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Porcelain & Pottery marks

Ceramics marks and backstamps to date & identify PORCELAIN, POTTERY or CHINAWARE from around the world and any period or style

Silver & Jewelry marks

Makers marks & hallmarks on JEWELRY, SILVER & PRECIOUS METALS, SILVERPLATE, PEWTER & METAL-WARE from all countries and periods or styles

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  HOT TOPIC:

ALARMING INCREASE IN FAKE MAKERS MARKS ON PORCELAIN & CHINAWARE:
Reproductions of Chinese antiques on the rise

The team at www.Marks4Antiques.com just completed an update to their makers marks databases for their online antiques reference guides and found some striking results. In particular, after sorting through thousands of new porcelain and chinaware backstamps, it appears that there is a sudden rise in the number of fake or reproduction marks found on porcelain vases or figurines, and now also on dinnerware. However, unlike the recent past, most of these newer reproductions are in the Chinese style.

“Lately, almost 2 out of every 3 questions we receive from our members are for fake marks on Chinese styled porcelain” said Elizabeth Marion, in charge of the Ceramics research group for the company. “We are stunned. This represents a three-fold increase on questions to authenticate Chinese marks from just a few months ago” she continued.

Traditionally and for the most part of the 2nd half of 20thC, markings found on European styled porcelain reproductions from Asia were realistic combinations of much older German or French porcelain marks. Recently faked marks on chinaware & dinnerware were copies or forgeries of registered trademarks that were used by now extinct 19thC British companies, especially potteries from the Staffordshire region.

However, the emphasis now is on reproductions of Chinese antiques. It seems that the recent explosion in trafficking reproductions at auction houses or antiques fairs worldwide, particularly in Western markets, represents a resurgence of Chinese Export porcelain revisiting Europe and the USA. But this time around, these are marked with forgeries or even nonsensical imitations of older Chinese marks.

As known, older antique Chinese porcelain was usually marked with a square seal imprint that includes up to six individual Kanji or similar characters denoting the dynasty period of when an item was produced. Although these marks have been initiated or copied extensively over many centuries, often deliberately and within China such as from factories & potteries in the Canton region, this was done to preserve tradition and cultural history. Many of these much older reproductions are the only surviving examples from the era they represent and are of fine quality. Besides, artisans at various kilns in ancient China were the first to invent true white porcelain and have been masters at it for over 2,000 years.

In contrast, the vast majority of recent Chinese antique copies made in the last 15 or so years is crude or mass-produced. Most are porcelain vases with simple folk designs and hurriedly applied hand-decoration in simple colors. Yet, some are very delicate and well crafted. Anecdotal evidence suggests that this accelerated flooding of the market with reproductions of Asian antiques tries to capitalize on the current trend of escalating values for true Chinese antiques at auction. This may be partly fueled by the fact that many investors or collectors [and even museums] from mainland China are “buying back” or repatriating their cultural heritage since economic conditions have improved drastically in the last decade. As some may recall, the same happened with Russian antiques, particularly reproductions of religious icons or enameled silverware during the 1990s or early 2000s.

What is important here is that a buyer should always do their research and never buy on impulse when it comes to antiques, whether porcelain or otherwise. Although theoretically it is possible that one can stumble upon a real authentic antique treasure, most seasoned antiques dealers know this to be the rarest of occasions. The key is to find accurate information by consulting reliable reference sources and ask an expert when in doubt.

 

ADVICE on IDENTIFYING & APPRAISING ANTIQUES
See more free articles & advice here

ROLLED SHEFFIELD SILVER PLATE - It was about 1743 when Thomas Boulsover discovered that an ingot of copper could be given a coating of silver by means of fusion by heat, and that the two metals united could be worked into shape as one. Copper always retained its silver covering, however thinly it was rolled. First, Boulsover used plated copper for making small wares. In the 1750s and 1760s the new process was taken up by other manufacturers and quickly became one of Sheffield... READ MORE

 

CHINA or DINNERWARE PATTERNS: Patterns & Designs on Chinaware, Teapots, Coffee Sets, Cups & Saucers - China Patterns are designs that decorate sets of Dinnerware, Tea Sets, Chocolate Sets and other Tableware or Chinaware. Most China Patterns come in a Series and some are individual patterns that are issued by a China Manufacturer or Porcelain maker. A large number of China Patterns are issued on several occasions over time by a company, either in identical format or by varying some... READ MORE

 

HOW TO IDENTIFY SILVER MAKERS MARKS AND HALLMARKS - Silver marks are usually shown in groups of anywhere from two to as many as six marks. The main reason for this plurality of silver marks on antiques is that silver was marked primarily for Taxation or Duty Collection reasons. Silver is a “precious metal” and as such it was heavily regulated throughout its history and until very recent times. Most countries stopped regulating silver in 2003. Silver and silver items were regarded as... READ MORE

 

