German Plate

Q: I think this plate belonged to my great-grandparents or great-great-grandparents. (I’m 70.) It’s marked “Germany” and the number “47.” Does it have any value?

A: Plates with pictures of wild animals or gamebirds are called “game plates.” Your plate looks like it might have been part of a set of game plates. Sets usually included 12 plates and a large platter. Individual plates and smaller sets of plates were meant to be displayed in a cabinet or hung on the wall. Pictures were hand painted or had applied decals. Game plates were popular in the 1880s. Most were made in Germany, Bavaria and France. The mark on your plate doesn’t give a clue to the maker. It looks like it’s from the 20th century. Without a maker’s name, the value of your plate could be about $10 to $15.

deer wild animal game plate

Tirschenreuth Plate

Q: This plate belonged to my grandmother, who died 50 years ago. I have no clue as to the value, other than sentimental, but am wondering if I should risk packing and shipping it. It’s about 9 1/2 inches in diameter. This mark with a crown above a shield, the letters “P” and “T” with “Bavaria” is on the bottom. The dish is signed “Guillaume.” Any information or advice would be appreciated!

A: The initials “P.T.” stand for “Porzellanfabrik Tirschenreuth” (Tirschenreuth Porcelain Factory), which started in Tirschenreuth, Bavaria, Germany, in 1838. This mark was used beginning about 1903. Lorenz Hutschenreuther took over the factory in 1927 and operated it as a branch of his company until 1994. Nothing is known about Guillaume, the artist who decorated the plate. A fruit plate similar to yours sold for $30. If you want to sell it, try to sell it locally to avoid the work and expense of packing and shipping.

tirschenreuth plate fruit pattern bavaria mark

German Plate

Q: My grandfather gave me this 10-inch plate he bought when he used to travel, and it obviously came from Germany. He passed away and I’m not sure of its origin, history, or value. The back is marked “Rosenthal, Studio-linie, Germany, Volksfürsorge.” I’d really appreciate any help you can provide.

A: Philipp Rosenthal & Co. was established in Selb, Bavaria, in 1891. The company became part of the Arcturus Group in 2009. This plate is part of its expensive Studio Line, introduced in 1961. The line includes designs by several famous designers and is still being made. Volksfürsorge was an insurance company founded in Hamburg, Germany, in 1913. After several mergers, it became part of Generali Deutschland AG in 2009. The castle mark with three turrets and two rampant lions is a stylized version of the coat of arms of the city of Hamburg. We’ve seen other Rosenthal Volksfürsorge plates with gold “heraldic” style designs. Value of your plate, about $25.

rosenthal volksfursorge germany plate

J. K. Decor Carlsbad

Q: I inherited twelve place settings and several serving pieces of this porcelain dinnerware. It’s marked with this blue mark and “Made in Germany” and also has a sticker that says “J.K. Decor Carlsbad.” Can you tell me something about it and what it’s worth?

A: The design of courting couples on your dishes is often called the Fragonard Love Story or Fragonard Courting Couples. It was supposedly inspired by the works of Jean Honore Fragonard (1732-1806), a French painter. It’s been made in several versions, with different colors used for the center section and a decal of the couple in the center. The blue mark that looks like a shield is the manufacturer’s mark. It looks similar to the beehive mark used by the Royal Vienna Porcelain factory from 1774 to 1864, but it is not their mark. The mark was copied by many other companies to make their porcelain seem more desirable. The label is that of Joseph Kuba, a decorating company in business from 1930 to 1989. This version of the label or mark was used from 1930 to 1945. The set is so large it could be worth over a thousand dollars. Individual pieces sell for $55 for a cup and saucer to $125 for a dinner plate.

j k decor carlsbad royal vienna porcelain dinnerware plate

Wedgwood Plate

Q: I have six of these Wedgwood plates marked with the word “Rustic” on a banner across the vase-shaped mark and “Copyright depose 3” below that. They are also marked “Brooklyn, Ovingtons, Chicago” and “ Rd1474.” The word “Wedgwood” is embossed near the marks. How old are these plates and what are they worth?

