How to Identify a Porcelain Cross Circle Logo

Japanese Satsuma wear uses a crossed circle logo.

Porcelain manufacturers around the world use a logo, or stamp, so their products can be easily identified. On older items this logo may have been rubbed off, or chipped, making this process more difficult. If a piece has a circle with a cross through it is most likely Satsuma ware manufactured in Japan, but to be sure there are some methods that can be used to double check.

Things You'll Need

• Magnifying glass
• Paper
• Wax crayon

Instructions

1. Look at the mark on the bottom of the item using a magnifying glass. Pay special attention to areas of the logo that may have been rubbed off.

2. Place a piece of paper over the logo and take a rubbing with a wax crayon to see if any other parts of the logo become visible.

3. Check to see if the logo is a circle instead of a shield or oval.

4. Investigate to see if the cross in the middle is connected to anything around the edge. Crossed swords are a common logo, but are normally on their own rather than through a shield or circle.

5. Look at the overall design of the piece. If the design looks Asian and has the crossed circle logo it is probably from Satsuma.

Tips & Warnings

• Beware of imitations, forgeries and copies. Just because the piece has the logo does not necessarily mean it is legitimate.

• Satsuma wear also used other logos. The crossed circle is only on a limited number of pieces.

References

• Gotheborg: Satsuma
• Porcelain Marks and More: Fake and Repro Marks