August 09, 2004

Curious George I recently obtained some china that belonged to my husband's grandmother. I would like to find out where and when it was manufactured, except I have no clue how to go about it. I would like to start online with the research of the china. Any monkeys know of any web sites that I can look up the hallmarks on?
posted by bratcat 20 years ago
  • http://www.antique-china-porcelain-collectibles.com/antique_appraisal.htm They'll do it for fifty bucks (you send photos of the piece, marks etc.). Might be worth a shot. It is unlikely that simply looking a mark up will give you much useful information, as the worth of a piece of china is often related to very specific decorative features, which change within the china-making company every few years.
  • I've dealt with Replacements Ltd in the past. Their suggestions for pattern identification can be found here.
  • I really am not concerned about the value. I am curious as to how old the china is and who the manufacture is. ActuallySettle, what you say is true about the value and patterns. Thanks again.
  • Ebay can be a good place to get started, especially since you can do keyword searches on colors, patterns and pieces. You can at least get a basic idea of what you have, then do more in-depth research at more scholarly sites.
  • I'm not sure about online, but I know there exist books that are designed to help people identify antique china. Check your local library or bookstore. Also, as mentioned above, eBay is quite useful for this sort of thing. Finally, this might help also.
  • For a 20th century design, I was able to find some replacement china simply by googling the name of the maker (if it appears - usually on the bottom). There are a lot of different collector and replacement sites that also have photoraphs of the different designs. If your china is quite old (pre-1900 or even pre-1800) you might also want to see if you can find a book on historic pottery - university libraries or local 18th or 19th century museums might carry identification guides for china. If you have reason to believe the china is from the 18th or early 19th century, you may also find a museum curator (probably at a local museum, perhaps near where your husband's family lived) who will know something about the type of china. (I had a class on early American pottery, but I only know a bit from the class, like that if it is American and refined earthenware or porcelin from c.1800, it was probably imported from Britain).
  • bratcat - can you describe your china a bit more? Is it porcelin, or does it seem a bit heavier or coarser? (there are refined earthenwares that were popular for middle and lower class people who couldn't afford porcelin). Does it have a pattern? (Needless to say, if you china pre-dates the 18th century, there would be many museums happy to take care of it : )
  • bratcat, show us a picture. i bet someone here can identify it.
  • one two three thanks for all your help so far, any you give in the future
  • oh by the way I believe it is a coffee service has a coffee pot, 6 cups, 6 saucers. I am not sure about the coffee idea, but the pot is a little tall i think for tea. Will take a pic of it and post it too.
  • Bratcat - tea pots tend to be squat. Coffee and hot chocolate pots are taller. And, really beautiful stuff!
  • thanks path
  • I'm down for coffeepot there. You could always go on that Antiques Roadshow wossit.
  • It's a demitasse set. It may be a Schwarzenbach / Saale which is a Meissen rip-off from 1892 - 1918. You can look here for more info on the German marks. It's a nice set. Looks like real silver overlay. Sell it on ebay and be sure to insure the fluck out of it when you ship it.
  • The mark looks similar to the ones here, from Oscar Schaller and Co. That page is from the Porcelain Marks and More site. Apparently, you can email the site owner and he may be able to help you out.
  • Didn't see Argh's post, but coincidentally the marks I link to are also Schwarzenbach. Not that I have any idea what that means.
  • I believe it's German for "Returning the Schwartz"
  • Thank you monkeys for your assistance. I am farther along in my research than I thought I would be in just a days time. I thought it was silver overlay too, because of it looks tarnished.
  • Oh and also it is possible the china came from Germany itself, since my husbands grandparents immigrated to the USA from Germany. We don't really know though.
  • but i don't think they call bavaria "bavaria" in germany. there it's "bayern." who knows, but it's a cool-looking set! i'd keep it and use it.
  • SideDish, yes I like the set. We bought it at the estate auction for 60 dollars, and since it was my husbands grandmothers china I had to get it. It won't be sold. We want to keep it in the family. Thats why we went to the auction. Well for that and a few other items :)