How can you tell if a Staffordshire dog is real?

1. Press moulded body with defined modelling and a very small firing hole in the base.
2. Painted decoration: detailed with a face full of character and slight differences between the pair.
3. The back may be painted.
4. Soft gilding showing evidence of age.

How do I identify my Staffordshire pottery?

Most Staffordshire pottery pieces are easy to recognize. They have a brightly colored painted form and even clear glaze over a strong and sturdy ceramic body.

Why are Staffordshire dogs called Wally dogs?

In Scotland, they were colloquially termed Wally dugs and were manufactured in bulk at potteries in places such as Pollokshaws in Glasgow and Portobello near Edinburgh.

Are all Staffordshire figurines marked?

Staffordshire figures are a type of popular pottery figurine made in England from the 18th century onward. Most Staffordshire figures made from 1740 to 1900 were produced by small potteries and makers’ marks are generally absent.

Are all Staffordshire dogs marked?

Most Staffordshire pottery dogs are unmarked, although the smallest of the little white dogs above has a maker’s mark for Kent, England. When buying Staffordshire dogs if you’re not buying them from FrenchGardenHouse look for wear to the bottom.

Does Staffordshire pottery have a mark?

A common potters mark or symbol can be found on large quantities of Staffordshire pottery & porcelain. The Staffordshire knot mark, as it is known, consists of a three loop knot constructed from a length of rope. Often with a set of initials within the knot loops and sometimes a crown above the knot.

What pottery is valuable?

Pottery that is in mint condition is extremely valuable. Old pieces that are still in mint condition tend to attract high prices in the market and during auctions. These pieces have an original finish and have not undergone repair or restoration, hence the high value.

Is Staffordshire pottery still made?

Royal Stafford today is an industry leader in the manufacturing of English cream-coloured earthenware, a traditional Staffordshire product. We are one of only a handful of potteries where all production still takes place in England.

What do numbers mean on bottom of pottery?

There are marks that indicate a specific mold called a mold number. These numbers often look like dates such as 1953 or 1789. It is rare that a piece of pottery will have a date stamped or embossed into its base. If a number looks like a date or a year, it is most likely a mold number.

What is Staffordshire china?

Staffordshire China was founded in 2000 and specialises in beautiful china and pottery made in the county of Staffordshire. This is the traditional centre of china and pottery making in England, although today we cast our net more widely to find the best choice of products for your home.

When were Staffordshire figurines made?

Staffordshire figure, type of pottery figurine made in Staffordshire, England, from the 18th century. The earliest figures, made from about 1740, are naive but effective renderings of the human body in salt-glazed stoneware—e.g., the pew groups, or figures seated on a high-backed settle.

When was Staffordshire pottery made?

Staffordshire ware, lead-glazed earthenware and unglazed or salt-glazed stoneware made in Staffordshire, England, from the 17th century onward. Abundance of local clays and coal gave rise to a concentration of pottery factories that made Staffordshire one of the foremost pottery centres in Europe.

What is Crown Staffordshire?

In the late 1920’s Crown Staffordshire pioneered the large scale production of china floral ornaments and china costume jewellery for which they became famous. Both before and during World War II the company produced badged ware for the canteens of the armed forces, including the British and Canadian navy.

Does crazing affect the value of pottery?

While not everyone appreciates these cracks from an aesthetic perspective, crazing does not impact the utility of the underlying piece of china/ceramic/porcelain/pottery. Rather, it means there are teeny tiny surface-level cracks in the fired glaze of the piece.

How many potteries are there in Stoke on Trent?

The six towns of Stoke-on-Trent, collectively referred to as ‘The Potteries’, were the centre of the British pottery industry in the 18th century, with over 300 potworks creating wares at the turn of the 19th century, thanks in no small part to the pioneering work of Josiah Wedgwood.

How do you identify vintage pottery?

A few factors to look out for when figuring out how to identify antique pottery are the weight of the piece, its translucency or resonance. It’s easier to figure out the body if the piece is chipped – simply run your finger along the fracture to identify how hard the grain is.

How do I know if my dishes are worth anything?

Look for a back stamp or marker stamp. This is the easiest way to identify the manufacturer of your dinnerware, although in many cases the stamps may have faded or become illegible. Once you know the manufacturer, you can look up the approximate value of the piece online.

How can you tell if ceramics are antiques?

One way to check if unmarked pottery is antique or faux is by checking the bottom of the piece. The bottom has an unglazed area, revealing the type of clay used on the piece. Clay used to make antique pieces is old and dusty compared to the one used on faux pieces.

What is Staffordshire famous for?

Staffordshire is home to the ‘Potteries’, the area around Stoke-on-Trent where pottery such as Spode, Wedgwood, and Royal Doulton has been produced for centuries.

Who is the most famous potter?

• 1.1 Beate Kuhn (1927 – 2015)
• 1.2 Robert Arneson (1930 – 1992)
• 1.3 John Glick (1938 – 2017)
• 1.4 Isaiah Zagar (1939 – Present)
• 1.5 Victor Spinski (1940 – 2013)
• 1.6 Patti Warashina (1940 – Present)
• 1.7 Ellen Schön (1953 – Present)
• 1.8 Tony Marsh (1954 – Present)

What was Wedgwood’s best known Ware?

Wedgwood’s best known product is Jasperware, created to look like ancient Roman cameo glass, itself imitating cameo gems. The most popular jasperware colour has always been “Wedgwood blue” (a darker shade is sometimes called “Portland Blue”), an innovation that required experiments with more than 3,000 samples.

What does F mean on pottery?

Firing temperatures vary for different ceramics: up to 800°C (1450°F) for earthenware; 1200-1450°C (2200-2650°F) for stoneware; 1100-1200°C (2000-2200°F) for soft-paste porcelain; and over 1400°C (2550°F) for hard-paste porcelain.

How do I identify my antique markings?

1. Manufacturer.
2. Approximate date of manufacture.
3. Country of origin.
4. How many copies of the item were produced.

What does the crown mark mean on pottery?

Crown marks, typically found on the bottom of fine china items, are clues that help you determine the age and the manufacturer of each piece, as well as its country of origin.

Is any china still made in England?

Duchess China 1888 is one of the few true remaining British Manufacturers of bespoke fine bone china tableware, teaware and giftware. Duchess is steeped in its rich heritage of over 130 years of trading based in Longton, Stoke-on-Trent the heart of the ‘Potteries’.