nonporous. Thin pieces often let light through when held up to a lamp, and they may ring when tapped lightly.
• Earthenware is fired lower and is more porous. Unglazed areas on the base may feel chalky and show a colored body such as tan, red or buff.
• Stoneware is dense and heavy, fired hotter than earthenware, and often gray or tan.
• Bone china is a type of porcelain containing bone ash, often marked as such.

Types of marks

• Impressed marks are pressed into the clay before firing.
• Incised marks are scratched by hand into the clay.
• Printed marks, also called backstamps, were applied by transfer, under or over the glaze.
• Painted marks were applied by hand, often in blue under the glaze or in gold or color over it.
• Paper labels may survive on newer items, though many have been lost.

A piece can carry several marks, such as a maker's backstamp, a pattern name, a decorator's initials and a shape number.

Use wording and country names as clues

Certain words in a mark can help you estimate the earliest likely date. These are general rules of thumb, and exceptions exist.

• A country name, such as "England" or "Germany," generally indicates production after U.S. import rules began requiring country-of-origin marks in the early 1890s.
• "Made in" followed by a country name is more typical of the 20th century.
• "Nippon" was used on Japanese exports to the U.S. until about 1921, after which "Japan" or "Made in Japan" was required.
• "Occupied Japan" marks date to the Allied occupation after World War II, roughly 1945 to 1952.
• Phrases such as "dishwasher safe," "microwave safe" or "oven-to-table" point to the later 20th century or after.
• Copyright symbols, website addresses and bar codes are modern.

British wares sometimes carry a diamond-shaped design registration mark used in the 19th century, or a registration number beginning "Rd No," which can be looked up to find when a design was registered.

Research the mark

1. Photograph the mark clearly, along with the whole piece.
2. Note every word, number and symbol, even partial ones.
3. Compare it with a mark dictionary or reference book for the country or type of ware.
4. Check whether the maker used that exact version of the mark during a particular period. Many firms changed their marks over time, which helps narrow dates.
5. Confirm the piece itself fits that maker's known style, shapes and quality.

If you have no mark at all, you can identify an item from a photo as a starting point, then follow up with references.

Be careful with copied marks

Some famous marks have been imitated for a very long time. The crossed swords of Meissen and the interlaced L's associated with Sèvres are classic examples, and they appear on many pieces made by other factories. Chinese porcelain often carries reign marks naming an emperor, but many were applied to later pieces as a sign of respect for the earlier period, or to mislead.

A mark is a claim, not a guarantee. Look at the overall quality, the painting, the glaze, the wear on the foot rim and the weight. A crisp, perfect mark on a crudely made piece is a warning sign.

Check condition while you look

While the piece is upside down, inspect it for chips, hairline cracks, crazing in the glaze and restorations. Restored areas may look slightly duller or feel different, and they may glow differently under ultraviolet light. Condition matters as much as the mark for value.

Quick checklist

• Decide whether the piece is porcelain, earthenware or stoneware.
• Note the mark type and every word on it.
• Use country names and phrases to estimate an earliest date.
• Compare the mark with a reference for that maker.
• Be skeptical of famous marks on ordinary pieces.
• Check the foot rim and body for damage and repairs.