How do I identify my china pattern from the backstamp?

Turn over a dinner plate and look at the mark on the bottom, called the backstamp. Most fine china shows the maker's name and logo, and many also print the pattern name and sometimes a pattern number. Write down everything you see, including small numbers and letters.

If the pattern name is printed, a search for the maker plus the pattern name will usually bring up pictures to confirm it. If there's only a maker's mark, search the maker's name plus a description, such as "white with gold rim and pink roses," and compare pictures.

The backstamp can also help date the china. Pieces marked "Nippon" generally date from about 1891 to 1921, and "Made in Occupied Japan" marks are from 1945 to 1952. English pieces marked with the country name generally date after 1891, and "Made in England" is usually later still. Makers changed their marks over the years, so the style of the mark can narrow the date further.

If the mark is worn or missing, take a picture of the plate's front and back and ask a china matching service or local appraiser.