Dating Vintage Dinnerware By Words Found In Marks

Dating Dinnerware

So let’s say you feel like spending the day browsing the local thrift store’s selection of vintage (or not so vintage) dinnerware. How are you going to know if that beautiful piece you’re holding is an antique or just some mid-90s knock-off?

Advertisement

One way to tell is by reading words that are included in marks. Certain words or phrases were printed next to the mark, either because of a new feature or a new law.

If you know when these phrases were introduced, then you at least know the maximum age of a certain piece of dinnerware.

The list below should help you on your journey to figuring out how old your vintage dinnerware actually is. Good luck!

Bone China: c.1915
© (the copyright symbol): first used in 1914
Cooking Ware: c.1923
Copyright: after 1858, typically 20th century
Craze Proof: c.1960, not used after 1970s
Déposé: c.1900, French for patented
Designed Expressly For: c.1927
Detergent Proof: c.1944
Dishwater Proof: after 1955
Fast Color: c.1960
For Decorative Purposes Only: 1990s
Freezer-Oven-Table: 1960s
Gesetzlich Geschutzt (or Ges. Gesch.): 1900, German for patented
Handmade: c.1962
Hand-Painted: c.1935
Incorporated: c.1940
Lead Free: 1990s
Limited (Ltd.): after 1861
Made Expressly For, Made Exclusively For: c.1927
Made In: 1887, typically after 1915
Microwave Safe: 1970
NRA: 1933-1936, National Recovery Administration
Oven Proof: 1934
Oven Tested: c.1935
Oven-to-Table: 1978
Patent Applied For: 1902
Patent Pending: 1940
Patented: 1900
® (registered symbol): first used in 1949
Refrigerator Wave: c.1938, rarely used after 1952
Reg. U.S. Pat. Off.: c.1932
Reg., Rd, Registered, with a number: 1884, England
Semi-Vitreous: 1901
Trademark: 1862 (England), 1876 (United States)
22 carat, 22 karat, 22kt., 22k: after 1930s
Underglaze: 1903-1945
Union Label, Union Made: 1930s
USPA Approved Glaze: 1975
U.S. Patent: after 1900

Advertisement

About Paul Phipps

Paul loves history. He literally read the entire 1987 World Book Encyclopedia when he was 23 years old. His expertise ranges across the entire spectrum of pop culture. He specializes in vintage clothing, sports collectibles, vinyl records and tin toys.

2 thoughts on “Dating Vintage Dinnerware By Words Found In Marks

  1. Margreet Lisciandrello

    Lamp…
    I am trying to find the value of a brass lamp (1930’s I presume) that was my grandmother’s. We were told it was a Stifel lamp but I do not find anything that confirms that. I did find Honi Hilo? on the top….Have you heard of this company…

    Reply
  2. Kay Kingsmill

    The article is helpful to me as I am liquidating 2 households. My mother hired an “expert”, but she had no idea of the value of anything. She sold many fine antique items for Dollar Store prices. Either she was cheating us, or she was an idiot. I strongly suspect the former as many things I challenged her on just disappeared.
    I managed to rescue a few things, among them an oval antique casserole dish with a rim. It is marked “Fire Proof”. It also bears a registration number, “Reg. No. 524038” & a “B”. It also has a crest that is not readable and pattern name I cannot make out properly. It is something like “Rustic Threadments” It has a Blue Floral pattern (not oriental) that is around the rim and in the base of the pan. I recognize the pattern as a very familiar old British one, but can not find anything resembling it on-line. I suspect it is from the turn of the century.
    Any ideas? When was the term “Fireproof” used on dishes?

    Reply

What do you remember?

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *