How do you identify an antique vase?
The first thing you should do is flip your vase over and check the bottom for any sort of markings. For clay studio vases, a name and date is often incised into the clay. For porcelain vases, there is often a maker’s mark stamp on the bottom. If a brand name is present, you can often search that maker’s website or catalog for the item you own to locate the year it was made. If you prefer, Miller’s Antique Marks is a go-to guide for many collectors looking to identify markings and date antiques. Another option is to look for an overmark, or a glazed-over stamp placed over the original maker’s mark. Such markings were common practice between 1880 and 1930. Lastly, look for manufacturing imperfections on your vase. Because most antique vases were produced by primitive, wood-powered kilns, they often showcase irregularities like asymmetry, patchworked luster, and seam marks from the mold, among other inconsistencies.
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Lead photo by Jenna Peffley
