Q&A ON RESEARCHING MARKS ON
MASON'S PATENT IRONSTONE – GERMAN PORCELAIN - HAND-PAINTED JARDINIÈRE or PLANTER - COBALT BLUE VASE WITH ENAMEL

This particular mark has been used in many variations and colors almost throughout G.M. & C.J. MASON's operations and also later by G.L. ASHWORTH & BROS, Ltd., at which time you would see the ENGLAND or MADE IN ENGLAND notation. In other words, your item was made by G.L. ASHWORTH & BROS., Ltd., and dates ca 1891 onwards, most likely ca 1920s - 1950s based on the style.

The impressed marks are internal manufacturing references and not necessarily unique to this or other companies. To view several examples on one page, please use our NAME SEARCH for Ashworth Bros and also read the brief Fact Sheet on the company near the top of that page.

This mark was used by ERNST BOHNE, who later became a Division of HEUBACH BROS. This particular mark was applied either as Impressed or Stamped in Blue (like yours) and dates ca 1878 - 1920.

This particular Christian Seltmann mark dates ca 1914 - 1948. Please use our NAME SEARCH for Christian Seltmann to see this and other marks they used on one page and read a brief Fact Sheet on the company.

This is a ca mid-to-late 20thC reproduction made in the USA of a much older Commemorative Jug or Pitcher, most of which were originally made by one of several Potteries in Lverpool or Staffordshire (UK) ca 1810s - 1850s.

The actual maker of these recent reproductions does not seem to have registered or documented this particular "drummer" mark, but we know that they are located in the US. We have found another almost identical piece to yours that is clearly marked with an incised USA and GL-73. Although this GL-73 seems like an internal manufacturing reference or Model Number, it is very possible that 73 corresponds to the Year of Manufacture and that GL are the partial initials of the company, perhaps Gladding, McBean & Co., but we cannot confirm for certain.

This was made by MADDOCK & GATER, who were a ca mid-19thC short-lived transition in the JOHN MADDOCK & SONS, Ltd., company history. This name (or partnership) begun in 1849 and ended in 1855 [some sources do not mention this transitional period at all, others date it slightly later, ca 1870s]. The impressed mark reads the same, but without the Royal Coat of Arms (I think it shows a crown) and dates ca the same period 1849 - 1885.

The word near the bottom actually reads "Geschenke", which means "Giftware" in German. This is a Retailer's or Wholesaler's logo, but I do not think that it is Blakeman & Henderson as most of their items carried either the original maker's logo or at least the country of origin since all of their items were destined for export (required after 1891 per Customs Laws). In other words, this was most likely destined for the local or domestic (German) market. Still a very pretty mid-20thC Cobalt Blue Vase with applied Gilt & Enamel Floral decoration.

Your hunch on the Miniature Bottles is correct. "Neto Costa" is the name of a Liqueur made in Portugal (from Almonds extract) and the original company has now closed. It is rumored that they either outsourced its production to China or they sold the recipe to a Chinese company ca 2005 - 2007. They bottled this drink in many ways, including small Ceramic vessels like yours and some have become collectible. Yours probably dates ca 1980s - 1990s.

The other stamp refers to one of their Distributors and you will probably notice that the first few letters on the left are "CAVES", referring to a "Cava", a common name for many Wine or Liquor Wholesalers or Retailers in Europe. The actual maker of this Miniature Neto Costa Ceramic Bottle does not appear to be noted on the actual piece, but I am certain that it was made to order (subcontracted) from some local Earthenware or Clayware factory in Portugal or perhaps Brazil (Brazil is Portugal's main trading partner for over 400 years now).

This mark refers to LA SEYNIE (Saint-Yrieix - Haute-Vienne), founded in 1774 and changed many owners to the present day. Originally, it was a small Porcelain Factory, making Hard-Paste Porcelain and Faience pieces. During the early years, they were under patronage of the Marquis Beaupoil de Saint-Auclaire and Count of La Seynie.

Located very near the Saint-Yrieix river, where there was also an abundant source of Kaolin needed for their operations, their style resembled that of several Limoges & Paris studios and made mostly Tableware Sets. It is also mentioned that they made many blanks, which they sold to several Paris Porcelain studios for further decorating. Please use our NAME SEARCH for La Seynie to read more on all of their successive owners and their fascinating history. On the same page, you will also find all related marks to help you date your item more accurately.

The maker is ENOCH WOODS & SONS and they were the only Pottery in the UK that produced this Pattern named DARTMOUTH, which further confirms this attribution.

As you know Enoch Woods & Sons was part of a long line of Potteries preceded and succeeded by other "Wood(s)" family members. This particular Enoch Pottery was located in Fountain Place, Burslem, Staffordshire (UK), and was in operation from 1784 to 1792 only, which dates your piece fairly accurately. It was preceded by Wood & Clarke and succeeded by Wood & Caldwell.  They made mostly Earthenware, Basalts, Cream wares and Porcelain.

The fact that this mark specifically includes this "A member of the Royal Doulton Group" notation, indicates that this was made after 1968, since this was the year that Dunn Bennett' s company was acquired by Doulton & Co. [see our NAME SEARCH for Dunn Bennett].

Rocklite Vitrified refers to a particular patented compound of Porcelain and other materials that was used by Doulton & Co. on Hotel & Restaurant ware ca late 20thC. It was more durable than regular Bone China or Porcelain, but chunkier to withstand extensive everyday use.

"THF" and the deer mark refer to a major Hotel chain, called TrustHouse Forte. Based on the history of the names and symbols this Hotel company used, your item dates around 1980s - 1990s. In other words, this was "made to order" (i.e. subcontracted or outsourced) for this Hotel chain to use in their restaurants.

This is actually marked by the documented initials for ALFRED STELLMACHER from Turn-Teplitz, Bohemia (now Trnovany, Czech Republic). It dates ca 1860s - 1890s and is included under our "WREATHS" Shape Category.

This Satin-like finish was very characteristic of his work. Most surviving pieces are Vases or Vessels in general, so in spite of the damage, yours is a fairly rare piece.

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