Antique Plate World

Staffordshire Pottery Marks

The Staffordshire Potteries refers to the area known in the 17th century for ceramic production. It consisted of six towns that make up Stoke-on-Trent in Staffordshire, England: Tunstall, Burslem, Hanley, Stoke, Fenton and Longton.

Over 1500 pottery companies have operated in Stoke-on-Trent since the early 1700’s. The reason for the concentration of potteries was the local availability of clay, salt, coal and lead, which are all needed in the production of quality pottery.

Some companies only stayed in business for a few years while some have been operational for over 200 years. The distinction in the pottery is found in the Staffordshire pottery marks; they clearly identify the manufacturer and the time period when the ceramic or porcelain was produced and the pottery marks could be letters, crests or symbols on the bottom of the piece.

A popular ceramic and porcelain manufacturer was Wedgwood.

The first ceramic pieces circa 1860 – 1900 by Wedgwood used standard name-mark or impressed marks, "Wedgwood".

The Wedgwood mark changed many times within that same time period. Another printed mark read "ROYAL STONE CHINA WEDGWOOD & Co." and incorporated a printed mark of Royal Arms.

Another Wedgwood pottery mark circa 1890 – 1906 displayed a lion standing on a crown with banners circling above stating "SEMI ROYAL PORCELAIN" and the bottom banner reading, "WEDGEWOOD & CO. ENGLAND".

Another popular Staffordshire pottery was Spode. Spode was founded in 1767 by Joshua Spode who has been credited for the perfection of the formula of fine bone china.

The first pottery marks circa 1780-1790 by Spode were early impressed or printed mark in upper and lower case letter of the company name. In 1805 – 1833 Spode used typical printed marks. One pottery mark was written in script , "Spode’s Imperial". Another pottery mark read "Spode’s New Fayence".

Staffordshire pottery marks reflect the craftsmanship of these potteries and these marks indicate who and when these pieces of art were created. Today they are used to help to date and value a piece of English pottery from the area.

Author: Blake Hygate

Blake is the owner of a website that called AllEnglishpottery.com, which provides information on British based pottery makers as well as providing Pottery for Sale. Of course one of the most popular of all pottery from England is Staffordshire Pottery, which can also be found at AllEnglishPottery.com.

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Moorcroft the Man

William Moorcroft was a born and bred Staffordshire potter, hailing right from the heart of Stoke in Burslem, no less. He was born in 1872, and his work spanned the Arts and Crafts and Art Noveau Movements, at the turn of the century.

When master potter William Moorcroft was learning his trade at his art school which became the place to be for local talent, he little knew what antique treasures he was about to produce.

In 1897, William Moorcroft was offered a job as a designer with James MacIntyre and Company who wanted to start an art pottery department.

Moorcroft remained the designer at MacIntyre prior to beginning his own firm, Moorcroft pottery in 1910.

This success encouraging him to set up on his own and continue to produce floral designs into the 1930s, using more exotic flowers could only mean greater success.

Moorcroft now moved into a numberof floral designs interpreting the earlier work of Tiffany, Galle, and others in a new and unique style.

He was quite prosperous through most of these times as the public demand for his work remained high.

He further experimented with landscape designs, and these are now, years later highly sought after.

The man’s elder son, Walter, took over management and design on William’s death.

William’s artistry and designs were quickly recognized for their quality and innovation while the Second World War saw a return to the manufacture of plain goods for military and civilian use, and in 1945 William Moorcroft died.

A daughter, Beatrice, and a son, Walter, were born to William and his wife, Florence, in 1914 and 1917, respectively.

William’s son, Walter, reminiscing about his early experiences working for his father, once, apparently described his methods of manufacture as highly secretive and most unorthodox.

One thing is for certain, Moorcroft pottery was extremely popular back then and still remains as such to this very day.

