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How to Identify a Haviland

Haviland china is a type of china made from pure white clay called "kaolin." The clay comes from the Limoges region in France. Haviland, founded by David Haviland, has factories in various parts of the world and has been producing china since the late 1830’s. The company was divided between two sons in the latter part of the 19th century and produced dinnerware under multiple names for several decades, according to Antique China Porcelain & Collectibles. Haviland china is identified a number of ways.

Things You'll Need

Reference books
Internet website references
Magnifying glass

Instructions

- 1
  Use a magnifying glass if necessary to locate and read any markings on an item. Haviland china has a backmark or a manufacturer&'s mark showing which Haviland factory produced the item. Marks vary according to date produced and location of the factory. Factory numbers might also be located on the piece.
- 2
  Look for marks with "H," "L," "H & Co," "France," and variations of these letters.
  For example "H & Co" with a full line and a half line under it would show this piece to be a Haviland dated between 1876 and 1886. This mark is called "Mark D." A nearly complete listing of Haviland marks for comparisons can be found at the Haviland Online website.
- 3
  Look for decorator marks such as “HAVILAND & Co” with “Limoges” or "Theodore Haviland" printed beneath it show where and by whom the piece was painted and decorated. Use the factory mark combined with any decorator mark to aid in dating a Haviland piece.
- 4
  Identify Haviland china by the many patterns that have evolved throughout the Haviland history. Haviland dealers use a numbering system called "Schleiger Numbers" to help identify the thousands of Haviland patterns. Research on various patterns and their numbers can be done via the Internet or the local library.
- 5
  Haviland has, throughout history, made some of the most collectible china pieces in the world. Visit local antique centers, auctions and even garage sales to locate older pieces or go online to visit collector sites for more information on the thousands of designs and marks adorning Haviland China.

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