The library
Makers and marks
Reading signatures, acid marks and hallmarks to identify and date a piece.
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A mark is the fastest route to a maker and a date, so start with the marks on the base or side of a piece, and any label, before anything else.
For crystal, Baccarat’s own timeline makes dating straightforward: paper labels from 1860 to 1936, acid-etched marks from 1936 and laser marks from the early 2000s. Our guide to identifying Baccarat crystal walks through each one, and Waterford decanter marks and dating separates Penrose-era glass from the modern company. Both houses still make some classic patterns, so crystal patterns still made today shows how to tell vintage from recent stock.
For silver shakers, ice buckets and coasters, sterling vs silver plate hallmarks explains British hallmarks and American stamps.
Mid-century American barware is identified by signature rather than by a stamp in the glass. Start with mid-century barware designers, then the maker guides: Culver, Georges Briard and Dorothy Thorpe.
Signed vintage Baccarat barware
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- No. 01
Mid-Century Barware Designers: Culver, Briard, Thorpe and Fred Press
Who made the best-known mid-century American barware: Culver, Georges Briard, Dorothy Thorpe and Fred Press, with their signatures, styles and what to check.
Makers and marks - No. 02
Dorothy Thorpe Glassware: Silver Bands, Marks and Look-Alikes
How to identify Dorothy Thorpe glassware: her sterling silver bands and sandblasted designs, the T and D mark, the Roly-Poly tumblers and unsigned look-alikes.
Makers and marks - No. 03
Georges Briard Barware: The Designer, the Signature and What to Check
Who Georges Briard was, how his gold signature marks genuine pieces, which patterns dealers name, and what to check before buying Briard glasses.
Makers and marks - No. 04
Culver Barware: 22k Gold Patterns, Marks and Value
Identify vintage Culver glasses: the Brooklyn maker's 22k gold patterns such as Valencia, its script and block marks, later reissues, gold wear and value.
Makers and marks - No. 05
Vintage vs New Crystal: Lismore and Harcourt Still in Production
Waterford Lismore and Baccarat Harcourt are still made. How to tell vintage from current production by mark and sticker, and when new is the better buy.
Makers and marks - No. 06
How to Identify Baccarat Crystal: Marks, Dates and Copies
Identify genuine Baccarat crystal by its marks: unsigned pieces before 1860, paper labels to 1936, acid-etched marks, laser marks, and patterns like Harcourt.
Makers and marks - No. 07
Sterling vs Silver Plate Marks: Silver Hallmarks Explained
Tell sterling from silver plate by the marks: British hallmarks, American sterling stamps, EPNS and other plate marks, with what each tells a barware buyer.
Makers and marks - No. 08
Waterford Decanter Marks and Dating: Patterns, Logos and Eras
Date a Waterford decanter by its etched mark, sticker and pattern, from Penrose-era glass to Lismore, the seahorse logo and today's lead-free crystal.
Makers and marks
Frequently asked questions
How do I date a piece of Baccarat crystal?
By the type of mark. Baccarat says pieces made before 1860 were generally unsigned, paper labels were used from 1860 to 1936, acid-etched marks became standard in 1936 and laser marking began in the early 2000s.
Does an unmarked piece mean it is not genuine?
Not always. Paper labels were usually removed, and Waterford's etched mark can wear away with use. An unmarked piece is harder to attribute, so pattern, quality and provenance carry more weight.
Sources
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