Small Crown Over Double "R" or "G" or "JR" Mark Query

by Ian
(Nashville, TN)

Captial Cursive 'A' pottery mark with 1762 date:- This figurine was purchased in Germany in the late 50's to early 60's. It may have been from an antique store and may be older than that, but don't know for sure. I have scoured google and maker mark forums but cannot seem to find this mark or anything like it.

Part of the problem is that it's hard to tell if the mark is a double cursive "G", "R", "P", "J" or combination of letters. Below the mark is "1768" or "1708". This figurine appears to be a second and has a horizontal line cut through the middle of the mark. There is another figurine with the same mark, but without the date below it.

Any help identifying this piece would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

Ian

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reply by Peter (admin) below - just scroll down...

HOW I MADE MONEY FROM BITS & BOBS OF OLD CHINA .....more

Reply by Peter (admin)

To:- Captial Cursive 'A' pottery mark with 1762 date

Hi Ian

Thanks for sharing your photo of the Captial Cursive 'A' pottery mark with 1762 date (not 1708 or 1768).

It would have been great to see the actual item also. Remember, this public forum is for the benefit of all, acting as a valuable 'public record'.

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UPDATE 1
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Since this reply was written, I stumbled across this mark whilst looking for another query. The mark is that of a rather oddly named company called "Oldest Volkstedt Porcelain Factory" based in Thuringia, E. Germany. They have been manufacturing from 1760 to the present day and so may have some claim to the their odd title.

This particular mark was used by them between 1915 and 1981 - quite a long run, don't you think?

To my eye, this mark looks like it sets out to mirror the look of the various Russian Imperial Lomonosov 'A' (Alexander) marks. Not sure why they would do this though. Any suggestions? Perhaps it is co-incidence?

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Update 2
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Since UPDATE 1 (above), an expert china pottery mark identification appraisal has given us some great detailed info on this mark:-

"The history of this factory is a complex honeycomb of history dating back nearly 300 years.

Now known as Unterweißbacher Werkstätten für Porzellankunst G.m.b.H. (Unterweissbach Porcelain) the present day company is a conglomeration of a various firms all part of the rich history of the area of Thuringia, Germany.

Following a merger in 1937 between Aelteste Volkstedter Porzellanfabrik

(The original Royal Volkstedt factory, with origins as far back as 1721) and Unterweissbach Porcelain (founded in 1882 by Herman Jost), the company used and still uses both the Aelteste brand and the Unterweissbach name - sometimes being referred to as the "Oldest Volkstedt Porcelain Factory". Your mark with the cursive capital 'A' was thought to be used with the added device of "1762" inder the 'A' mark after 1945 and without the 1762 device from 1900 - 1936. The same mark with VEB after 1972 . More online information available at http://www.porzellanmanufaktur-volkstedt.com/ and http://www.porcelainsite.com/porcelain/marks/volkstedt_2.shtml and
http://www.porcelainmarksandmore.com/thuringia/unterweissbach_1/00.php

A few more details:-

In 1832 the Royal Volkstedt factory lost the privilege of excusivity which was first granted by the Royal Family of the Thuringia region in the 1760's. Production in that region pre-dates 1760, going back to 1721 (source:- http://www.porcelainsite.com/porcelain/hist_porc/hist_volk.shtml). Other Volkstedt porcelain factories would be after the date of 1832. 7 decades on in the 1860's, this original Volkstedt factory was under the ownership of Karl Ens and a man called Triebner. They traded under the name Triebner, Ens & Co and over the next few decades, due, in some part, to the work of Karl Ens' two sons, their product were to become highly regarded.

Over this period the records show this factory to have become known as the Aelteste Volkstedter Porzellanfabrik (The Aelteste Volkstedt Porcelain Factory). The Aelteste Volkstedter Porzellanfabrik merged in 1937 with Unterweissbach.

The company was known during this period as the 'Aelteste Volkstedter Porzellanmanufatur und Porzellanfabrik Unterweißbach vormals Mann & Porzelius A.G. The factory enjoyed a good reputation at this point (Porzellanfabrik Unterweißbach 1936 until 1953), originally under the management of Karl Saar. The Great Depression of the 1930's, saw the high quality unreconciled with profit and turnover and much of the company went into the ownership of Heinz Schaubach.

Value varies from piece to piece."

As for valuations, as I keep saying, I can't do more than point you in the right direction with valuation appraisals because value of vintage and antique china is, like anything else, subject to the whims and fancies of fashion. What is 'in' one moment and fetching high prices, is 'out' the next.....and visa versa

It is actually quite easy to get a feel of the value of your wares yourself just by looking online in the right places. I tell you how on this vintage and antique china values page. You can also take the opportunity to liaise with experts on that page.

Hope this helps.

Best regards,

Peter (admin)