I am looking for information (print or web) on the manufacturer’s and
registration markings on the back of ceramic tiles produced
c.1890-1930. I need to identify the manufacturer and possibly the date
the tile was made from these marks.

I have the book, The Decorated Tile, but it lists only English tile
and is not as complete as I need.  These tiles were produced in
Continental Europe as well--mainly Belgium and Germany. Also I have
consulted the UK websites, Tile Heaven and Tile collector--both are
too general to be useful.

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Request for Question Clarification by scriptor-ga on 17 Feb 2003 16:04 PST

Dear michafer,

What does the marking look like?

Regards,
Scriptor

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Clarification of Question by michafer-ga on 17 Feb 2003 18:23 PST

I am looking for a source, online or print,  that will provide me with
the marks and numbers for tile makers.  I am not looking for
explanation of a single mark.

Hello michaefer-ga,

I have received this email from the proprietor of Buckland Books, a
specialist in books on tiles:

"There are a number of ways to identify tiles.  There are one or two
books that have back patterns illustrated: J & B Austwick, 'The
Decorated Tile’ (English backs); Michael Weisser, 'Jugendstilfliesen'
(German, Belgian, some British, French and Czechoslovakian); Rene
Simmermacher, Jugendstil-Fliesen (Mainly German and Belgian).  All
three are now out of print.  Still available is: Mario Baeck & Bart
Verbrugge, ' De Belgische Art Nouveau en Art Deco Wandtegels' which
has some Belgian tile backs illustrated.  This and occasionally copies
of the out of print books are available from: Buckland Books, Holly
Tree House, 18 Woodlands Road, LITTLEHAMPTON, West Sussex, BN17 5PP,
England, Tel/fax: +44 (0) 1903 717 648, email: cblanchett@lineone.net
Web: www.tiles.org .  Buckland Books also have update sheets that
rectify a few minor errors contained within these books. "

There was also a series of articles on British tile backs in the
magazine of the Tiles and Architectural Ceramics Society, 'Glazed
Expressions'.  Copies of the magazine are also available from Buckland
Books. The proprietor of Buckland Books also offers a tile
identification service.  This is available at a cost of £1.50 per
identification."

Michael Weisser's "Jugendstilfliesen" is described on the following
page, in German.  For your purposes, the key aspect of the description
is "ein Katalog mit 225 Ursprungsstempeln" (a catalog with 255 stamps
of origin).

"Jugendstilfliesen"
Frölich und Kaufmann
http://www.froelichundkaufmann.de/Shop.asp?shidip=20017901922003154950&art=10986

I have found two descriptions of Rene Simmermacher's
"Jugendstil-Fliesen".  The description by Buckland Books notes the
problem with misidentifications, and offers a list of corrections.

"Buckland Books: 1004 Jugendstil-Fliesen"
Tiles on the Web
http://www.tiles.org/pages/bookshlf/buckland/New%20books%20on%20Art%20Nouveau%20and%20French%20tiles.htm

"European Ceramic Tiles Circle: Information Bulletin No. 11 –
September 2000" [under heading "Germany"]
Tiles on the Web
http://www.tiles.org/pages/tileorgs/bul0900.html

Finally, here is a description of Mario Baeck & Bart Verbrugge's "De
Belgische Art Nouveau en Art Deco Wandtegels".

"Buckland Books: List of Tile Books 1999/2000: Tiles – 20th Century"
Tiles on the Web
http://www.tiles.org/pages/bookshlf/BUCKLAND_BOOKS.html#20thcentury

I hope that this information is helpful.

- justaskscott-ga


I searched for the following terms, by themselves or in combinations,
on Google:

tiles
marks
stamps
"back marks"
"back stamps"
backmarks
backstamps
"the decorated tile"
german
germany
belgian
belgium
jugendstilfliesen
"jugendstil fliesen"
"art deco wandtegels"

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Clarification of Answer by justaskscott-ga on 19 Feb 2003 07:42 PST

I just realized I misspelled your screen name.  Sorry about that.

Very complete answer.

I have found a book that includes Belgian art deco/art nouveau tile
marks from that specific period.  However, though I have seen a few
books with information on German tiles, I cannot tell whether they
include marks.  If ultimately you are interested in just the book with
Belgian marks, you can post a clarification or separate question.

I have contacted a source that might know whether one of the books on
German tiles contains information on marks.  I will let you know if I
receive a reply.