ASK THE EXPERTS - A chance to have your special piece, or mystery item, identified by our expert panel.

The more information you can provide, the more chance we have of helping you. Photographs of items are also useful for us to gather information from, but if you wish them to be returned then you will need to send an appropriately-sized stamped, addressed envelope. Send your questions and pictures to Judy Welsh, Prospect House, Rouen Road, Norwich, NR1 1RE.

Q: I have an original ‘Delftsblauw’ hand-work’ wall plate. On the reverse it says Uitgegeven door, Mulder, Amersfoort, OWR Delfts, anno 1661 made in Holland. On the front is a church and a name Lievevrouwetoren Amersfoort. It is in blue and white. It was acquired in Holland quite a while ago. I was wondering if you could give us an approximate value as we have looked all over the Internet and can’t find another like it.
Mrs O’Hara

A: A book “Discovering Dutch Delftware” by Dr. Stephen Van Hook is the best source to help identify a large percentage of Dutch Delftware in the market today. It also provides some history into Delftware production over the years, and the processes used. The book has many pictures and illustrations of marks to use for comparison purposes. It may even help you see the value in the pieces yourself. A mark on the bottom of the piece can be misleading. A “crown” mark is not an indicator of “royal” delft. The words “handpainted”, “delft”, “made in Holland” is not a guarantee that it was. This is because the Netherlands doesn’t have strict laws about “Country of origin” labelling. Your plate is not antique but a more recent reproduction and, consequently, is of no great value.

Q: Could you tell me anything about this very large jug I have found? I can’t make out the word on the base but I get the feeling it may be French?
Sheryl

A: Your jug is French and will have been made for the domestic market at a provincial pottery. It is transfer printed and will date from the late 19th to early 20th century. It is of very little value.

Q: I have a considerable amount of items of my late mother’s and would like to know more about some of them. They include:
Recipe book: ‘The Book of Household Management’ by Mrs Isabella Beeton, ‘Ward, Lock & Co Limited’, Warwick House, Salisbury Square E.C, New York and Melbourne, dated 1901.
A Donovan boxed set, dated 1968, which has a picture on the back ‘Boy with Rabbit’ with a label ‘after the original oil painting by Sir Henry Raeburn, Published by Haigh & Sons Ltd, Trade Mark, Normill Serial no 1646. Another picture is ‘Master Lambton’ labeled ‘after original oil painting by Thomas Lawrence, same trade mark.
A china teaset . An imagecan be seen on the bottom of the cups when held to the light.
A brooch.
S Betts

A: Although it is difficult to tell from the photographs you supplied it is likely that your cups and saucers are 20th century Chinese ‘eggshell porcelain’.
Such items have a very thin porcelain body, which is almost transparent when held up to light, and also has a very unique ring when tapped.
The word eggshell became the common term used for this type of ware in the Western World because of its fragile or eggshell body. The production of modern eggshell porcelain started around 1916 and was aimed at the European export market. Production has continued to this day. The pattern on your cups and saucers appears to be a reprise of the ‘Famille Rose’ pattern from earlier dynasties, but it is impossible to tell whether it is hand painted, enameled or transfer print. The mark on the base will either be the factory mark or artist’s signature. Your cups and saucers are probably 1920’s but without closer examination it is impossible to give a definitive date.

Q: I have recently inherited a selection of records, 45s and 78s. They include “The Beatles” and “The Rolling Stones” still in the original sleeves. There are about 100 in all, all of varying artists over the 50s and 60s mainly. Could you advise if any of these would be of any value and if so, where would you suggest I take them? S Gooch

A: We cannot offer a full valuation service, only a possible value from photographs; a ‘hands on’ examination is necessary to identify marks and condition. For a detailed description and full valuation you will need to take your items to a valuer - any good auction house will offer this service.
As a rough guide I would suggest the following for your items:
Tea service: probably oriental and made for the European export market. No great value.
Glassware: could be Whitefriars, a closer examination needed.
Donovan boxed set: In pristine condition would be worth about £50. Unfortunately your set is in poor condition, which greatly affects its value.
Brooch: Looks to be Victorian with turquoise. If the setting were gold it would probably fetch £30 to £40 at auction.
Mrs Beeton’s recipe book: In poor condition and not a rare print, very little value.
Pictures: these appear to be prints and are not original. Best sold in a specialist paintings/prints auction but not likely to fetch much I’m afraid.

Q: I have two articles, which I recently purchased from a boot sale and cannot find out the makers. The first is a large storage container. The markings on the bottom has an F and a C entwined, under this is: CERAMICHE ARTISTICHE MADE IN ITALY.
The jar is 12 1/2” tall without it’s top and 16” with the top on.
The second item is large vase. The stamp detail is not very clear as it is un der the glaze in gold and says 1363, if the letter is actually a letter it is either ‘j’ (without the dot on top) or an elongated S.

A: I have been unable to locate the producers of pottery with that particular back stamp. There are many producers of ceramics in Italy who use the term ‘Ceramiche Artistiche’ on their products. It is likely that your container was produced post 1950s by a small pottery and is not likely to be of any great value. Your vase is likely to be continental porcelain. The back stamp is not from any of the larger producers, so it will have been produced by one of the many smaller potteries in existence from the late 19th to early 20th century. It appears to be well made and in good condition. Unfortunately, such pieces are of no great value in today’s market.

Ask The Experts - Issue 4