How Can I Identify Fake Weller Pottery Marks?
The most accurate way to identify a fake Weller pottery mark is to compare it to the photographs in a reference guide. Some pieces of Weller pottery have marks stamped in ink, while others are painted over the glaze or embossed into the pottery itself.
The most common Weller pottery marks are the incised block mark, Weller Rhead Faience mark, Hudson mark, black ink mark and incised pottery mark, according to antiques expert Pamela Wiggins for About.com. The incised block mark appears on Weller pottery produced between 1900 and 1925. All of the letters are block capitals. Many pieces that bear this mark have hand-painted designs.
The Weller Rhead Faience mark appears on pieces designed by the British potter Frederick Rhead. This mark is handwritten and appears on pieces with the characteristic glossy tin finish known as faience.
The Hudson mark is an incised mark found on pieces in Weller’s Hudson line. Weller hired several artists to design and decorate the Hudson line, and authentic pieces include the artist’s initials stamped in blue ink to the left of the incised mark.
The black ink mark appears on certain items made in the 1920s. This circular mark features the words “Weller Ware” printed on either side of a stylized jug symbol. It is difficult to verify the authenticity of a black ink mark because Weller used several different versions of it. Some marks are perfectly circular, while others have flat or wavy bottoms. Weller’s incised pottery mark also has several forms. The basic mark reads “Weller Pottery.” Items produced after 1935 have an extended version of this mark that reads “Weller Pottery Since 1872.”
