RS PRUSSIA CHOCOLATE SET

Q: Can you tell me something about this RS Prussia tea set with 4 cups? Is it valuable?

A: You have an RS Prussia chocolate set. A chocolate pot is taller than a teapot. Porcelain marked RS Prussia was made by Reinhold Schlegelmilch, who founded a porcelain works in Suhl, Germany, in 1869. Much of the porcelain imported into the United States from Germany in the late 1800s and early 1900s was made by Schlegelmilch. The distinctive handle on your chocolate pot and cups indicate that the shape is mold 501. That shape was first sold in the U.S. c.1900-1904. Decorations on RS Prussia did not have pattern names. The floral patterns on most RS Prussia seemed out-of-date by 1910, and the volume of imports declined. Value of your chocolate set: $350.

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MEISSEN MARCOLINI MYSTERY

Q: I have a Meissen vase with this crossed swords mark with a dot between the swords. Isn't this the mark used by Marcolini?

A: Porcelain has been made in Meissen, a town in Germany, since 1710. Any china made in the town can be called Meissen, but the Royal Porcelain Manufactory is the most famous pottery that operated there. The factory used several variations of the crossed swords mark, and the mark has been copied by many other companies in Germany and other parts of the world. From 1732 to 1773, Meissen used a mark with a dot between the handles of the swords. From 1774 to 1814, when Count Camillo Marcolini was director of the company, Meissen porcelain was marked with a star or asterisk between the handles of the crossed swords. The mark like yours, with a dot between the blades of the swords, was used from 1924 to 1934.

RW BAVARIA MARK

Q: I have a bowl that is marked RW Bavaria on the bottom. Can you tell me who made it?

A: Rudolf Wachter started a porcelain decorating business in Germany in 1893. He was technical director of Wachter & Furbringer from 1914 to 1917. When Furbringer left the company in 1917, Wachter took over and the company name became Rudolf Wachter Porzellanmanufaktury. This mark was used by the company beginning about 1927. Much of the company's production was exported to the United States and other countries. The company closed in 1974.

MORE RECORD PRICES

A Joseon Dynasty (c.1800) Korean blue and white porcelain jar set a world record at auction at Bonhams & Butterfields in San Francisco when it sold for $4.18 million.

CT MARK

CT Mark

Q: My grandmother always made a big deal about this dish. I am just pleased to display it in my sideboard. Hopefully you can help me settle a long-running family dispute. Is it valuable?

A: Your lobster dish was made by C. Tielsch Porcelain Factory, founded in Altwasser, Silesia, Germany (now Walbrzych, Poland), in 1845. The company merged with C.M. Hutschenreuther in Hohenberg, Germany, in 1918 but the name "C. Tielsch" continued to be used. This mark was used c.1887-c.1934. The double dish with a lobster handle was a popular shape from the 1880s to the 1930s and was used to serve lobster. Value is about $100-$150.

PORCELAIN BIRDCAGE

Porcelain Birdcage

Q: I have had this object for a few years and would love to know what it is.

A: It looks like a porcelain birdcage. We've seen similar cages, some with bars over the larger holes and some with porcelain birds inside. Your cage was probably made as a decorative object and may not be very old. Can anyone tell us if we are right? The Egyptians kept pet birds over 4,000 years ago. In medieval Europe, birds were kept by the wealthy. Canaries were used to detect carbon monoxide in mines beginning in the 1800s and special cages were made to carry the birds into the mines. Electronic detectors replaced the canaries in the mines in the twentieth century, but in 1995 Japan used canaries to detect poison gas in the subways after a terrorist attack.

DRESDEN AND CROWN

Dresden and Crown

Q: My husband's grandparents owned these porcelain ewers and gave them to him about 40 years ago. The ewers are 22 1/4 inches tall and are marked with a crown and the word "Dresden." Can you tell me who made them and how old they are?

A: Over 40 porcelain decorating studios operated in Dresden in the late 1800s and early 1900s. The Meissen Royal Manufactory made most of the porcelain. The crown Dresden mark was registered by four different companies in 1883: Donath & Co. (1872-1916), Adolf Hamann (1866-c.1949), Richard Klemm (1869-1916), and Oswald Lorenz (c.1880-). There were only slight variations in the marks. This mark looks like one used by Adolph Hamann c.1905-c.1949 or by Richard Klemm c.1893-1916. Your ewers appear from the picture to be partially decorated with decals. They were probably made in the twentieth century.

GEFLE PITCHER

Gefle Pitcher

Q: We inherited this blue and white pitcher from my mother-in-law. The words Gefle, Mullbar, and upsala-ekeby are on the bottom. We would love to know who made it.

A: Gefle is an old name for the Swedish city Gavle. The Gefle porcelain factory was founded c.1910. It was bought by Upsala-Ekeby-koncern in 1936 and was closed in the 1970s. Mullbar is the pattern name. We've seen a pitcher like yours offered for sale for $200.

WHO WAS WYLLIE?

Who was Wyllie?

Q: I have a plate marked HRWYLLIE. Who made it and how old is it?

A: H.R. Wyllie China Company was located in Huntington, West Virginia, from c.1910 until the late 1920s. The company made semi-porcelain dinnerware. Before Wyllie started his own pottery, he sold dinnerware. He established his pottery in Huntington after the city gave him the land, money for building, a tax abatement, and free gas.

ES GERMANY

ES Germany

Q: This has been in my family for years and no one knows what it is. Can you help identify this piece?

A: You have a small teacup or demitasse that is part of the American Indian Series made by the Erdmann Schlegelmilch Porcelain Factory. The factory was founded in Suhl, Germany, by Leonard Schlegelmilch and named after his father, Erdmann. It was in business from 1861 to 1937, making decorated and undecorated porcelain. The American Indian Series was decorated with decals of Indians. Your cup was probably made in the early twentieth century.

SARREGUEMINES

Sarreguemines

Q: This pitcher was in a collection of my grandmother's. We have been told that it is a majolica toby jug. The word "Sarreguemines" is written on the bottom. Any information you can give us as to age, history, value, etc.?

A: You have a Sarreguemines "Puck" face jug. The porcelain factory Utzschneider and Company made ceramics in Sarreguemines, Lorraine, France, beginning about 1775. The company made majolica after 1860. "Puck" is one of several different face jugs made in various sizes. "Puck" was also made with different decorations. Your jug was probably made between c.1890 and c.1925. Value of your jug is $100 to $250, depending on size.

HEREND MARK

Herend Mark

Q: I inherited a set of dishes from Hungary from my parents. The pieces are painted with burnt orange flowers and gold trim. They are marked with "Herend, Hungary, Handpainted" in blue. and some numbers in orange. Can you tell me the name of the pattern and how old it is?

A: Herend Porcelain Manufactory was founded in 1826 in Herend, Hungary. It is still in business and is the world's largest porcelain factory. Herend started out making earthenware, but by the 1840s was producing porcelain tableware. Early Herend porcelain patterns are similar to Meissen and Sevres designs. Herend makes replacement pieces for any of its patterns by special order. Although the design and shape of your dishes look old, this Herend mark indicates they were not made before 1965. The four-digit number and letters FH identify the piece and the pattern name. Your dishes are Herend's Indian Basket Rust. Indian Basket was made in several colors. The two-digit number is the painter's number. For more information on Herend, including a timeline of history and marks, go to http://www.herend.com/.

PLANKENHAMMER

Q: I have an ironstone platter marked "Plankenhammer" with an eagle, swastika, and the date 1941. Can you tell me more about these marks?

A: Porcelain Factory Plankenhammer was in business in Plankenhammer, Bavaria, Germany, from 1908 to c.1978. This crossed-hammers mark with the word Flass (flowed) was used from c.1920 until the factory closed. The eagle carrying the swastika was the insignia for the Luftwaffe, the German air force, from 1933 until 1945. Your platter was made for use by the Luftwaffe.