- 1). Obtain a book about identifying types of USA pottery, or find a good pottery-identification website. A pottery identification book may be available at your local library. Good ones include "Lehner's Encyclopedia of U.S. Marks on Pottery, Porcelain, and Clay" by Lois Lehner and "The Pictorial Guide to Pottery and Porcelain Marks" by Chad Lage. Make sure the book or website has pictures of types of pottery and pottery markings.
- 2). Find your pottery's trademark, which will typically be on the bottom of a piece of pottery. Some trademarks are drawn or cut into the soft clay during the manufacturing process. Others are stamped into the clay, and some are printed marks. Compare the trademark to the list of USA pottery trademarks named in the identification book or website (see Resources) to learn the maker or manufacturer. Besides identifying the maker or manufacturer of the item, the trademark and identification book can help you determine the date or date range the piece was made. You may also be able to discover the city where it was manufactured.
- 3). Identify the type of pottery by assessing the materials used in the clay. For example, spatterware, with spattered or sponged-on patterns, was common in the United States from 1800 to 1850. Slipware or earthernware--pottery with a natural finish--was commonly made by Native Americans.
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