Author: John E Milligan

For all your antiques please visit http://www.best-antiques-auctions.com for truly amazing prices. You will find Moorcroft, Clarice Cliff, Beswick, and all the other familiar and not so familiar names there.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=John_E_Milligan

Porcelain Restoration Can Be Difficult But Don’t

Family heirlooms are important to the entire family and it is critical to keep these pieces in the best possible shape.

Even if you take care of your heirloom by keeping them safe, accidents can happen and time itself can be a problem.

Keeping antiques and heirlooms in impeccable shape can be difficult because of the expertise needed to correct the problems and because often the tools and materials needed to fix the problem are no longer available or are hard to come by.

You could try to fix the problem yourself but frequently this makes the problem worse and can require more time and money later on.

Many heirlooms are very delicate and rarely receive the treatment that they require.

Porcelain restoration is often one of the toughest types of restoration because of its fine nature. Chips and cracks can occur easily with such a delicate constitution and are often ugly and prominent.

The substance is white and therefore hard to keep clean. If handled improperly the porcelain can chip and crack leaving noticeable damage.

If these chips and cracks are repaired by someone who doesn’t have the experience then it could make the damage even worse. This is particularly a problem if you plan to sell your heirloom as an antique.

Damages must be restored properly or they can affect the resale value of your item. Often this means that the item must be restored by an expert who has the experience and tools to do the job properly.

The cracks or chips in porcelain can go deeper than the surface and it is necessary they are repaired correctly.

Experts will often use glues that dry invisibly to correct chips or cracks; they will often be able to recreate the intricate patterns on plates or dishes. The restoration process is delicate and complex.

One example of the delicate nature of porcelain can be found in antique porcelain dolls. Antique dolls often had hands and faces made of the delicate ceramic. This type of doll is still made today but is often used as decoration or memory. These delicate dolls used to be toys for young girls to play with.

If you had a traditional doll that was passed down through your family it would definitely have some wear and tear. These dolls are so fine and delicate that it would be extremely difficult to repair.

Just like plates, tiles and other items made of porcelain the dolls face can become cracked and chipped. This must be repaired thoroughly because the dolls face is often the center of focus.

Porcelain restoration is the answer to this problem. Experts will completely repair the cracks and chips in the dolls face and any other problem areas. They will carefully examine the doll and make sure that it is in the best shape that it has been in years.

After your porcelain is repaired, be it an antique dish or doll; be sure to take the proper precautions.

You always want to keep your porcelain in a safe place and although it is made to be used you should reduce the amount of times you use the piece to lower the risk of breaking it again. Precious antiques and heirlooms should be kept in a safe environment to be admired.

Author: Andrew Stratton

Antiques that are delicate and need to be repaired with care. China repair and porcelain repair can fix the chips or cracks found in antiques. However it is important to get them repaired by professionals. To know more about restoration, visit http://www.luelstudio.com/.

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The Antique Pottery  of Yesteryear

In the strictest of terms antique pottery is pottery that is at least 100 years old, though today just about anything that simply looks antique will pass the grade regardless of age.

Being sold through public and private auction houses, dealers, museums and online, these old and fine items are full of interest and beauty.

Antique pottery is referred to as a type of ceramic material and fired ceramic wares that contain clay when formed, except technical, structural, and refractory products.

It is also popular along with the retro style. The worst thing that can happen to a piece of antique pottery is for it to have chips and cracks and hard porcelain antique pottery is very strong but has this one drawback – it chips easily.

Each type has its own individual characteristics and some antique pieces are highly prized especially if the manufacturer is no longer in production.

Trade shows are great places to find antique pottery at fairly affordable prices though this may depend on the show’s location.

Those in London for example will more than likely be dearer than those in the South Wales Valleys.

Trade shows may not come to your town often, but you can search online for a schedule of antique trade shows that will keep you updated on shows in your city or surrounding areas.

Studying antique pottery and indeed, sculpture, is a great way to see how cultures have evolved and how artistic skills have developed over the centuries.

No study of antique sculptures and pottery can be complete without looking at the classical pieces created in Rome and Greece.

