Accurately date your Van Briggle pottery

Nobody wants to buy pottery, they are convinced it is authentic, only to find out later that they have acquired it. It is difficult for many of us to reconcile in our minds that there are those who take advantage of new collectors or those who are not familiar with the brands of a specific collection. Add to the confusion the fact that many collections have more than one authentic brand, it can soon become overwhelming. But it does not have to be like that. If you do your research before beginning your search for Van Briggle ceramics, you are on your way to making informed purchases based on a solid understanding of what the brands indicate, even when all indications point to a less than noble seller.

It is important to understand the method behind marking the ceramic, which, in this case, is the realization of the only consistency during the first few years is the inconsistency in your marking methods. That is why it is so important to pay attention to the colors and textures of clay, especially those pieces from the first two decades of the 20th century.

There was a brief period from around 1900 to early 1907 when pottery was, as a rule, precisely marked. On these pieces, the Van Briggle logo, date, shape number and a Roman numeral are usually present. Look for the Roman numeral III as it is indicative of pieces created in 1902 and 1903. The Roman numeral V lets you know that it is a piece made in 1904, while those produced in 1905 are often marked with several different Roman numerals, including V, X VV and VX. Fortunately, Van Briggle stopped using the confusing and often contradictory method of incorporating Roman numerals. It is at this time that “Colorado Springs” or “Colo Springs” was introduced and the inclusion of either of these marks will accurately date the pottery.

1907 brought with it trademarks including the logo, Van Briggle, Colo Spgs, the shape number, and the date. Later that year, finalist numbers were commonly added to one or both sides of the double “A” (AA) logo. This method was used until 1912, along with an occasional full date written.

In 1913, Van Briggle produced pottery that was characterized by the inclusion of the Double “A” logo and the date. For a short time in 1915 and 1916, pieces were created with an incised number accompanied by the logo and the date.

During the last years before 1920, any undated Van Briggle pottery is usually marked with the logo and “VAN BRIGGLE” written in capital letters or written in script. Another revealing date indicator is the darker clay background. It is sometimes referred to as a “dirty background” among collectors. Yet another trend took root during 1920. Along with the logo, the number “20” can often be found, which of course indicates its creation in 1920.

The important thing to remember as you look to build your Van Briggle collection is to familiarize yourself with the variations. Although there were several, once you have learned to accurately identify these beautiful pieces of pottery, you are on your way to building your collection that you will cherish and enjoy forever, which is the purpose of Van Briggle’s collective pottery.