HOW TO IDENTIFY ANTIQUES - Identifying Antiques & Collectibles is more than just the proverbial Art and Science. It is a business. Much of what we now call Antique or Collectible appeals primarily to the artistic side of one’s appreciation and there is also a lot of science involved in making certain Antiques. Yet, one of the main reasons Antiques Dealers or Collectors value their possessions is that they represent financial liquidity similar to that found normally in regular monetary... READ MORE
HOW TO IDENTIFY ANTIQUE CERAMICS: Porcelain & Pottery or China makers marks - Most antique ceramics bear a makers mark or backstamp. This is usually located on the underside of the piece, whether it is an antique Figurine or antique Chinaware. Porcelain makers marks usually denote the Studio or manufacturer and at times include an Artist’s initials or signature or logo. In contrast, most Pottery makers marks, such as on antique Studio Pottery Vases or Pottery Art, are frequently... READ MORE

 

TYPES OF PORCELAIN: Hard Paste, Soft Paste, and Bone China - The broad term Ceramics usually refers to items made of fired clay. Ceramics are further divided in several categories, the primary ones being Earthenware, Stoneware and Porcelain. Their main difference in these three is the temperature at which they are fired in the Kiln and the specific composition of their component materials. Although the term Pottery is properly defined the same as the all-inclusive word Ceramics... READ MORE

 

STERLING SILVER & SILVERPLATED ANTIQUES - In general, the term Sterling Silver is meant to distinguish items that are composed of mostly solid silver as opposed to Silver-Plated (or silverplated) that have only a thin surface layer of silver. However, there are several other distinctions, some using terms that can be confusing and often lead to a misunderstanding of an item’s composition and hence its value. One of the most important metallurgical terms that are also used in Antique and Modern Silver are the words ALLOY and PLATED... READ MORE

 

PORCELAIN MARKS FROM GERMANY: German Porcelain marks since the mid-18thC to Present - Germany has a long tradition of making porcelain since the mid-18thC, when Tschirnhaus and Bottger were able to recreate true white porcelain, the likes of which were until then imported directly from China. Meissen in Saxony, Rosenthal in Bavaria, KPM [Konigliche Porzellan Manufactur] in Berlin, and the various companies in Volkstedt, are the best known factories in Germany that produced porcelain... READ MORE

 

APPRAISALS & ANTIQUES VALUES: Part I - Some Definitions - According to Webster’s College Dictionary, an Appraisal is “(a) The act of estimating or judging the nature or value of something or someone, (b) a valuation, as for sale or taxation, (c) an estimate or considered opinion.” If you are into Antiques & Collectibles, it is easy to see why this definition is simplistic and definitely very broad. What about terms like “Fair Market Value”, “Replacement Cost”, “Insurance Value” and so on?... READ MORE

 

APPRAISALS & ANTIQUES VALUES: Part II – What is an Appraisal? - In Part I we laid out some common definitions of what most people consider the “value” of an antique or Collectible and how this depends on the intended usage of the evaluation. In this section, we will look into several practices available to Collectors and Dealers to appraise their items, starting with the formal or official Appraisal and then describing several other methods that cost very little and are usually faster... READ MORE

 

PORCELAIN MARKS FROM MEISSEN & DRESDEN - Porcelain marks are usually identified by naming the original manufacturer or maker and dating them to a certain period. In this fashion, if a pair of Urns are marked with a Sevres mark that dates ca 1800 – 1820s, we call them “A Pair of Sevres Porcelain Urns, ca 1800–1820s” and that’s it! This sounds simple enough and applies to most porcelain antiques & collectibles found in the market today. However, there is a group of porcelain marks that are identified... READ MORE

 

ROYAL VIENNA AND THE BEEHIVE MARK - If you are like me and love fine porcelain, I am sure that my frustration when finding a great piece with the “beehive” mark is all too familiar. Over the years I have seen so many versions and on so many lovely pieces, it is hard to keep those creeping doubts from screaming at you: Fake!! Fake!! Especially when coupled with the words ROYAL VIENNA, with or without the beehive mark, it is enough to drive you crazy.  So… I did a lot of research and decided... READ MORE

 

BRITISH PSEUDO-MARKS & HALLMARKS ON ANTIQUE SILVER & SILVERWARE - The word “pseudomark” or “pseudo-mark” literally means “fake mark”. However, this definition is a bit too broad and simplistic when applied to silver antiques. In reality, most pseudo-marks used on antique silver were genuine and often registered makers’ marks that had a remarkable resemblance to authentic British sterling hallmarks. Their primary intention was to make items appear as genuine British sterling... READ MORE

 

QUIMPER POTTERY & FRENCH FAIENCE EARTHENWARE - Quimper Faience refers to a fine grain earthenware decorated with an opaque, tin based glaze. Each piece is completely hand painted without the use of decal or stencil by one of 48 painters (all but 4 are women). The majority of the patterns are painted on top of raw glaze, which is a formidable process. Signed by the artist and completely painted by one person from start to finish, it reflects the touches that makes Quimper is a true folk art... READ MORE

 





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PARIS PORCELAIN MARKS: Belle Epoque & French Aesthetic movement in Paris - Paris Porcelain is a term that refers collectively to the various porcelain decorating workshops and studios within and around Paris, France. It is not the name of any single company or manufacturer and is usually applied to items made between mid-19thC to the present day. Most studios were short-lived, but are well documented. Marks used to identify porcelain from these workshops have been... READ MORE