If you are interested in North American antique pottery then you may want to study Roseville pottery.

Some of these wonderful items gives you the vivid description of how the people of the ancient era ate and drank. Unfortunately, there are fake reproductions of antique porcelain on the market and you will come to know these through experience and knowledge so always be on your guard of course.

If ever you want to step back in time and learn about our past then starting a collection of antiques is a sure step forward.

Author: John E Milligan

For all your antiques please visit http://www.best-antiques-auctions.com for truly amazing prices. You will find Moorcroft, Clarice Cliff, Beswick, and all the other familiar and not so familiar names there.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=John_E_Milligan

The Soup Tureen – A Noble History, You’ll Eat With

Few other dishes carry as much of the mystique and history as the Tureen.

Such a simple dish, really, and practical for serving only 6 or so people, but nonetheless a part of legend.

It’s designed for serving soups and stews and for centuries could be found in various designs but have remained constantly the same – an elegant shape with domed handled lid, and handles on the bottom dish.

Few other dishes carry the history and tradition of the tureen. More elegant contemporary designs or older antique versions will display with an under tray.

500 years ago, it was common for soup to be the primary European meal, and was originally thought to be called an ecuelle.

A smaller dish, with handles and a lid and meant to picked up and drunk from. It was with this prominent and frequent table presence that the soup tureen was born.

With a plethora of inexpensive soups, stews, broths and chowders making up the common meal, it was natural for artisans to seize the opportunity and begin crafting appropriate wares.

Though practical in use to serve the communal meal and keep the dish warm, it evolved into an elegant table centerpiece across all society levels.

Artisans have approached the soup tureen as the most elegant dish amongst the china set, the art piece if you will, of the serving set.

The table quickly became the place for daily graces and ceremony with the elegant soup tureen holding court over the family’s table. Overtime, the one course meal evolved to courses, and the various soup bowls to support a more complex society’s traditions followed.

The tureen provided an economical way to make a lasting and elegant impression on dinner guests while serving affordable meals.

Thus the tureen has claimed it’s permanent and noble place in history, the Campbell Museum shares "whether named to honor the French military hero Marshal Turenne or called a pot a oille-a Catalan-Provencal soup- came into use in the later seventeenth-century France.

Most seventeenth-century silver tureens were melted down to finance the wars of Louis’ late years and may be glimpsed only in paintings.

During the mid-eighteenth century tureens in appropriate naturalistic shapes, such as tureens in the form of a head of cabbage, were popular."

Perhaps you have also heard of Thomas Germain, a Parisian silver smith who made a tureen in 1733 which sold at Sotheby’s during a 1966 New York auction for $10,287,500. One of the few, and rare remaining Parisian silver soup tureens.

During the eighteenth century, craftsmen raced to meet the demand for pretentious services, developing extraordinary tureens from a variety of rare and precious resources.

Fashionable forms, precious metals, expensive decorations created some amazing works of art, all to serve soup.

No other serving vessel can claim this artistic persistence to create a master piece for the table.

If you would like to review our 800+ soup tureen selection, click here. You’ll also find additional information on soup tureens, bowls and ladles. As you serve your soup, cherish the noble soup tureen’s heritage and bring the tradition to your own table. You’ll be eating with Kings when you serve your soup in a tureen.

Author: Shannon Schei

Sources: (Getty Museum) "Casting Nature: Franois-Thomas Germain’s Machine d’Argent, 2006 Campbell Collection of Soup Tureens at Winterthur

Shannon Schei is a soup chef with over 15 years of soup making enjoyment. Share the love and make a great soup today!

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Professional Porcelain, China and Ceramic Repair

If your eight-year old knocks over your favorite antique porcelain vase, or your china set is showing signs of cracking, do not pick up the super glue!

Many people will use online sources to try to repair the damages to their prized china, porcelain, and ceramic valuables on their own.

