WORD OF THE WEEK - 1 Sept 2014 - BACKSTAMP

BACKSTAMP The potter's mark identifying their work. Usually found on the underside of ware. In the early days some potters never thought of backstamping their wares but others copied marks of their more successful competitors. Backstamps may be printed or impressed and since designs of backstamps were, and are, regularly changed we are helped in the dating of their wares today.