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How to Identify Porcelain Markings

Take a look at the shelves around your house. Chances are you will come across pieces of porcelain -- everything from a figurine you inherited from your grandmother to a vase you purchased at an estate sale. While you treasure these items for their beauty or their sentimental value, you probably don't know much about who made them or where they were manufactured. Research the markings on the porcelain in order to learn the story behind the pieces you prize.

Things You'll Need

Magnifying glass

Instructions

- 1
  Locate the markings on your piece. Most porcelain is marked on the underside. Markings can be in ink or they may be incised. Use a magnifying glass to thoroughly examine your porcelain. A piece may have more than one mark.
- 2
  Understand the different types of markings. Different markings give different information. Look for a manufacturer's mark that indicates who made the piece. If it was produced after 1891 for import into the United States, you will also see a marking that indicates the country of origin. This appears within or near the maker's mark. If the porcelain was hand-decorated, you may find markings that indicate the artist who worked on the piece. These markings are often the initials of the artist, a complete signature, or a symbol used by the artist.
- 3
  Use an online identification guide. An Internet guide to maker's marks lets you compare what you find on your piece to signatures and symbols that have been identified and matched to a manufacturer. Look for a website such as Antique Marks, which shows more than 10,000 antique marks and trademarks, or Marks 4 Ceramics, a subscription service that allows members to search for marking information.
- 4
  Look through porcelain identification guidebooks. A trip to a bookstore or library will yield porcelain collectors' books that feature pictures of various markings. Use these to pinpoint information about your piece. Examples of these types of guidebooks are the "Pictorial Guide to Pottery and Porcelain Marks" by Chad Lage and "Kovels' New Dictionary of Marks: Pottery and Porcelain, 1850 to the Present" by Ralph Kovel and Terry Kovel.
- 5
  Consult an expert. Someone who collects and sells porcelain can be a helpful source of identification information. Visit local antiques and collectibles stores and talk to the owners about your pieces. Attend an antiques show and ask advice from sellers who specialize in porcelain. Whenever you seek the help of an expert, take your piece with you or supply pictures that show the object from every angle. If you are looking to identify porcelain dinnerware, another source of expert advice is a china replacement company. Replacements, Ltd. offers a free identification service once you send the company pictures of your piece.

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