This section includes marks for the companies you are most likely to encounter.  However, since there were over 90 companies producing commercial or studio art pottery in W. Germany, this is by no means a complete list. The thumbnail shows the item the mark or label is on. If you need help trying to identify an item, please send pictures of the item and the bottom.  Just telling me the numbers won't be enough. ginfor@earthlink.net GinFor's Odditiques Home Page

GinFor's Odditiques (GINny and FORrest Poston's Oddities and Antiques) West German Pottery Marks Page Three: Scheurich to Waechtersbach

Understanding the Numbers: Most W. German items have one set of numbers then a slash or hyphen and a second set of numbers. Usually, the first set is the shape number, and the second set is the approximate height in centimeters.  It's sometimes possible to identify an item by just the numbers, but the companies used very similar systems, and some companies re-used shape numbers over the years. Take note that the number 1 will often have a strong serif, making it look like a 7. However, the European 7 usually has a bar across the middle (example visible in the first Carstens picture.)

Scheurich Most Scheurich has no company mark, just numbers and W. or West Germany.  Later, they used an embossed Scheurich-Keramik. Even later, they introduced the label with the three circle mark.  Around 1990, they introduced an embossed version of the three circle mark in the center of the base.  The W. Germany remained until new molds were made. While some of the 1990 and later pieces have interesting glazes, the mark immediately indicates fairly recent vintage.  Don't pay much for that mark (yet).	Scheurich The simple paper "Scheurich" label is the one most found when a label survives.
Schlossberg The only Schlossberg markings I've found are foil labels.	Steuler Most Steuler is marked.
Steuler This is probably the most common Steuler mark (which doesn't mean the item is common).	Strehla Strehla is actually an East German company, but their work closely resembles W. German style. The marks are often hard to read, but inside that geometric shape, it says Strehla.
Wächtersbach (Waechtersbach) This vase has both the most common Waechtersbach marks, a crown over a shield and the shield mark often called a beehive mark. The "beehive" has been used by many companies for a long time, so it can often be hard to attribute. The crown and shield marks are also fairly common, but it's easier to tell one from another. The company name (which is also the town) sometimes appears with the mark.

West German Pottery Information Introduction to Lava, Volcanic Glazes Collecting WG Pottery (a philosophical essay) A Divine and Delightful Madness: an Introduction to West German Pottery (published in Northeastern, 2005) Reputation and Reality: Sorting Out West German Pottery (slightly edited from version published in the AAPA Journal,  Sept.-Oct. 2004) West German Pottery Marks West German Pottery Companies Photo Gallery (previously sold items to help with identification) W. German Pottery News and Updates A Sneak Peek at Kevin Graham's Upcoming Book Ruscha Catalog

Other Essays To Buy or Not to Buy: Going Where Price Guides End The Art of Attending Auctions Get the Picture Straight: The Basics of Selling Glass and Pottery on the Net Tiffanyfakes.com (Site Review) Just for Fun The Cor-purr-ate Story (Glyph's Rise to Power) A Tribute to Fractured Fairy Tales: Dealing with the Wolf at the Door

Pages About Us Meet the Gin and the For Meet our "staff" Contact information Philosophy and Nonsense: Writing, Education, Odd Thoughts and other essays (my "other" site) Head for the GinFor's Odditiques Home Page Items for Sale West German Pottery Art Pottery Porcelain, Other Pottery Glass Metalware, misc. Paintings, prints, etc. Links

All the information here is free, but we appreciate being cited if you use the information. We also appreciate donations if you think you got enough from the site to make it worthwhile. We have a special problem at the moment because Triscuit went into intensive care on August 2 and is running up some very large vet bills. All donations will go towards his care. (We are also running a sale on the commercial portion of the site.) West German Pottery Marks Page One Page Two Page Three  (You are here.)