The first edition of this book was published in 1999 as a practical handbook for the identification of the marks of British studio potters and others who have worked in Great Britain. This second edition includes over 4,750 marks and not only has new entries, but also includes updated information for existing entries, such as new marks and latest addresses.
As with the previous edition entries are arranged alphabetically. Each gives biographical information, details of the type of ceramics produced and the address of the potter. The entries then show examples of the marks for that potter and the dates during which the marks were in use. The primary function of a trade mark is to enable the identification of the manufacturer of a product and the slight changes that can occur in a trade mark can assist in the dating of an object. There are different types of marks that can be found on ceramics and the entries in this book indicate what type of mark the potter has used. These include incised marks scratched into the pottery before firing and decoration, seal type marks impressed into the pottery, printed marks and painted marks.
There are three indexes which are based on the mark's image, e.g. creatures, monograms and signs, to help the user identify the potter. Each of these sections are further divided into subsections so that under creatures, for example, a user can look in the section for birds.
This work is a good complementary volume to Encyclopaedia of British Pottery and Porcelain Marks (Godden, 1991) since it includes invaluable, up‐to‐date information on established and new British studio potters. It contains a wealth of detail with clearly laid out text, although more space between each entry on the page would have made using the book a little easier on the eye.
