Basic Ceramic Identification & Dating Guide

This is a basic guide to the identification and dating of British ceramics.

Ceramic Types

A “type” refers to a category of ceramics that shares a consistent, specific and unique combination of physical attributes (such as paste type, the colour of decoration, kind of glazing, etc.). Type definitions also incorporate additional information about dates, origins, costs and functions of pottery.

We intend to illustrate the basic principles of visual ceramic type identification, which will allow users to access additional information.

Most types of historical ceramics, that is, post-1492 ceramics of European origin or inspiration, are classified according to three primary attributes:

Paste

The characteristics of the clay from which the piece is made.

Surface Treatment

The way the surface of the vessel is treated, covered or glazed.

Decoration

The methods, colours and motifs used to decorate the piece. Each “type” of ceramic has a unique combination of paste, surface treatment and decoration that is not found in that combination on any other “type”

Ceramic Identification

The first step in identifying a pottery type should be identifying the paste type.

Coarse Earthenware

Also known as “earthenware”, “terra cotta”, or “pottery” Fired at temperatures of 900-1200° C porous, the softest and least compact of the paste types, often contains tempering material, colours range widely from cream through dark red. It can have a wide variety of surface treatments.

Refined Earthenware

Also known as “China” or “semi-porcelain” Fired at temperatures of 1100-1200° C hard and compact, only slightly porous, compaction texture may be visible, thin and cream to white. Usually lead-glazed.

Stoneware
Fired at temperatures of 1200-1350° C hard and very compact, but not vitreous, non-porous, granite-like in texture, usually grey, rarely cream or white. Usually salt-glazed.

Porcelain
Fired at 1300-1450° C very hard, compact and vitreous, white to bluish-white. Sometimes lead-glazed.

Surface Treatment

The next step involves surface treatment. Once the paste type is identified, it is necessary to identify the general category of surface treatment.

Surface displacement, penetration or addition (Punctuates, incising, appliqué etc.)

Smoothing or scraping

Polishing and burnishing

Painting and pigmentation

Slip decorating

Glazing

Lead glaze (AKA low-fired glaze)

Tin enamel

Salt glaze

Field spar glaze

The final step in identifying a pottery type is to analyse the decoration. This is the most specific of the elements identifying a ceramic type. It is important to identify paste type and surface treatment first because the same decorative elements can occur on several different paste types and surface treatments. Decoration includes specific design motifs, colours and iconographic elements.

Dating Ceramics

There are so many ceramic marks and indeed too many to commit to memory for the average collector. Short of walking around with a book of ceramic marks and constantly checking, it is better to have a few simple guides to help determine the approximate date and manufacturer. For this reason, we will give a few pointers to look for.

1810
Pieces bearing a pattern number or name can be assumed that it dates no earlier than 1810

1860
The word "Limited" or "Ltd" appears after 1860 after a law was passed requiring it to be shown by limited liability companies. Although it was being used on pieces from 1885 onwards.