Ceramic Marks Guide

Identify a mark by shape.

Ceramic marks guide.

Common mark on arita imari porcelain a mixed up and carelessly written chenghua mark. Our website includes marks stamps chops and or signatures etc usually found on the bottom of ceramic objects created by potters ceramic artists and sculptors. A simple guide to understanding the basics of the marks and dates on the underside of pottery. Also including antique periods and styles as well as trademarks company histories for doulton worcester meissen wedgwood troika and artists markss.

Later porcelain with this mark are often called fakes however the occurrence of this mark on later porcelain is most of the time seen as part of the decoration and not to be taken serious. The marks listed below are grouped as far as was possible in a logical order with similar signs graphics shapes etc grouped together. Since this mark was used on figurines produced for 70 years the style must be examined to determine the age. General guide to ceramic marks dating.

The extra dot in the fist da character changes the meaning from da great to dai greatest. Reign marks are usually four or six characters in length and can be found on the base or the side of an item. The antique marks reference. Daimin seika nensei 太明成化年製 however it is usual to read these japanese chinese marks in chinese to not add to the confusion.

We welcome your feedback on the website its search functions and appearance. Chinese porcelain reign marks identification. Pictoral guide to pottery porcelain marks and kovels new dictionary of marks. This practise of applying stamped four character qianlong nian zhi marks was especially common on porcelain decorated in hong kong during the 1960s and 70s but is in no way limited to this period.

Reign marks can play a pivotal role in helping to identify the period in which chinese artefacts were created. In chinese this mark would read dai ming chenghua nian zhi and in japanese. A collection of pottery marks using photos and images from our antique collection for easy reference and as a quick guide to the possible attribution of your latest porcelain collectible or pottery marks. Some marks look like a circle square bird or animal shape etc.

Explanation of the use of the royal coat of arms. Unknown potters marks. Marks with letters are listed in alphabetical order.