Collecting Ceramics ~ The basics

Ok so you’ve decided to collect ceramics or your looking at an old pot and want to know a bit more about it.

Here is Anne’s AntiquesAvenue guide to the things you should be able to discover about your pot. I will be posting more detail on each one over the comming few days.

- What is it made of? 

The basic types are: Pottery, Porcelain and StoneWare

- How old is it?

Part 1:Yes, you can get a good ideas even if there is no manufacturers backstamp. Useful pointers to dating you pot

Part 2: How to date pots from the marks on the back

- Who made it?

How to decipher a backstamp

- What form is it and how was it built?

Ceramics are in all sorts of forms from Flat tiles, through vessels such as jugs and vases to ceramic figurines. Hand thrown or slip moulded?

How is it decorated?

Transfer printed or hand painted? Glazed or not? And what type of glaze?

Value?

Whats it worth, note I’ve put this last as its often easiest to determine a value when you know the answers to the questions above

Contemporary Studio pottery vase