Pottery & Porcelain Marks

NCP mark - New Chelsea Porcelain Co. England

2012-01-07T14:54:00.000-08:00

The lovely teapot below was made by a company called
New Chelsea Porcelain Co. (LTD).

The back stamp was used around 1912, according to Geoffrey A. Godden (Encyclopaedia of British Pottery and Porcelain Marks 1964, p.464). The manufacture was located in Longton and founded in 1912 (renamed in 1951 to New Chelsea China Co. Ltd.).

See also an article on POTTERY histories

Plain Sunrise / Sunset Mark - Gebrueder Heubach

2011-08-29T04:15:00.000-07:00

I received an enquiry in regards to a plain printed green circle mark, displaying a sunset or sunrise, on the base of a dog figurine.

This back stamp belongs to a company called “Gebrueder Heubach”. Their porcelain manufacture operated in Lichte, Thuringia, Germany and was founded in 1820. Heubach is mainly known for its famous dolls, which are highly collectable.

A similar mark (including SCHUTZ – MARKE, = Trade mark, meaning basically copyright) was registered in Berlin in 1895. They used another sunrise mark with DEP underneath from 1882-c1905. Source: Zuehlsdorff (1994), Keramik-Marken Lexikon, Arnoldsche, Stuttgart / Germany, p. (Mark number 1/15.18).

The company used a different mark after the war, see http://bodenmarken.porzellan-selb.de/porzellanmarken.php?page=3

I think its save to say the dog was made in the early 20^th century.

Does anyone know in which time frame this particular mark was used?

New site including Fuerstenberg Porcelain Marks

2011-08-22T03:59:00.000-07:00

Still under construction, but already worthwhile visiting is a new German site in regards to Fuerstenberg (Fürstenberg) porcelain from Germany. The company was founded in 1747 – and is still operating - by Karl I Duke of Braunschweig. Follow the link to the excellent back stamp site, which includes many examples:

http://www.18jahrhundert-porzellan.de/marken/

The site is an ambitious project by a private collector, specialising in early 18^th century pieces – well done.

Different types of back stamps – 4 marks on one 'George and Jones' cup

2011-08-08T03:11:00.000-07:00

The following cup is a great example of the difficulties you face in interpreting backstamps.

The owner asked for information in regards to the company using the impressed mark.

The impressed mark is hard to see, but I am certain its George and Jones (& Sons Ltd), at Stoke, England - reproduced in Geoffrey Gooden’s New Handbook of British Pottery & Porcelain Marks (London 1999, p.92). The company was founded in 1861 and closed in 1951, they produced porcelain from 1872 onwards. The particular mark was used from 1874 to 1924. There are also impressed shape numbers.

The owner was able to deceiver and read the printed British registration mark: “The diamond registration mark depicts IV, 20, 8, V and E which would lead me to believe this pattern/design was first registered in 1876, batch 8, May 20^th”. Every decorative art design could be registered with the British patent office from 1842 onwards.

The real mystery is the hand painted mark: “M.E.B. '85”. This is the painters mark, maybe a skilful ‘hoppy’ artist, who liked to decorate porcelain.

Exotic Bird Jug, Art Deco stylised Parrot – marked Germany

2011-08-06T02:16:00.000-07:00

I received an email asking for help in regards to two parrot jugs, purchased at an auction in Australia. The pieces have been described simply as “German Bisque Porcelain”.

A quick search on ebay revealed that a number of similar vintage jugs are currently being sold in America and the UK. However, I could not find a parrot jug on the German ebay site (with a listing of 2000 jugs). Therefore, I believe these exotic bird novelty jugs have been mainly produced for the export market. Czechoslovakia also produced a large quantity of animal jugs, such as cows, mooses and parrots.

Dating them is difficult without the possibility of pinpointing a manufacturer. American import restrictions (The McKinley Tariff Act) required all companies to print the country of origin and “Germany” was used from c.1885 onwards. The colourful ‘art deco’ design of the jugs date these pieces into the first half of the 20^th century (pre WWII), c.1920-1935.

On a technical note: the description “Bisque” is misleading, relating to the French term “Biscuit”, first used in the 18^th century. It implies an unglazed sugar like surface and is now commonly used as a description for vintage dolls. The European ceramic industry of the 19^th and early 20^th century was extremely inventive when it came to techniques and clay bodies. If these jugs are made out of porcelain, it’s more accurate to describe the jugs as soft-paste porcelain.

Please leave a comment, if you know the company, or can help with more information.

Is the "International Ceramics Directory" helpful?

2011-08-06T01:16:00.000-07:00

International Ceramics Directory exists for over 11 years now.

I would like to know if you think the sites are useful, or if you have any suggestion for change?

No - I want have pink back ground, but I'm sure there is room for improvement.

Just wright a comment (click on the title), all inspiration is welcome!

cheers

Tobi

New page about "anchor" marks on International Ceramics Directory

2011-08-03T02:17:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone,

after years of requests I finally started a site which includes descriptions of pottery marks , as well as clear literature references and links!

The first site is all about the "anchor" used on china and pottery.
Please let me know if this is helpful.