If police are looking to identify a person, they fingerprint them since fingerprints are a type of human identification. These identifying markings are not just limited to people, but are used quite extensively in the world of fine merchandising and collectibles. Throughout history, fine craftsmen have been marking their wares with symbols or lettering to identify any number of things about the
. object bearing the markings.Silversmiths like Paul Revere have used their initials to identify which pieces they worked on, but this phenomenon most likely began with porcelain and other ceramic pieces made in China in dynasties long past. When a fine piece was commissioned by the emperor, the piece was emblazoned with the mark of that emperor, so that it would be easily identified in the case of theft. Though this process was probably invented with theft in mind, it has become invaluable to collectors looking to identify the date the piece was made, the artist that worked on the piece and even the provenance of who owned the piece.What are porcelain objects identified with? Typically they have some sort of markings on the bottom of the piece, concealed when it is just sitting in its normal place. This might be a picture, a symbol or a series of letters or a word. These markings identify the maker, age and quality along with the place of origin for many pieces. Although the markings are mainly unintelligible to the layperson, any serious collector or even a person who sells these items on an auction site or deals in fine porcelain usually has a guidebook on hand to identify all of the typical markings and look up what they find at local yard sales and other places.For information on guidebooks like these used to identify markings on porcelain and other collectibles, please visit one of the following sites: More reference links: http://www.antique-china-porcelain-collectibles.com/porcelain_mark.htm http://www.gotheborg.com/marks/index_marks.htm
