Q&A ON RESEARCHING MARKS ON
SPONGEWARE BOWL - GOUDA BOWL - LIMOGES PLATES - GERMAN MUG or BEER STEIN - STAFFORDSHIRE TEAPOT - MASON'S IRONSTONE

This mark is documented in many pottery marks reference books and other resources as being a ca late 19th or very early 20thC mark used by an as of yet unknown (and definitely closed) company. They seem to have been either very short-lived or were quickly acquired by another larger firm.

Most resources place the location of this company somewhere in the Ohio Valley, where many Potteries producing similar Cooking Ware or Utilitarian pieces were also situated around that time. Their most common mark includes some extra words, like X-Radium and/or Mineral Clay. All of their pieces look very similar in style, with heavy blue glazes. The interior of their pieces are also similarly glazed. They always appear very durable and clearly Utilitarian with similar textured finishes near the rims.

I can assure you that your Sponge-ware or Sputter-ware covered Bowl is not a Rookwood piece - it is not even in their style and the mark is not related. Please use our NAME SEARCH for Rookwood to see some examples of their marks and read a brief Fact Sheet on the company. We also have a dedicated page on Rookwood through our EXTRA HELP section with additional information.

Your item is definitely of American origin and it was produced by one of the various potteries in Bennington, VT, but we could not find the exact company that may have used this particular mark. We believe it dates ca late 19th to early 20thC. This type of items are generally referred to as Blue Spongeware or Blue Sputterware, and of course Bennington Ware based on its origin.

The manufacturer of your Plates is UNION LIMOUSINE. Please use our NAME SEARCH for Union Limousine to see their marks and also read a brief Fact Sheet on the company.

The other marks are for SALMON & Cie, who were Distributors & Exporters of items made by many companies in Limoges, France. They were in operation ca 1950s - 1990s, which dates the period of your plates.

I do not believe that the main impressed mark on your Floral Ceramic Bowl is a Deer, I think the ears seem too large and out of proportion. It is actually a Ram and the piece "smells" Gouda. It was made by RAM POTTERY - Plateelbakkerij Ram, located in Arnhem, Holland, that uses several variations of this mark. Please use our NAME SEARCH for Ram Pottery to see these marks and also read a brief Fact Sheet on the company. This also explains the "R" initial mark on your piece. In this case, your item would date ca 1920s and is absolutely lovely!...

Your Plate was actually made by WEDGWOOD. The style and workmanship is typical of theirs and the impressed W you mentioned points in that direction. Also, Wedgwood used a specific Dating System that includes capital letters - see our Wedgwood page through our EXTRA HELP section - which may explain the presence of the AB etc characters.

It is definitely NOT Chinese, in spite of the printed Kanji characters within the decoration (scroll), but certainly in that style, generally referred to as Chinoiserie, but in the European taste, that was very popular during those days. Its manufacture dates ca 1860s - 1880s.

As you know, this mark is an imitation of the very original Capo-di-Monte mark, which unfortunately has been extensively copied by many makers and decorators in many countries and more recently also from companies in China. Please browse through our "N" Shape Category in its entirety to view numerous such marks to see what we mean.

Also, your item is not Lladro that you suggested and does not appear to have been made by any other well-known makers. One of the tell-tale signs on your piece that this was probably made in Asia as a recent reproduction, is the lack on any significant detail. For example, the fingers seem attached together, whereas in most fine examples, you will see those being separate. Also, the facial features, although cute with their variation of their noses etc, are a bit "frozen" and not what you would expect from a Dresden or similar European Workshop. Additionally, and since we are pretty certain that this is a 20thC piece, there should also be a Country of Origin notation near or within the mark as required since 1891. In the case of recent imports form Asia, this requirement is fulfilled by placing a sticker or label, which is often lost or removed. In our opinion, this is a cute Figural Group of Three Maidens in the style of Dresden or Meissen, but made ca 1990s - Present, most likely in China.

The mark on your whimsical Mug in the shape of a Human Skull is a recent version of ZEH, SCHERZER & Co. Please use our NAME SEARCH for Zeh Scherzer to see several other versions and read a brief Fact Sheet on the company. This company is known to have produced Giftware articles in Porcelain and yours dates ca 1960s - 1980s.

BATES, WALKER & Co. was one of several partnerships and owners for the DALE HALL WORKS, located in Burslem, Staffordshire (UK). This company was first established in 1870 and closed in 1936. The particular period that yours was made is ca 1870s as noted on the mark. Please use our NAME SEARCH for Dale Hall Works to see several other related marks and read a brief Fact Sheet on this Staffordshire Pottery or its various company associations over the years.

This mark is included under our "BIRDS or FEATHERS" Shape Category and is listed as FRITSCH & WEIDERMANN [in many colors] from Bohemia or Germany. It dates ca 1920s - ca 1945. In this case, and since you now know the maker, please use our NAME SEARCH for Fritsch & Weidermann to view this and other related marks and read a brief Fact Sheet on the company. Phoenix China was one of their registered trademarks. Because this brand was relatively short-lived and there are no Auction Records that we can find, your best option is to search on Google or eBay for "Bohemian Chinaware" as a general term to compare with yours.

Yes, you are correct. Please use our NAME SEARCH for Coalport to see all of their marks on one page and also read a brief Fact Sheet on the company. Your mark is listed as No. 6, except in that it also includes the Country of Origin, which was required only after 1891. In other words, your Set was manufactured ca 1891 - 1930s.

Both of these marks were used by G.L. ASHWORTH & BROS ca early 20thC. Please use our NAME SEARCH Mason to see them all on one page and read the various Fact Sheets where it mentions the use of these marks at different periods by at least two companies.

I know it is hard to see it clearly on your piece because the mark is partly faded, but it is actually included under our "CROWNS" Shape Category. In this case and for faster viewing, please use our NAME SEARCH for Lefton to see this and other related marks and also read a brief Fact Sheet on the company.

The "50th" on the side of this Teapot is not a maker's mark, but probably refers to some Commemorative event, for example a Wedding Anniversary and it was probably applied by the maker as a special order by the previous owner.

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