A: Josiah Wedgwood founded his pottery in England in 1759. Ovingtons, a company that sold china and glassware, was founded in Brooklyn, New York, in 1845. The company opened a branch in Chicago in 1872. Wedgwood began using a Portland vase in its mark in 1878. “Rustic” is probably the name of the pattern of your plates. “Depose” is French for “registered” and means the design was registered in France. The “Rd” mark indicates the design was registered in England in 1884. Porcelain and other goods imported into the United States had to be marked with the country of origin beginning in 1891, so Ovingtons imported the plates before that year. The price depends on condition and the center design. The border is “Queen Charlotte.” Plates sell for about $15 each.

wedgwood plate rustic pattern and mark

Goodwill Plate

Q: I purchased this salad sized plate yesterday at a local Goodwill. I tried to research the mark printed on the back but didn’t come up with anything. The plate is in great condition but because of the style I believe it to be old. Can you can help me identify this?

A: This mark was used by Porcelain Factory Konigszelt from about 1913 to about 1928. A porcelain factory was established in Konigszelt, Silesia, Germany (now Jaworzyna Slaska, Poland) in 1860. It operated under various owners and names until 1866, when it became Porzellanfabrik Konigszelt (Porcelain Factory Konigszelt). Another porcelain manufacturer, Lorenz Hutschenreuther of Selb, Bavaria, became a majority shareholder in 1905. Production of tableware for export increased. After World War II, Konigszelt became part of Poland and was renamed Jaworzyna Slaska. The porcelain factory was nationalized and became State Porcelain Factory Jaworzyna Slaska. Later the company was privatized. It’s still in business, now as Zakłady Porcelany Stołowej Karolina (Tableware Porcelain Factory Karolina Ltd.)

rose decoration konigszelt porcelain factory pottery plate from goodwill store

 

Strathmore Plate

Q: Can you help me identify this mark or give me any other information about the company? It says “Strathmore, D.L. & Co.” I believe the plate is ironstone.

A: This mark was used by David Lockhart & Co. at Victoria Pottery in Glasgow, Scotland. The pottery made transfer-printed earthenware. David Lockhart and Charles Arthur founded Lockhart & Arthur in 1855. It became David Lockhart & Co. in 1865 when Arthur left the company and was in business under that name until 1898. The name was David Lockhart & Sons (Ltd.) from 1898 to 1953. Your plate was made between 1865 and 1898. “Strathmore” is the pattern name.

Strathmore, D.L. & Co.

PM Mark

Q: I’m trying to find out about a mark on a plate that belonged to my great-great grandmother, who came from either Poland or Austria, we aren’t which but that general area. I have searched for this mark but can’t seem to find anything. Do you know the maker?

A: This mark with a crown, “P” over “M” in a wreath, and “Bavaria” was used by Porzellanfabrik Moschendorf (Moschendorf Porcelain Factory), a factory operating under that name in Moschendorf, Bavaria, from 1895 to 1937. It was taken over by Porzellanfabrik Otto Reinecke in 1937. A blurry mark was used from 1895 to 1910. A clear version was used on items made for export from 1895 to 1910.

 

pm pottery mark bavaria

Photo: P M & M / Porcelainmarksandmore.com

 

Dionne Quintuplets Plate

Q: I’m trying to identify a collector plate of the Dionne Quintuplets. It has a marking on the back of the Canadian Maple Leaf with “Decorated in Canada” in a banner draped in front. Beneath it reads “22 K Gold.” I can’t find any information regarding this plate. It’s 11 1/4 inches in diameter. I’m trying to find year and manufacturer in order to find value.

A: The Dionne quintuplets were born in Canada on May 28, 1934. They became world famous because they were the first quintuplets to survive. The quints became wards of the Canadian government in 1935 and lived in a nursery built for them, where visitors could come and look at them. Their family regained custody of the girls in 1943 and they returned to live with their family. Thousands of souvenirs were made picturing the quints at different ages. The picture on your plate shows them at age two. It was used on the cover of the booklet, “Dionne Quintuplets Picture Album, The Complete Story of Their First Two Years,” published in 1936. The maker of your plate is unknown. Most plates picturing the quintuplets sell for about $100.

dionne quintuplets quints plate

Skip to toolbar