posted on June 4, 2003 12:14:07 PM new
The mark on the back on this plate looks vaguely familiar but I can't place it. Can anyone help? Thanks bunches!
posted on June 4, 2003 02:43:02 PM new
That's a "beehive" mark. Your mark is not in Kovels' but you can say that the porcelain is European, From probably Germany, Bohemia or Austria. A few French companies used it but it's more likely not French. The earlier marks are under the glaze and would point to late 19th or early 20th century. Marks over the glaze are later.
posted on June 4, 2003 03:23:29 PM new
Thanks, jensmome, for info. You brought up a point that I've been meaning to ask...dumb questions time. How can you tell if something is "under the glaze" or "over the glaze"? I'm really NOT a total idiot but some of what is probably beginners knowledge, I'm unsure of. Thanks!
[ edited by blueyes29 on Jun 4, 2003 03:24 PM ]
posted on June 4, 2003 03:35:24 PM new
The glaze is what is put over the design. I guess you could call it a protective coating, if that makes it easier. A mark will either be coated with the same glaze (under) or applied on top of it (over). Hope that helps. If you tilt the plate so that you are looking at it from a side-angle, you should be better able to tell which it is. The feel method is sometimes harder, but if it's over the glaze it should be a bit rougher when feeling the mark.
Cheryl
My religion is simple, my religion is kindness.
--Dalai Llama
[ edited by CBlev65252 on Jun 4, 2003 03:37 PM ]
posted on June 4, 2003 03:59:30 PM new
You can run your fingernail over the mark. If it's smooth, it's under. Plus what Cheryl said about tilting the plate.
posted on June 4, 2003 08:45:47 PM new
I'm most certainly not an expert in the matter but I was on a website earlier that described the mark as a shield. On the site the porcelain trademarks they were referring to were German. Anyway I found an interesting site that has tons of marks if you want to wade through all the names of the makers. I can't find the other site with the shields but I didn't see one like yours.
posted on June 4, 2003 09:25:08 PM new
Thanks, everyone, for the useful information. That's what I figured about the "over/under" glaze (made sense) but wondered if there were some "expert technical" method...Guess common sense works most times! I'll check that site...Thanks!
