Anyone recognise this mark? Is it fake old or possibly antique?!

Hello all, picked this up today and don't recognise the mark on the base. It's a 3 part dish with a coral/sea shell theme. Any idea what it is/was used for? I'm curious to know if you think it has a bit of age to it or if it's a fake old stamp from somewhere like Japan in the 1950s? It has a gritty appearance. Any info much appreciated

 

The mark is in the shape of an English design registration mark. In theory. the makers initials are M & P.

 

Hi, thanks- I think either M & P or M & F.

 

You're right. That second letter could certainly be an F.

 

Here are some possibilities to check out. One from this site mentions Meigh & Pankhurst
http://www.thepotteries.org/mark/m/index.html

These are from Godden's book of marks. The Machin & Potts and Mills & Fradley would be too early for the diamond registry mark.

 

Thanks! I had no idea about the diamond mark, just been reading up on it! Pottery - Registration numbers and diamond (thepotteries.org)

 

Can you make out the letters and numbers around the diamond when you see it in person? It sort of looks like an R on the bottom. If a date can be found there is a possibility that patterns registered that day might be on a list of makers that registered on that day. (assuming it's not fake)

 

I've taken another look. It's quite hard to tell as the mark is a little fuzzy (the loupe doesn't help). My eyes are crossing looking at it lol. It could very well be an 'R' but also looks like it could be at '3 something'. Is that possible or likely to be a single number?

 

What do you think of this? http://www.thepotteries.org/allpotters/729a.htm Meigh and Forester perhaps?

 

Well that certainly looks like your mark and your piece! Actually is that your piece? The photos say courtesy of you.

Maybe you can get them to add the initials to their initials used by page

http://www.thepotteries.org/mark/m/index.html

 

Ha it is! I actually emailed them last night and got this response today:

Yes this is a piece by Meigh & Forester and there is absolutely no reason to think that it is not genuine.
I have added your photos to the web page….

The registration diamond gives details of the date of registration of the pattern….
http://www.thepotteries.org/mark/reg.htm#1868
Meigh & Forester were only in operation for around 3 years and they only registered three patterns. Two of them were on the same date (2nd October 1883) - although difficult to read I think that the design of your piece was the one that was registered on the same day as the ‘Congo’ pattern - I have put the two marks side by side on the page so you can compare them.

 

Fabulous!

 

Thank you! No information on the design unfortunately but I will keep investigating. Any idea what it might be used for? Some kind of condiment dish or for a dressing table perhaps?

 

Seems to be for sweetmeats!