Pottery Marks Identification
If you are trying to find pottery marks or need to research famous potters, we have you covered. We have a massive database of both and constantly add them to the site. There are some helpful 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. However, building an interesting collection of modern ceramics without breaking the bank is still possible.
Starting a pottery collection
Keep your eyes open. There are four types of pottery. It would be best to have great enthusiasm and a willingness to hunt for exciting pottery everywhere you go. Look out for antique fairs, general auctions, house clearance sales, junk shops, and car boot sales – anywhere with china and pottery. Have you looked in your 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 the faking of pieces like the conical sugar shakers – the originals can fetch thousands of pounds at auction.
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 correct. Some fake 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 pottery marks books you can buy or consult in libraries.
Learn about pottery
Try to learn as much as possible about the makers and objects you collect through books and sale catalogs. There may be collector clubs that you can join to find out more and to share information with fellow enthusiasts. We have many pottery mark identification UK and Staffordshire pottery marks.
Collecting objects related to 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 of great quality.
Local potteries
Small potteries flourished almost everywhere in Britain. Interest in their wares is growing, 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 that 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 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!