Welcome to Pottery-English.com
If like us, you have an interest in antiques and English pottery, Pottery-English is the site for you. If you are trying to find the meaning of elusive pottery marks or need to research famous potters we have a large selection of both and are adding to the site all the time. There are some useful guides about how to look after your collection, and even start your collection. Please feel free to bookmark the site and browse at your convenience. Remember to check in with us for new guides and reference material.
Collecting Pottery
Sylvac cat
People have admired fine china pottery for centuries, but collecting ordinary domestic pottery and local wares is a more recent interest.
Pottery by fashionable makers and designers is expensive, especially in antique shops and specialized sales, but it is still possible to build an interesting collection of modern ceramics without breaking the bank.
Starting a pottery collection
Keep your eyes open. There are 4 types of pottery. You need great enthusiasm and a willingness to hunt for interesting pottery everywhere you go. Look out for antique fairs, general auctions, house clearance sales, junk shops, and car boot sales – anywhere that might have china and pottery for sale. Have you looked in your own attic? You never know, you may have some pieces with valuable pottery marks!
Fakes and copies
Beatrix Potters Tailor of Gloucester by Beswick
Copies of expensive china are common. After years of the Antiques Roadshow, there are not many genuine Ming vases just waiting to be picked up for a song, but some copies have become collectible and valuable in their own right. The recent vogue for Clarice Cliff has led to faking of pieces like the conical sugar shakers – the originals can fetch thousands of pounds at auction.
The cunning forgers use household dust from vacuum cleaners and tea to age their copies. Look out for normal wear, particularly on the base of household pottery – genuine wear from years of use is more difficult to fake than dust.
The maker’s pottery marks can help with identification, but fakes may have convincing copies of the maker’s mark – though it may not be the right mark. Some fakes of Wedgwood pieces bear the marks of Dresden and Chelsea. Most makers have changed their marks over the years, so identification of genuine marks can be tricky. Happily, there are plenty of books on pottery marks, which you can buy or consult in libraries.
Learn about pottery
Try to learn as much as you can about the makers and objects that you collect through books and sale catalogs. There may be collectors clubs that you can join to find out more and to share information with fellow enthusiasts. We have a large collection of pottery mark identification uk and Staffordshire pottery marks.
Collecting objects to do with a particular subject is popular. Favorites include famous characters, pets, farm or wild animals, and birds. Sporting themes, especially golf, and cricket, which appeal to many collectors are priced accordingly.
If you are new to collecting you could start with Denby Pottery
It is readily available and great quality.
Local potteries
Small potteries flourished almost everywhere in Britain. Interest in their wares is continuing to grow and they have become very popular with collectors. Nowadays the best pieces command high prices, especially in local sales.
Small is beautiful
And often less expensive. You could choose from the many small 20th-century domestic pieces which are still widely available, especially items such as bowls, mugs, jugs, eggcups, toast racks, ashtrays, and thimbles.
Damage
As with all antique collectibles, damage, and wear reduce the value. It is arguable whether even a skillful repair will add much to the value, but it may improve the appearance.
Packaging
If you can find it, the original packaging may add to the interest and value of the piece.
Good luck with the pot hunting!