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For any collector, a mark on an antique item is its passport. A small sign, impression, or drawing on the bottom of a porcelain cup or the handle of a silver spoon carries a vast amount of information. It is the mark that helps determine the authenticity, age, place of production, and even the name of the item's creator.
For any collector, a mark on an antique item is its passport. A small sign, impression, or drawing on the bottom of a porcelain cup or the handle of a silver spoon carries a vast amount of information. It is the mark that helps determine the authenticity, age, place of production, and even the name of the item's creator.
Studying marks allows one to distinguish genuine antiques from later copies or outright fakes. To an experienced eye, these marks tell a whole story about the item's journey through time, its change of owners, and eras. Therefore, the first thing an expert looks at during an appraisal is the mark.
| Type of Mark | Description | Where it is Found |
| Factory Mark | A sign, logo, or name of the manufactory, confirming its factory origin. | Porcelain, faience, glass, factory-made silver. |
| Hallmark | A state mark certifying the fineness (precious metal content). Often includes the city's coat of arms and the year. | Items made of precious metals (silver, gold, platinum). |
| Maker's Mark | A personal signature, monogram, or unique symbol of a jeweler, porcelain painter, or craftsman. | Designer jewelry, art porcelain, unique handmade items. |
To correctly attribute an item, it is important to understand that marks differ in their purpose. Not all signs indicate the manufacturer. In the world of antiques, it is customary to distinguish three main categories of marks, each carrying its own unique information.
The differences between them are fundamental. A factory mark indicates mass or serial production, a hallmark indicates state control over the quality of the precious metal, and a maker's mark indicates uniqueness and artisanal work. Often, all three types of marks can be found on a single item, especially on silver.
Marks on porcelain are the manufactory's calling card. Most often, they were applied to the bottom of the item. They can be underglaze, meaning applied before the final firing and covered with glaze (usually blue or green), or overglaze, applied on top of the glaze (red, gold, black).
The marks of the same factory could change over time. For example, the marks of the Imperial Porcelain Factory in Russia differed depending on the reigning monarch. In addition to the logo, porcelain may have additional marks:
The system of hallmarking silver is stricter and more standardized, as it is related to state control over the circulation of precious metals. In most countries, including pre-revolutionary Russia and Europe, the hallmarking system is a complex of several marks.
Each element of this complex carries specific information, and their combination allows for a highly accurate determination of the item's origin and age. For example, a Russian mark from the 19th century typically consists of four parts:
Even experienced collectors do not memorize thousands of marks. for accurate attribution, they refer to specialized literature and databases. These resources are all the more necessary for a novice to avoid mistakes when buying and to correctly evaluate a find.
Modern technology has significantly simplified the identification process. Many catalogs are digitized, and collector communities allow for quick consultations. The main sources of information for identifying marks are:
