Archive for Education
Hallmarking on Vintage and Antique Jewellery – resources
Posted by: | CommentsThe final part of my guide to hallmarking on Vintage Jewellery and Antique Jewellery provides a list of useful resources.
Books:
Bradburys Book of Hallmarks : The most useful single set of hallmarking tables. Want just to look up a hallmark or read a clear guide to the rules then buy this little book, quite inexpensive too.
Jacksons silver and gold marks: A much more comprehensive guide including makers marks. Expensive and for the dedicated collector
Websites:
Online silver marks Guide to silver marks worldwide – I often use this to look up European hallmarks and makers marks
London assay office
Learn more :
Retail Jewellery courses I’ve completed their Jewellers diplomas 1 and 2 . If you really want to learn in detail I recommend these courses. Expensive, hard work and time consuming.
I do hope this mini series on the hallmarking on antique jewellery and vintage jewellery has been useful and interesting. Any questions ? drop me a line either through this site or on Twitter.
How old is my pot? – useful pointers to dating part 3
Posted by: | CommentsThis is the final part of my guide to dating you antique pottery. Here is a look at manufacturer Trademarks and how to decipher them.
If you are planning to decipher lots of backstamps you will need reference books and websites which can help – I will list these in the next post. Before these websites and books can be of any help you need to read the backstamps.
Backstamps come in several varieties: hand painted under or over glaze, printed under or over glaze, incised, molded and impressed are just a few which spring to mind. It is useful to tell the difference as any one manufacturer may have used different methods at different times in their history. For example
Derby have hand painted backstamps in the Victorian era and printed ones nowadays.
Victorian Derby Backstamp
- Modern Royal Crown Derby backstamp
How old is my pot ? Useful pointers to dating ~ Part 2
Posted by: | Comments
Hornsea Vase
How to date a pot from the marks on the base?
There are a wide variety of potters marks placed on the bases of pots. Just try turning a few over and see what you can find. You can buy books and find internet sites which help to trace the manufacturer and date of manufacture from these marks ( more on this later) – in the mean time here are a few ideas which should help without the need to go any further.
The Word England was placed on the base of pots as the country of manufacture was required by the McKinley Tarriff Act from 1891. Pots with England on the base will date after this time. This was upgraded to Made in England circa 1920
Words like “ Ltd” after the company name and the word “Royal” or a Royal Coat of Arms will mean that the item is Victorian at the very earliest as would a pattern name on the base of your pot.
Oven Proof, Microwave Safe and Dishwasher Safe are all later 20th Century inovations a Bar code on the base would never be found pre-1970s.
Bone China, Fine China are both 20th Century and I am told that Great Britain is a mid 20th century term.
Do you have any more general rules that I can add to this list?
Part 3 of “How old is my Pot” will cover looking up the date from the manufacturers trade marks
Antiques University
Posted by: | CommentsYou can now study for a Degree in Antiques Auctioneering. This course is being offered by the University of Wolverhampton who say:
