Early Derby Marks and Royal Crown Derby base marks.

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• Derby Marks.
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Derby marks are many but most follow the same theme, with a cypher surmounted by a crown. Dating early Derby is slightly more difficult than the more modern Royal Crown Derby, but dating Derby porcelain is much easier than many of the early English porcelain factories.

Derby porcelain was produced at three main factories, being Nottingham Road from 1756 to 1848, King street from 1848 to 1935 and Osmaston Road from 1877 to modern times. All marks can be attributed to one of these factories by the style and the cyphers used.

Nottingham Road, Derby Marks (1756 to 1848)

In 1775, George III granted Derby Porcelain the right to incorporate the crown into the Derby backstamp.

c1770

Derby Chelsea interlinked D and Anchor mark.

William Duesbury fully acquired the famous Chelsea Works factory in 1770 and the Chelsea anchor mark and Derby 'D' were merged to form the Chelsea-Derby mark.

Patch Period c1756-1765

Marks on the bases of early soft paste Derby figures indicate the points where supports were used to prevent the porcelain sticking during the firing of the glaze.

c1782-1825

Painted mark with Crown and D.

Blue / Puce - 1782-1800
Red - 1806-1825

c1806-1825

Painted mark with Crown above crossed batons and D below.

Blue / Puce - 1782-1800
Red - 1806-1825

1820s'

Large crown in red with large D below.

1825-1848

The earliest Bloor Derby Mark

Robert Bloor took control of the Derby factory in 1811 and immediately began to build a team of very fine painters.

1825-1848

Later variation of the Bloor Derby Mark with crown in the centre.

Incised Marks

Derby also used incised marks on their early figures, consisting of N^o and a number. The mark pictured showing N^o314 on a seated figure.

King Street, Derby Marks (1848 to 1935)

A group of former employees set up a factory in King Street in Derby, and continued to use the moulds, patterns and trademarks of the original business, but not the name. No mechanical processes were used and no two pieces produced were exactly the same. Among the items preserved was the original potters wheel used by the Duesburys.

1863-1866

Stevenson and Hancock mark

Showing Crown above crossed batons with S and H at either side. D below. Usually in red

1916-1935

William Larcombe mark

Showing Crown above crossed batons with S and H at either side. D below and interlinked WL beneath.

Usually in red

1917-1934

Larcombe and Paget mark.

Showing Crown above crossed batons with S and H at either side and D below but with revised Larcombe monogram showing the L rising into a P.

Usually in red

c1934

Paget mark.

Showing P above Crown above crossed batons with S and H at either side and D below.

Usually in puce.

1934-1935

Later Paget mark.

Showing Crown above crossed batons with S and H at either side. With D below and crossed P's below.

Usually in red

Osmaston Road, Derby Marks (1877 to modern times)

In 1877, Royal Crown Derby Porcelain moved to an impressive new factory at Osmaston Road and introduced new marks.

1877-1890

Showing Crown above interlinked D's.

First mark to use the interlinked D's below the crown. More often seen with the year cypher below.

1891-c1940

Showing Royal Crown Derby in a circle above a Crown above interlinked D's with year cypher below.

1891-1921 with vertical ENGLAND at side
1921-1940 with MADE IN ENGLAND

1921-1965

Showing Royal Crown Derby above Crown above interlinked D's with MADE IN ENGLAND below in red.

This mark showing pattern number 2451.

1921-1965

Showing Royal Crown Derby above Crown above interlinked D's with MADE IN ENGLAND below in blue.

This mark with pattern name KENDAL and design Registration Number for 1909-1910.

1940-1945

Wartime mark usually in dark green and without year cypher.

Showing Crown above interlinked D's above ROYAL CROWN DERBY - MADE IN ENGLAND - Design Reg. No.

1921-1965

Showing Crown above interlinked D's with ROYAL CROWN DERBY - MADE IN ENGLAND

This example with retailers details for 'Plummer of New York' and roman Numeral based year cypher of XVII for 1954.

c1950

Showing Royal Crown Derby above Crown above interlinked D's with MADE IN ENGLAND (BONE CHINA) above pattern number and name.

In blue.

1964-1975

Showing DERBY CHINA above crown with interlinked D's above ROYAL CROWN DERBY - ENGLISH BONE CHINA.

Often including pattern name and number and with Roman Numeral year cypher.

1976 to modern times

The crown and interlinked D's are now within a circle of ROYAL CROWN DERBY - ENGLISH BONE CHINA. The © copyright character below the Derby logo.

This mark including popular Imari pattern number 1128 and with Roman Numeral year cypher for 1982.

Derby Marks year cyphers (1880 to modern times)

Derby porcelain also included a date cypher with most base marks produced at the Osmaston Road factory. This took the form of a small graphic illustration below the main mark and later, from 1938, a Roman numeral. The V of 1904 can be confused with the Roman V of 1942 as can the X for 1901 and the Roman X for 1947. To differentiate both the earlier X and V you should check for ENGLAND or MADE IN ENGLAND, the later piece will have MADE IN ENGLAND.

Derby Roman Numeral Year Cyphers :