New Marks Resemble Victorian

Two marks on new china wares are potentially confusing. Both resemble the general style of marks found on Victorian period pottery from England.

One mark, without letters or words, has two lions, a crown and shield above streaming banners. The other mark has a lion, unicorn, crown and banners with the words Ironstone–England. All the elements used in these new marks–lions, unicorn, crown, shield, etc.–commonly appear in many vintage English marks. As a general rule, vintage Victorian period English marks on Ironstone almost always include a company name, the word "England" and a pattern name. The new mark in the lower left does not include any of those. While the new mark in the lower right does include England, no company name or pattern name appears with Ironstone. These generic marks without England, company or pattern name are almost always of recent manufacture.

Fig. 1 New 9-inch pitcher, blue chintz-style pattern is marked with blue double lion mark in Fig. 2.

Fig. 2 New mark. Blurred due to glaze. No words or letters.

Fig. 3 New 18-inch lightweight soft-paste china decorated with multicolored floral pattern. Mark in Fig. 4 on base.

Fig. 4 Ironstone, England mark in black from piece in Fig. 3. Less than ½-inch tall.