Art Nouveau Antiques for Sale.

The art nouveau style literaly means new art and gets its name from a design shop, La Maison de l'Art Nouveau, which German entrepreneur Siegfried Bing opened in Paris in 1895. Royal Worcester Stinton Castle Plate - Carew Castle

The art nouveau designers rejected the inspiration of classical european art and instead looked to Japanese, Celtic and other folk art as a basis for their work. This can be seen in works by artists such as Gustav Klimt. Typical motifs come from nature: flowers, insects and birds. Lines curve and wind, straight lines were scorned by art nouveau designers.

WMF 'Echo' toilet easel mirror

WMF 'Echo' toilet easel mirror

Buy It Now: £1,285.00
WMF Art Nouveau claret jug pitcher

WMF Art Nouveau claret jug pitcher

Buy It Now: £1,045.00

About Antique Marks ...

Worcester Paie Birds Wall PocketWatching the experts at antique roadshows, you probably wonder just how they get so much information about an antique simply by turning the item upside down.

The fact is, the markings that are stamped, painted or impressed on the underside of most antique items can help you tell a great deal about an antique. Antique Marks provide a wealth of information if you know what and how to read them

Dating an antique is a little like detective work. The company name itself only gives the appraiser a rough timeline of when the company was known to operate. Other factors such as the colour of the mark, how it's applied or the numbered codes within the design can often date a piece to the exact year it was produced and tell you where or who the specific artist was.

Victorian Registration Marks

Victorian Design Registration MarkThe Victorian Design Registration Mark or Kite Mark was used between the years 1842 and 1883.

The kite mark or diamond logo appeared in two separate forms and can, if you are able to read it, provide you with some good quality information about the antique item.

The two forms look alike but the information available is coded differently in each. You have to look closely to know which one you have ...