Identify Any Pottery Mark or Maker Stamp
The bottom of a piece tells the whole story. Maker marks, country-of-origin stamps, factory codes, and date letters can pin down a piece to a specific factory and decade. Our AI pottery mark identifier reads the mark, matches it against thousands of recorded marks (English, German, Asian, American studio), and names the maker.
- Free to try
- No sign-up
- Results in seconds
Take or upload a photo
AI identifies anything in seconds
3 of 3 free identifications left today
The mark on the bottom of a piece of pottery or porcelain is its signature: it can name the maker, the country, and often the exact decade. Identification reads the symbol, the backstamp, impressed numbers, and any painted initials. A sharp, well-lit photo of the mark is usually all it takes to trace a piece to its maker.
Below are the kinds of pottery and porcelain marks people most often try to decode. Scan the mark on the base to find the maker, origin, and likely age.
Common types of pottery marks
A quick reference to the ones people ask about most. Not sure which you have? Snap a photo above and let the AI name it.
Printed backstamps
Transfer-printed logos and company names under the glaze. The most common and informative maker's mark.
Impressed marks
Names or symbols stamped into the clay before firing, common on older and studio stoneware.
Painted maker's marks
Hand-painted initials, symbols, or signatures, often on finer porcelain and art pottery.
Country-of-origin marks
Words like 'Made in England' or 'Nippon' that help date a piece based on import-labeling laws.
Numbered and pattern marks
Mold, pattern, and registration numbers that pin down a specific design and production run.
Studio and artist signatures
Individual potter or artist marks on handmade work, the key to identifying studio ceramics.
Why identifying pottery marks matters
Pottery and china value tracks heavily with maker and era. A piece marked Wedgwood from the 1880s is in a different price class than an unmarked piece of the same form. Studio potters often signed with single initials or symbols that are meaningless until matched. Identifying the mark is the unlock.
What helps identify pottery marks
Mark type
Printed (transfer or stamp), impressed (pressed into clay), painted (hand-applied glaze), or incised (scratched). Each type maps to different eras and factories.
Country indicators
'Made in England' suggests post-1891; 'England' alone is 1891–1921; older English pieces have no country mark. 'Made in Occupied Japan' is 1945–1952. Country format dates a piece by itself.
Symbol and shape
Crowns, anchors, lions, fleurs-de-lis, and animals are factory-specific. A crown over initials almost always points to a European factory; an anchor with crossed swords narrows the search dramatically.
Date letters and codes
Many large factories used coded date letters or numbers that tell the exact year of manufacture. Wedgwood, Worcester, Royal Doulton, and Sevres all use known coding systems.
Identifying the maker vs. knowing the value
A mark tells you who made a piece and roughly when, but not what it is worth. Value depends on the maker's desirability, the pattern, condition, and rarity, which a mark alone does not settle. Use the AI to decode the backstamp, then research that maker and pattern, or check a valuation tool like howmuchisitworth.app, before assuming a piece is valuable.
Photo tips for the best identification
- 1Photograph the mark flat, perpendicular to the camera, in sharp focus.
- 2Use raking light (light from the side) to bring out impressed marks that look invisible head-on.
- 3Include any adjacent numbers or letters — they are often part of the dating code.
- 4If the mark is faint or partial, take a second photo of the whole bottom for context.
Frequently asked questions
What if my mark is not in any database?
Studio pottery from independent makers often does not appear in standard references. The AI flags this case and gives you partial matches — the time period, country of style, and possible candidate factories.
Does identifying the mark tell me the value?
Identification names the maker and era; value also depends on the form, condition, rarity of that specific pattern, and current collector demand. Once you have the maker, search recent auction results on LiveAuctioneers or eBay sold listings for comps.
Are unmarked pieces worthless?
No. Plenty of valuable pottery is unmarked — early American redware, much early Asian export ware, and pieces where the mark wore off in dishwashing. Form, glaze chemistry, and clay body still tell a story. The AI gives a best-guess attribution when no mark is present.
Identify pottery marks on the go
Get the What Is This app for unlimited scans, offline mode, and a history that syncs.
Related pottery marks identifiers
Antiques identifier
Snap a photo of an old item and AI identifies the era, maker, style, and what it is. Furniture, ceramics, glass, silver, tools, and more.
Paintings identifier
Snap a photo of any painting and AI tells you the artist, style, era, and likely title. Works for famous works, prints, and unsigned pieces.
Mystery Objects identifier
Found something weird and have no idea what it is? Snap a photo and AI gives you the most likely identification, plus context.