Capture the mark in context
Record an overall view of the object and a detail showing where the mark appears. Note its orientation, visible color and whether the characters look printed, handwritten or impressed, keeping those descriptions tentative when the image is unclear. Include nearby numbers or symbols rather than cropping them away. If part of the mark cannot be read, identify that area explicitly. Do not redraw missing strokes on the only copy of your photograph or present an enhanced reconstruction as the original.
Compare more than the central letters
Transcribe readable characters and use a stated symbol for gaps. Compare the arrangement, surrounding shapes and any accompanying wording with a reference, not just a promising pair of initials. The V&A discusses ceramic marks, including examples with uncertain attribution. Treat that as a reason to preserve uncertainty rather than forcing every mark into a maker’s name. Save the source page and note precisely which elements agree and which do not.
Keep mark reading separate from object attribution
Write a candidate reading and a separate statement about what it might mean for this object. A partial match is a question for further research, not a complete history. Compare the proposed maker’s documented objects with the whole item as well as the mark. If the mismatch remains, keep it visible. When asking a specialist, supply the unedited image, your transcription and the reference used, and ask which additional evidence would help distinguish the possibilities.
Take it with you
- Preserve the whole mark and its location.
- Compare layout and surrounding details, not initials alone.
- Keep a candidate reading separate from a confirmed attribution.
Sources and further reading
Antique Scan
Antiques and object stories
AI identifications, dates and mark readings may be wrong or incomplete. Antique Scan is not authentication, certified appraisal or proof of provenance. The guides describe independent research practices, not additional app features. Access and any paid options depend on current in-app terms.