Collectors make a beeline for porcelain plates
Q. I have enclosed a photo of a porcelain plate that my mother-in-law gave me before she passed away. There are four plates, each about 8 inches in diameter and decorated with a neoclassical scene. They are marked on the back with a shape that looks like a beehive. My mother-in-law didn't know much about the plates because they were handed down to her from a relative and she wasn't really interested in the history. I would like to find information about the age, maker and value, but I honestly don't know how to go about it.
What can you tell me about the plates? Would you consider them to be collectible? Do they have any value, and should I have them insured?
A. You have a set of Royal Vienna-style plates. The term refers to porcelain painting that was made in the late 1800s and early 1900s. The beehive mark you described has been used by a plethora of porcelain factories in Europe and Japan. Originally, the mark was intended to be a shield, and people mistakenly thought it was a beehive. It was first used by The Imperial and Royal Vienna Porcelain Manufactory in Vienna from 1718 to 1864. Royal Vienna-style plates, vases and urns are often decorated with neoclassical, mythological, allegorical or historical scenes and sometimes signed with artists' names. They are popular with collectors. A beehive mark that doesn't include the manufacturer name can be difficult to identify.
Your set of neoclassical plates is circa 1900, and you might insure it in the range of $500 to $1,000.
Q. I have an antique pitcher, and I would like to know more about its background. This mark is on the bottom. My pitcher is about 7 inches tall, almost 8 inches at its widest and in mint condition. It is decorated with grapes, apples, pears and leaves in relief. The handle has the texture of wood.
I hope you can tell me who made it, its age and its value.
A. Thomas Lawrence Ltd. made "Falcon ware." The pottery made earthenware and was founded by Thomas Lawrence in Staffordshire, England, around 1892. The factory was called the Falcon Works, thus the name "Falcon ware." The number "478" is the design number. Falcon ware was not made after 1962.
Your pitcher was made in the mid-20th century and would probably be worth $50 to $75.
• Address your questions to Anne McCollam, P.O. Box 247, Notre Dame, IN 46556. Items of a general interest will be answered in this column. Due to the volume of inquiries, she cannot answer individual letters.
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