I'm searching for a hallmark...

[BuddieHol]

Could someone please help me. i have just obtained a piece of porcelain that has a hallmark on the base which consists of upright cross swords a date of 1859 which is split by the swords and several words that are blurd and unreadable. Does anyone know of a web site that gives hallmark listing for free? Thanks in advance BuddieHol

[Ethel]

Does it look like these?

http://users.skynet.be/rutrene/marks08.html

By the way - porcelain does not have 'hallmarks' - they have stamps or simply, marks.

Google for Porcellain marks and you will find a lot of information.

Also, your local auction house will have free valuation days once a month or so. It may be worthwhile taking it along -they'll tell you exactly what you have.

[BuddieHol]

Ethel/dotty..thanks for responses. I had already checked out meissen its is not that. when blowing up the marks, the swords lok more like a pair of scissors. I will contact my local auction house and in the meantime go through the sites via google.

[Narolines]

Backstamps on ceramics are an absolute minefield - they're so easy to fake that you really do need an expert to look at it. There will be lots of other features in the piece that will help to identify it more definitely. It may well turn out that the 1859 is a pattern number rather than a date - some cheap mass manufacturers use numbers like this in the hope of fooling an unsuspecting buyer; or it could be that the piece was made by a factory that was founded in 1859; or it could be that someone's trying it on. By all means have a look at sites with backstamp information, but don't rely on them - get someone who knows what they're talking about to look at it.

[Peter Pedant]

No I think it is a date the factory was founded. which means that the piece itself is much later. You wouuldnt put 1860 on a piece in 1861 but you might in 1925

I think it is Danish -because I recollect seeing a piece like that myself - but I am not sure.