China and Pottery Marks—A Project Gutenberg eBook

From early days when the ancients showed their appreciation of fine pottery and old glassware by burying “these most esteemed possessions” with the dead, fine china has been synonymous with culture and breeding. With our ancestors for generations we share the tradition that, just as first editions give prestige to one’s book shelves, old china or the finest work of the modern kilns express readily that good taste and discrimination that is characteristic of our old families.

A wealth of association and historic data is to be acquired from the study of the “fabrique marks” and periods of the master craftsmen. If in America there was a general tendency toward acquiring, even a smattering, of this knowledge, there would be less of these drawing-room atrocities which Arthur Hayden in his “Chats on English Earthenware” points out, “To have a modern set of vases adorning a Georgian cabinet is like putting new wine in old bottles.”

[Pg 2]For the convenience of the seasoned collector, as well as the beginner, in this book is a representative list of better known marks by which china can be identified. While it is not possible to include a complete list, particularly those of extremely rare specimens, those compiled have particular reference to the marks of English china which is greatly in demand by collectors. These will suffice to enable the reader to identify pieces whenever encountered.

The signatures or mark which the master craftsmen in earth or clay signed their products, just as a painter signs his work, were often specially designed devices of various kinds, often a combination of initials and dates. Each “fabrique mark” stands for a certain potter’s art just as the modern trade-mark.

Beginning more than a half century ago in the old La Farge House in lower Broadway (where John La Farge was born) the house of Gilman Collamore and Company has done much to develop an appreciation of fine china in America. It was one of the first houses to bring over from England and France china, both modern and old, for its American clients. At this time many fine specimens of old china are on view as well as complete stocks from the modern English and Continental manufacture.

Germany and Austria

Russia and Poland

Denmark

Holland and Belgium

Switzerland

Italy and Spain

England

France

Sevres

From this date the year is expressed by the last two figures only.—thus, 18 for 1818, etc.,—up to the present time.

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	DRESDEN
	MEISSEN. Established in 1709. Mark used to 1712, in blue. Hard paste.
	DRESDEN
	Mark used from 1712 to 1720, in blue. Hard paste.
	DRESDEN
	About 1720, mark in blue. Hard paste.
	DRESDEN
	1730, mark in blue. Hard paste.
	DRESDEN
	1796. MARCOLINI (Director) PERIOD. Mark in blue. Hard paste.
	DRESDEN
	Royal pieces only. Mark in blue. Hard paste.
[Pg 4]	DRESDEN
	Present mark. This mark with two scratches across it shows imperfect pieces which may or may not have been decorated in the factory. Hard paste.
	VIENNA
	Established in 1718. This mark first used in 1744. Hard paste. Royal factory discontinued in 1864.
	BERLIN
	Established in 1751. Wegeleys’ mark. Hard paste.
	BERLIN
	In 1763 became a royal establishment. Mark in blue. Sometimes an eagle added.
	BERLIN
	Different kind of sceptre. In blue. Hard paste.
	BERLIN
	An extra mark used in 1830 with the sceptre, which is the present mark. This mark complete is never used except with perfect pieces decorated in the factory. Decorated pieces bearing the blue sceptre mark only are decorated outside of the factory.
[Pg 5]	HOCHST, near MAYENCE
	Founded in 1720. This mark, used about 1740, in gold, red, or blue. Hard paste.
	HOCHST, near MAYENCE
	Hard paste.
	FRANKENTHAL
	1755 to 1761. First period. Hard paste.
	FRANKENTHAL
	1799, second period. Carl Theodore. Hard paste.
	FRANKENTHAL
	Phillipp Hanong (Director). Hard paste.
[Pg 6]	FRANKENTHAL
	Joseph Adam Hanong (Director). Hard paste.
	FRANKENTHAL
	John Hanong (Director). Hard paste.
	FRANKENTHAL
	1800. Franz Bartolo (Director). Hard paste.
	NYMPHENBURG
	Established in 1747. Hard paste.
	NYMPHENBURG
	Hard paste.
[Pg 7]	NYMPHENBURG
	An early mark in blue. Hard paste.
	FURSTENBURG
	Established in 1750. Hard paste.
	FURSTENBURG
	1758. Hard paste.
	LUDWIGSBURG or KRONENBURG
	Established in 1758 to 1806. Hard paste.
	LUDWIGSBURG
	First period. Hard paste.
[Pg 8]	LUDWIGSBURG
	Second period. Hard paste.
	LUDWIGSBURG
	Hard paste. Mark in blue.
	FULDA
	Established in 1763 to 1780. Hard paste.
	FULDA
	Hard paste. The arms of Fulda.
	RUDOLSTADT
	Established in 1758. Mark in blue. Hard paste.
	RAUENSTEIN
	Established in 1760. Hard paste.
	LIMBACH
	Established about 1761. Hard paste.
[Pg 9]	LIMBACH
	Another mark. Hard paste.
	LIMBACH
	Another mark. Hard paste.
	GROSBREITENBACH
	Established about 1770. Hard paste.
	GROSBREITENBACH
	Hard paste.
	VOLKSTEDT
	Established 1762. C. V. sometimes added with the arms. Hard paste.
	VOLKSTEDT
	Another mark. Hard paste.
	VOLKSTEDT
	Another mark. Hard paste.
[Pg 10]	ANSPACH
	Established about 1718. Hard paste.
	ANSPACH
	Generally accompanied by letter A. Hard paste.
	ANSPACH
	Hard paste.
	ANSPACH
	Hard paste.
	GOTHA
	Founded in 1780. Hard paste. Various marks.
[Pg 11]	GERA
	Established about 1780. Marks in blue. Hard paste.
	ALT HALDENSTEBEN
	The factory of M. Nathusins. Hard paste.
	CHARLOTTENBURG
	Established in 1790. Hard paste.
	BADEN-BADEN
	Established in 1753 to 1788. The edge of the ax in gold. Hard paste.
	COLOGNE
	Factory of M. L. Cremer. Enameled Fayence.
	POPPLESDORF, near BONN
	Fayence and porcelain.
	STRASBOURG
	Established about 1752. Hard paste.
[Pg 12]	NIDERVILLER
	Established in 1768. Hard paste.
	ELBOGEN in BOHEMIA
	Established in 1815. Hard paste.
	SCHLAKENWALD
	Established about 1800. Hard paste.
	LEHAMMER or PIRKENHAMMER, near CARLSBAD
	Founded in 1802. Hard paste.
	HEREND
	Established 1839.
	HEREND
	Another mark.

	KORZEC
	Established about 1803. Hard paste.
	Moscow
	Established in 1787. Hard paste.
	ST. PETERSBURG
	Mark in blue. Hard paste.
	ST. PETERSBURG
	Mark of Empress Catherine II. 1762 to 1796. Mark in blue. Hard paste.
	ST. PETERSBURG
	Monogram of Nicholas I. 1825 to 1855.
	ST. PETERSBURG
	Established 1744. Mark in blue.

	AMSTERDAM
	Established in 1782. Mark in blue. Hard paste.
	AMSTERDAM
	Mark in blue. Hard paste.
	AMSTERDAM
	Mark in blue. Hard paste.
	TOURNEY
	Mark in gold represents a potter’s kiln. Established in 1750. Soft paste.
	TOURNEY
	Mark in gold used after 1755. Soft paste.
	TOURNEY
	Used about 1755. Soft paste.
	HAGUE
	Factory established about 1775; ceased in 1785. Mark in gray. Hard paste.
[Pg 15]	DELFT
	Joost Thooft and Labouchere. Present mark Fayence.

	NYON
	Established in 1790. Hard paste.
	ZURICH
	Established about 1759. Mark in blue. Hard paste.

	NOVE
	1752. Mark in blue or red. Soft paste.
	VENICE
	Mark in red. Majolica.
	VENICE
	Soft paste.
	VENICE
	1720 to 1740. Soft paste. Mark in red.
[Pg 16]	VENICE
	Soft paste. Mark in red.
	TURIN
	Vineuf. Established about 1770. Dr. Gioanetti (Director). Soft paste.
	TURIN
	Vineuf. Another mark. Soft paste.
	DOCCIA
	Founded in 1735. Hard and soft paste.
	DOCCIA
	Hard and soft paste. Another mark.
GINORI.	DOCCIA
	Hard and soft paste. Another mark.
	CAPO DI MONTE
	Founded in 1736. This mark used from 1759. Factory abandoned in 1821. Soft paste.
	CAPO DI MONTE
	Mark used from 1759. Soft paste.
[Pg 17]	CAPO DI MONTE
	Soft paste. Other marks.
	MILAN
	Mark in blue. Fayence.
	MADRID
	BUEN RETIRO. Monogram of Charles III. Established in 1759 to 1812. Soft paste.
	MADRID
	Soft paste. Another mark.
	MADRID
	Mark in blue. First quality. Soft paste.
	MADRID
	Mark in blue. Soft paste.
[Pg 18]	MADRID
	Mark in blue. Mark under crown is another form of the monogram of Charles III., the founder.
	OPORTO
	Established about 1790. Hard paste. Mark in gold or colors.

The Project Gutenberg eBook of China and Pottery Marks

CHINA
AND
POTTERY
MARKS

Traditions and Old China