Quck answer
Bavarian China Crest is a type of porcelain made in Germany. To identify it, look for a crest or mark on the bottom of the piece. The crest typically features a crown, a shield, and the word “Bavaria” or “Germany.” Additionally, Bavarian China Crest often has intricate designs, floral patterns, and gold accents. The quality of the porcelain should be high, with a smooth finish and delicate details. It is important to note that there may be variations in the crest and marks, as different manufacturers produced Bavarian China Crest. Consulting a guidebook or expert can help further identify specific pieces.
Bavarian china collectible pieces originate from one of the earliest and most sophisticated regions in Europe for producing porcelain — Bavaria, Germany. Crests are marked, indented or painted on the underside of the antique china, with many of them under the glaze and easily readable. The crests varied over time as different china factories took over and as Bavaria’s political status changed. Having a basic understanding of Bavarian china production throughout the centuries will assist you in identifying the crest marks on your porcelain. To determine a more accurate date and value, you can refer to books and websites on porcelain marks, consult with antiques experts, or seek appraisal from auction houses or museums by providing them with a photograph of the china pattern and the crest on your piece.
Hard Paste and Heraldic Beasts
Bavarian china was crafted from hard paste — a fine, white clay called kaolin that undergoes firing at extremely high temperatures for a prolonged period of time. The outcome is a glossy, often slightly translucent, and very hard porcelain that produces a “ping” sound when struck. Once the secret of kaolin and fine porcelain-making was discovered in Europe, the influential families who controlled the clay quarries established china factories. Bavaria possessed high-quality clay quarries, and its initial potteries were named after or marked with the names of historical or contemporary rulers. Subsequently, the owners of the Bavarian potteries added their own names to the marks. The identifying marks often included the royal crest or certain elements of it, such as one or two golden lions. The lion was the heraldic animal of the Wittelsbach family, which ruled Bavaria for almost 1,000 years. Some marks display a crown, a common symbol of a royal license, which may carry a cross rising from its center or sitting atop a pair of intertwined Cs.
The Significance of Names
Among the earliest porcelain factories were those established by decree in 1794 in Tettau, located in Bavaria’s Thuringia province. “Tettau” is a term that can be found in the crests used to identify Royal Bavarian china. Another frequently seen crest name is “Nymphenburg.” Porzellan Manufaktur Nymphenburg, under the patronage of the Bavarian crown, began producing its “white gold” china through a high-firing process in 1747, and marked it with a small indented shield on the underside of each piece. A double triangle, resembling a six-pointed star, containing numbers and letters was also utilized. The china still possesses a rich, cream-colored glaze and is still entirely handcrafted in the porcelain factories. However, the shield, a mark filled with diamonds and often topped with a crown, has become more intricate and colorful.
Development of Marks
Early marks consisted of blue “T”s for Tettau, followed by a period or dot, which were applied beneath the glaze. Until 1795, the “T” marks ranged from simple straight lines to more elaborate calligraphy. Later marks incorporated a banner bearing the letter T, with a stylized lion standing on two legs, and sometimes featuring words like “Germany,” “Bavaria,” or “Caravane” (a series design). These marks, in use between 1866 and 1902, were gold and occasionally elaborate. After 1902, similar gold stamps were added over the glaze, with different words and configurations of the banner and lion or lions. The words included “Tettau,” “Royal Bayreuth,” “Bavaria Wittelsbach Germany,” “Hohenzollern China Germany,” and the names of other manufacturers who operated the porcelain works. The marks transformed into solid greens, reds, and blues, followed by an ornate multicolor stamp from 1946 to 1949. Subsequent marks for china exported to America often featured the inscription “Royal Tettau, Germany, US Zone.”
