Published 2019

Trademarks

This is an approximate guide but it aims to give a range of years over which a particular mark is known to dating been used. Dating first two factory marks are scratched through. This denotes "Seconds" quality and is very often "overlooked" by internet sellers. Other marks indicating seconds quality include I. S perhaps this stands for "imperfections" and the "BOW" over stamp.

The I. Some of dating factory marks include registration numbers. These are an indication of the date a pattern is first registered, but the actual piece could have been made note time afterwards. The years dating registration numbers are set out in the table below. Unfortunately a piece could have been potted and then stored away for years before marks trademarks decorated.

Trademarks

They were used somewhat sporadically during the period derby question, and then on flat ware but not on hollow ware i. The impressed marks are often difficult to read, being underglaze, and can therefore be rather misleading. The green factory mark above appears on ware more info during the wartime period. All the ware is in the "Surrey" shape and there is no date cipher. The pink version factory mark mostly appears to be confined to patterns A - A all being in the "Elizabeth" shape and probably produced in the immediate post war period. I have also have a dinner plate note the silver shape with pattern A Pinxton Roses.

Again there is no date cipher but a similar mark appears on the limited edition Coronation loving cups and trays dated , so it was must used between. Many of the marks in the A - A derby range have been acquired from the US and were most probably intended for export, as the Board of Trade restrictions on production for the home market were not lifted until. Plate in the Dragon pattern with date cipher for. In Lawleys note acquiring potteries and note Dating Lawley Group owned 7 potteries and three subsidiaries. There would have been some reluctance to include retailers' information under the factory mark - This involved the expense of producing engraved copper derby to produce a totally underglaze mark which would not trademarks note justified for small orders. It could also be argued that it detracted from the factory mark being detrimental to what would now be called "brand awareness". This probably trademarks for the rather lacklustre effort above, and the "Dirigo Inc" and "Neiman Marcus" marks below.

Above is a selection of factory marks which appear on pieces made for export. Mostly the stores are based in note United States, but a mark for "Hardy Bros. Australia" is also included. I have also seen one for "Ovingtons New York". In about the name of the pattern begins dating appear on the factory mark and these are trademarks out above in pattern order with "Balmoral", "Leroy" and "Matlock" amongst the first. Early note during the period were printed, and these are occasionally smudged as the pieces were worked on by the enamellers before firing. Marks marks appear to have been applied as lithos with initially the pattern number note painted or printed note separately. In such cases the derby cipher may be missing or added separately, sometimes well away from the mark.

It should be appreciated that inevitably mistakes were made. I also have a number of examples where a piece has been marked with an incorrect pattern number.

Early Derby Marks and newer Royal Crown Derby base marks.

With a multiplicity of ground colours in use, of which some at first glance seem quite similar , and marks discrepancies with regard to allocation of pattern numbers, it is hardly surprising that errors occurred. The factory marks to the demitasse cups are sometimes derby to fit. On the floral pieces and very small figurines only the words "Crown Derby" may appear. In the case of marks the knives including butter knives are usually etched with the factory derby or with the words "Royal Note Derby" but are undated. Spoons note Note and other smaller items are generally derby marked although there derby dating marks where the ceramic handles are marked note the reverse. The "Handley Cross" mark appears on the Jorrocks series of plates. The date cipher here "X" for is just above the horseshoe. Unfortunately the pattern numbers are not always as readily legible as the example given for A above and are often misread as a consequence! The "" shown in the fourth factory mark above is the shape number. Certain fancy items, especially vases, are marked derby both a pattern and shape number e. Dean, Price, Hague trademarks Birbeck Plates etc. One note of caution.

The gilders and enamellers marks were sometimes passed marks to new staff and therefore reused. They therefore need to be checked against the dates during which a gilder or enameller is known to have actually worked at the factory. Note on bowls with Diana pattern. The different shades of red suggests that the mark has been revised, perhaps with the intention to deceive. Further research required.