Topic: Can anyone tell me if this mark is a 'character' ? Oriental possibly

[flying free]

Hi I hope you can help.  I have been trying to identify these two pots without success.  I think they may be oriental, possibly Japanese, but that may be just me because of their shape.  They are both marked the same and I can't work out whether this is a 'character or characters' or whether it is just a picture as a potters mark if you see what I mean?  If anyone can help I would appreciate it very much.  The blue one is 12inches tall and the brown one is about 8inches tall

many thanks
m

[antiquerose123]

Hi there -
Can you try *dusting* over it with something like some ashes....or just burn a small piece of paper in a safe metal bowl, and take some of the black char and rub it over the imprint to see IF it helps to define the mark....and post a pic here after doing that.  You might need to give a gentle blow of any excess char left on it -- but see what happens...and crop the pic in a little more....and we will see IF we can help.

What are those used for with the bar across the top?

[flying free]

Hi Rose
Thank you for replying.  I have tried to include a closer up picture and i hope this helps.
m

[antiquerose123]

LB? something....

Still try the dusting with something like some dark ashes, then take a close up pic...as that *might* still held to make out the edges, and define some of the marks....

Great new pic -- but just need a little bit more help to make out the marks with something dark dusted on it.

We are getting closer to being able to *try* to figure out the mark....so is it letters, or Chinese writing

[keith]

  got me stumped,I've magnified it and turned all ways round,can't make out the characters will try harder,Keith.

[antiquerose123]

Not sure IF this is related at all -- but did find this while googling ---------- BUT MAY MEAN NOTHING HERE.....but I thought I would add here before I lost it.

http://www.oldandsold.com/articles05/pottery19.shtml

"The factory sign " The White Star " (de witte Ster), though deposited at the Guild by A. Kiell in 1764, a year after he took charge of the works, appears to have been adopted by T. Witsenburg when he founded them in 1690. C. de Berg used his initials over a six-sided star as his mark, whilst Jan Aalmes sometimes wrote his name, from 1731 to 1759, on his wares. In the latter year J. de Berg succeeded to the factory and adopted LB. with a star. The J in Dutch is usually I in form; perhaps the dot over the I would be sufficient indication of this were it constantly used. The letters LB in a monogram mark a plate decorated in blue in the Chinese style with a large flower amongst flowering branches and flowerets. On the border, which is festooned, are flowers and slight leaves which surround a band of ornament reaching downwards to the central decoration, having small panels, each containing a sprig of flowers. The productions of this pottery show great variations in the styles copied. Chinese and Japanese designs vied with those of Rouen, but, though many inferior pieces are marked with a star, being forgeries, the best faience made here deserves the esteem with which it is regarded. Which of the de Bergs used DB in a monogram is uncertain; even A.K joined may be A. Kocks and not A. Kiell, yet the separate letters A K with a star no doubt belonged to this factory. "



       


Anything Close here:
http://gotheborg.com/marks/index_marks.htm

http://www.figurines-sculpture.com/oriental-ceramics-pottery-marks-in-chinese-query.html

http://www.tsrestoration.com/catalog/index.php?main_page=page&id=2&chapter=8

[flying free]

ooh thanks both for having a look and trying to help, I really appreciate it!
Rose, I think the LB is a good start.  I think they are very modern so I'll start having a trawl again with those letters.  Keith, I was hoping you'd pop in and have a look and if you can't make them out then I will have no hope, well either that or they really aren't characters but are letters or a picture of some sort.

[flying free]

Rose, sorry, in answer to your question  I think they could be Ikebana vases maybe?  So designed to take a few only,  very carefully positioned stems....ok, well that's just my thoughts

[Carolyn Preston]

Looks like a dude with a goatee holding something up. Looking to the left. Holding up left arm. Really, that's what it looks like to me. I don't see an LB anywhere!

Carolyn

Okay, the L is the edge of his face and chin. The B is his hair.

[flying free]

mm, Carolyn I see your dude with a goatee and he looks like Shakespeare to me!
I'll update if I find anything more and thanks to you all for looking  and trying to help
m