Q & A

H.M. of Cape Breton, Nova Scotia writes:

Is there a book that I can purchase that will show me different markings and tell what they mean, like crests, stamps, branding. I have a couple of old ceramic pieces with specific markings on them, and would love to know what they mean. Thanks in advance for your reply.

We asked Bill Kime to respond:

I find Geoffrey Godden's 'Encyclopedia of British Pottery and Porcelain Marks' very helpful and I take it wherever I go... it was the only book that traveled with me on the Roadshow in May... a very good general reference for tracing marks found on British wares produced up until about 1960, and that seems to cover the great majority of the material that we see here in Canada.

It's less easy for me to suggest a book that might be as useful in identifying Continental European, American or Asian ceramics. Henry Sandon had with him a copy of Cushion & Honey's 'Handbook of Pottery & Porcelain Marks' which includes some of the more commonly seen marks from those areas as well, and we found ourselves grateful for his foresight on more than one occasion!

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