New Pottery Resembles Old Chintz

Chintz is a generic name for primarily English china decorated all over with flowers. There was so much interest in chintz that many original English makers began reissuing new pieces from old molds. You can also find cheap imports from Asia with chintz-like designs.

The 12″ vase shown here is made in China and wholesales for under $10. The pattern is not an exact copy of any particular original pattern but generally similar to several vintage patterns.

This and many other pieces of new transfer decorated china are marked with slight variations of old Victorian marks such as the one shown in Fig. 2.

"Chintz" was first used to describe fabrics with exotic patterns exported to England from India in the late 1700s. The term gradually began to mean any flowery homespun appearance. Although chintz patterns have been applied to china wares for over 200 years, the most sought after pieces are multicolored wares made ca. 1900-1950.

Fig. 1

Fig. 2 New cobalt blue mark commonly found on a variety of reproduction china. Lion and unicorn roughly similar to genuine 19th century marks based on the British Royal Arms. Lettering at bottom reads, "VICTORIA WARE, IRONSTONE." Generally 2″–3″ wide, much larger than most marks on genuine transfer wares.