English Registry Mark

Q: I inherited this platter 60 years ago and am now going to pass it on to my daughter. These marks are printed on the bottom. The platter is 15 inches long. What can you tell me about the maker, age, and value of this platter?

A: The marks reveal all sorts of information about your platter. The crown-over-shield mark was used by Brown-Westhead Moore & Co., which operated a pottery at Cauldon Place, Hanley, Staffordshire, England, from 1862 until 1904. The pattern name is "France." The diamond-shaped mark below the first mark is an English registry mark. The Roman numeral "IV" indicates that the material is ceramic. The letters "Y" refers to the year 1879 and "D" to the month of September. The number "4" is the day of the month, so the design on your platter was registered on Sept. 4, 1879. (This is not the date your platter was made, though. Your platter was made no earlier than that date.) Several designs were registered on that date (Sept. 4, 1879), and the number "6" in the mark is the parcel number or bundle number. The value of your platter is about $50.