What Are The Most Valuable Pottery Marks?
Pottery marks are the symbols, numbers or letters that are impressed, painted or inscribed on the underside or bottom of a piece of pottery. These markings help to identify the manufacturer, place, and date of production.
Marks serve several important purposes. For collectors and dealers, they allow authentication and attribution of a piece. Marks can also help date an item and trace its origins. For the pottery companies themselves, the marks act as a trademark and enable branding and recognition of their products.
In recent years, there has been growing interest among collectors in identifying pottery marks. As people look to discover the history and value of their antique and vintage items, marks provide vital clues. Learning to decode the markings can reveal hidden details about age, origin, and artist.
Most Sought-After Marks
Some of the most valuable and sought-after pottery marks include those from famous British potteries like Royal Doulton, Royal Worcester, Wedgwood, and Staffordshire, as well as the famous German pottery Meissen.
Royal Doulton pieces with marks from before 1900 can sell for thousands. Look for marks with “Doulton” or “Doulton Lambeth”. Pieces marked with a lions head or marked “RD” with a number are also valuable (Source).
Royal Worcester marks to look for include the Worcestershire cipher mark used before 1876 and marks with the letter W and a number, indicating the year. Pre-1891 Royal Worcester porcelains are highly prized by collectors (Source).
Early Wedgwood pottery marked “Wedgwood” or with an impressed W are sought after, especially 18th century examples. Later 19th century Wedgwood majolica and Jasperware pieces are also popular with collectors.
Staffordshire pottery produced in the 18th and 19th centuries can also have significant value depending on the marks. Look for early creamware and salt-glazed stoneware pieces.
The crossed swords mark of Meissen is iconic and indicates early 18th century porcelain. Authentic Meissen marked porcelain can be worth thousands to collectors.
Royal Doulton
Royal Doulton was founded in 1815 in Vauxhall, London when John Doulton joined forces with Martha Jones and John Watts to start a pottery business (Royal Doulton Artists & Designers). Through the 19th century, Royal Doulton gained a reputation for producing stoneware and ceramics using innovative techniques. Some of their most notable artists and designers include:
George Tinworth – Known for his figural sculptures in the Art Nouveau style, Tinworth joined Royal Doulton in 1867 and many of his designs are now highly collectible (Royal Doulton Artists & Designers).
Charles Noke – Appointed Royal Doulton’s first art director in 1889, Noke helped establish the company’s collectible figurines. He recruited talented artists and designers to create figures and series like Bunnykins (Royal Doulton Figurines Value and Price Guide).
Some of the most valuable Royal Doulton pieces today include rare Bunnykins figurines, seriesware designed by Noke, and Art Nouveau vases by Tinworth. Figurines with an ‘HN’ mark by Harry Nixon can also command high prices at auction (Royal Doulton Price Guide and Values).
Royal Worcester
Royal Worcester porcelain has been produced since 1751 when the company was founded in Worcester, England by Dr. John Wall. The company quickly established a reputation for high quality porcelain with its ornate designs and innovative glazes. Some of the most notable Royal Worcester creations include:
Founding: The company was established in 1751 and received its ‘Royal’ warrant in 1788 when it became the potter to King George III. This allowed them to stamp pieces with the Royal coat of arms.
Period Styles: Throughout its long history, Royal Worcester adopted the popular decorative styles of the day from colorful Chinoiserie patterns, to intricate Neoclassical motifs, to ornate Victorian designs, to Art Deco inspired looks of the early 20th century.
Highly Prized Examples: Some of the rarest and most valuable Royal Worcester pieces include hand-painted vases and plates from the late 19th century signed by renowned decorators like James Stinton. Also sought after are figurines of 18th century dignitaries and early 19th century tableware services for royal families.
Wedgwood
Wedgwood was founded by Josiah Wedgwood in 1759, who is widely considered one of the most innovative ceramists in history. Wedgwood pioneered several groundbreaking techniques in pottery and porcelain during the 18th century.
One of Wedgwood’s most important innovations was his perfection of creamware, a refined type of earthenware with a pale cream glaze. By creating a thinner, whiter glaze for creamware, Wedgwood made it resemble fine porcelain. Creamware was enormously successful and was widely copied.
Wedgwood also developed jasperware, an unglazed stoneware that could be colored throughout the clay body. It was often made with a matte blue finish against a white background. Jasperware became synonymous with the neoclassical style.
Some of Wedgwood’s most famous jasperware pieces include large vases and plaques depicting Greek and Roman mythological scenes. His famous Portland Vase copy was a spectacular example of jasperware’s potential.
Wedgwood is also known for its bone china, a type of porcelain mix that contains bone ash. The addition of bone ash gave his porcelain increased whiteness and strength. Wedgwood bone china graced the tables of royalty and aristocracy across Europe.
Staffordshire
Overview as a pottery center:
Staffordshire is a historic pottery center in England dating back to the 16th century. It became a hub for ceramic production due to the availability of raw materials like coal, clay and lead in the region. By the 18th century, Staffordshire was mass producing affordable earthenware and stoneware using efficient manufacturing processes. It dominated the pottery industry in Britain and also exported goods worldwide.
Cite: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Staffordshire_Potteries
Leading manufacturers:
Some of the most well-known Staffordshire pottery manufacturers included Wedgwood, Spode, Minton and Royal Doulton. Wedgwood pioneered innovative production techniques and marketing. Spode introduced high-quality bone china. Minton specialized in decorative tiles. Royal Doulton produced stoneware and figurines.
Cite: https://pottery-english.com/staffordshire-pottery-history-and-origins/
Key styles:
Staffordshire is known for pottery staples like creamware, pearlware and bone china tableware. It also produced popular decorative items like figurines of animals, people and buildings. Black basaltes stoneware inspired by ancient Greek pottery was another key innovation. Staffordshire makers copied Chinese and Japanese porcelain styles for export to Europe.
Meissen
Meissen porcelain originated in 1710 in Meissen, Germany and is considered one of the oldest European porcelain manufacturers (https://www.meissen.com/en/geschichte). Meissen porcelain was famous for developing the first European formulation for hard-paste porcelain, inspired by the porcelain styles from China and Japan.
Some of the most notable Meissen styles include Chinoiserie, which features intricate blue and white designs influenced by Chinese porcelain, and the Purple Rose pattern, which depicts intricate floral motifs in a deep purple color. Meissen is also known for its figurines, often depicting royal or mythological scenes.
The most valuable Meissen porcelain pieces tend to date back to the early 18th century and include unique items like teapots, plates, and figurines with the crossed swords mark indicating they were made in the early Meissen years. Some of the rarest and most valuable Meissen pieces have sold for over $1 million at auction (https://www.invaluable.com/blog/inside-the-archives-meissen-porcelain-prices/). The high prices are a testament to Meissen’s important legacy as the originator of European porcelain.
Antique Marks
Antique pottery marks can be very valuable, especially if they date back hundreds of years. Some tips for identifying valuable antique marks include:
Look for marks from renowned 18th and 19th century English potteries like Wedgwood, Royal Doulton, Minton, and Royal Worcester. Their marks often included words like “England” or “Earthenware.” Royal Doulton marks included a lion and crown stamp.
French porcelain makers like Limoges and Sevres had valuable marks too. Limoges marks contained the letters “HL” inside a circle or oval. Sevres marks often contained a cipher with two Ls.
Chinese porcelain marks like those from Ming Dynasty potters can be extremely valuable. Ming marks included reign marks with Chinese characters.
German potteries like Meissen are also highly desirable. Antique Meissen marks included the iconic crossed swords design.
Study marks carefully under good lighting using a magnifying glass. Look up unknown marks in antique pottery books or online databases to identify them.
Seek appraisals from reputable antique dealers to verify the age, authenticity, and value of marked antique pottery.
Authenticating Marks
As antique pottery has become more valuable, fakes and reproductions have flooded the market. Luckily, there are some tips for spotting inauthentic pieces. First, examine the bottom or base of the object. Authentic antique pottery usually has an unglazed area that indicates the type of clay used. Many fakes do not accurately recreate this. Next, research any marks, stamps or signatures. Experts can identify the markings of major manufacturers like Wedgwood and determine if a mark is inaccurate. One giveaway is modern looking marks on antique shapes. Marks may also be poorly formed or have elements historically incorrect for that time period. In addition, some counterfeiters add false patinas or artificial aging. Real antique glazes develop naturally over decades. If a piece looks too perfect, it is likely a reproduction. When uncertain, collectors should compare to verified museum artifacts or consult an appraiser.
According to Dawson’s Auctioneers, “The bottom of authentic pottery will usually have an unglazed area, which lets you know what kind of clay was used to construct the piece.” This can help distinguish real antiques from fakes.
Conclusion
In conclusion, some of the most valuable pottery marks to look out for include Pablo Picasso’s Madoura pottery from the 1940s, antique Royal Doulton, Royal Worcester, Wedgwood, Staffordshire, and Meissen marks. Proper identification and authentication of marks is crucial to determining the value of a piece. Authenticating marks involves looking for hallmarks, inspecting the quality and technique of the pottery, researching the potter’s signature, and comparing to reference guides. Recognizing valuable artist, brand, and time period marks allows collectors to discover prized finds and preserve important artifacts of ceramic history.
As we have seen, pottery marks give insight into the origin and provenance of ceramic wares. Marks transform everyday pots, vases and dishes into precious works of art with ties to specific eras, cultures, and celebrated artisans. For the knowledgeable collector, a small mark on the underside can distinguish a priceless treasure from a common trinket.