Although these methods may keep a few pieces together, some of the glues suggested are almost impossible to remove and makes re-repair hopeless.

Also, shoddy patch-up jobs will actually significantly decrease the monetary value of item.

If the broken item truly is valuable and precious, you ought to call a respectable porcelain, china, and ceramic repair shop to professionally and correctly mend your piece.

If you have a precious family heirloom or a valuable antique piece of china, porcelain, or ceramic that needs repair, follow these simple steps: 1. Collect all the pieces!

It is important to bring every piece possible to the shop because it is more difficult and expensive to create a new piece than it is to just reassemble the original pieces.

2. Consult with a professional repair shop about the restoration of your item. Most shops offer free estimates.

They will help you decide if your item is worth restoring or if the job is even possible.

If your ceramic vase shatters into too many tiny pieces, proper repair may be impossible.

But if the break is simple and if the broken item is rare and expensive, professional repair may reclaim much of its value.

However, if its monetary value is low, it may not be worth the cost of repairing it professionally. In this case, super glue may be your best option. Whatever the situation, a professional can guide you to make the best decision.

3. Package your item properly. It is better to personally deliver your china, porcelain, or ceramic item to the repair shop, but whether you are hand delivering it or mailing it, it is important to package your item properly.

It is best to wrap every broken piece individually so that the sharp edges of one fragment do not scratch and further damage other pieces. It is best to double box items with at least two inches of packing around the item and in between boxes.

Extra fragile pieces require specially designed packages and special shipping. Fortunately, most porcelain pieces like cups, dishes, and most figurines do not need special packaging.

If you have questions about packaging and shipping your item, call the repair shop for answers. The repair shop will then go through a special ceramic repair process.

* First, they clean the item of dirt, glue and old repairs. Then they assemble and glue the broken pieces together. They also seal progressing cracks.

* Where porcelain is cracked or chipped it will appear white. Professionals will carefully touch up the colors by carefully matching the original surface color.

* Next, repair professionals will remake lost fragments of the valuable item if needed.

* They will then conceal all hairline fractures giving the item an unbroken appearance.

* Finally, the repaired section of a ceramic item will be resurfaced to match the original finish.

If you take the proper steps to collect all the pieces and safely deliver all the pieces, professionals can do miracles for your precious family heirlooms and antique ceramics.

Author: Andrew Stratton For professional ceramic repair the experienced artist makes museum quality invisible repairs. For more information and before and after pictures visit them online at http://www.luelstudio.com/. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Andrew_Stratton

Antique Dishes

antique plates

Antique dishes are true eye catchers. They have become famous in every aspect. They are made of porcelain, china clay or silver plated. They are popular in heritage hotels in various countries. These kind of hotels maintain the rich and varied culture and heritage.

They have a traditional way of serving depending on their specialization and region. Cuisines are served in antique plates. This gives one a feeling of dining in a classic style. Most of the antique dishes are made of porcelain material.

This is a combination of kaolin clay and petuntse which is crystalline material. This kind of material is strong, highly resistant to stains, scratches and moisture damage.

This material is the reason why tableware made from it last long enough to become very old. Ancient table ware have been used by hotels to grab the attention of the clients. they are bound to attract anyone to the dining table when carefully placed on neat clean tables, in the correct symmetry.

 The effect is even increased when matching cutlery, table cloth and table mats are used. Antique dishes are available in various shops and web sites.

However, there are some important considerations that one has to make before they purchase these items.

One needs to visit several shops so as to get an idea of what they should purchase. lternatively, one can consult experienced dealers, books or search in the Internet.

One should carefully avoid purchasing items that have flaws or cracks or any other blemishes that may not be visible to the eye.

Author: Peter Gitundu Peter Gitundu Creates Interesting And Thought Provoking Content on Antiques. For More Information, Read More Of His Articles Here ANTIQUES If You Enjoyed This Article, Make Sure You SUBSCRIBE TO MY RSS FEED! Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Peter_Gitundu