How To Identify Your China Pattern - Part 2

The key to identifying your the brand and pattern of your replacement china is the backstamp. The backstamp is the markings on the back of many china pieces. Markings include the brand, pattern and often a host of other information such as internal company codes and dates of manufacture.

The more modern a piece is the more likely it is to have a backstamp. Older patterns as well as antique china often have no identifying marks, which makes it exceedingly difficult to identify.

So the simplest way to identify your china pattern is to turn over a piece (the dinner plate is your best bet, although many other pieces can be marked as well) and see what it says. The brand and pattern will usually be written or printed in bold while other information will be more subtle. Then go online and search for that brand and pattern. If there are no results then it is possible you chose the wrong words, so go back to the markings and try a different word. A bit of trial and error and you should get it right.

See below for an example of a backstamp in the discontinued Wedgwood Queen of Hearts pattern. The Wedgwood brand name is big and on top followed by the pattern name, Queen of Hearts.