Identifying Antique Haviland Limoges Patterns - lll -

Continuing with Antique Haviland Limoges China Pattern Identification -

As mentioned previously, the best and most complete source for Haviland Limoges pattern identification are Arlene Schleiger's books. These books are divided into sections based on the back marks mentioned in an earlier blog. Once you have identified the Haviland maker you know which section in these books to look for your pattern. The main problem with Ms Schleiger's books is that the pictures are in black and white. Most were drawn from a saucer or small plate.













Look very closely at the pattern you wish to identify - preferably on a saucer or small plate if available. Is it a border design or is it scattered all over the piece? Try to imagine it in black and white.









Observe what it is that makes this design unique. This could be the shape of the flower - but since so many are roses this may not be the best starting point. Many patterns have other flowers mixed with the roses - concentrate on them.









Be aware of the placement of the flowers in the pattern - do they loop, are they garlands, do some of the flowers drop to the center of the plate?


























The shape of the leaf is often distinctive.



The addition of ribbons, scrolls or lattices amongst the flowers is perhaps the most helpful in narrowing the pattern identification.






















































Once the pattern is identified with its Schleiger number, most often there are many variations of that pattern. These variations may be in the color of the design, the shape of the blank, the gold trim or lack of it. Sometimes it takes many trips through all of the books to identify a Haviland pattern.













Needless to say, identifying an Antique Haviland Limoges China Pattern can be most time consuming and often quite frustrating. When it is successful it is indeed an accomplishment!





It is always encouraging to verify an identification by looking at the color pictures in Nora Travis books on Haviland China. These books have lovely pictures of many patterns but are not complete identification guides.


Click on the pictures to be taken directly to their store pages and for specific pattern identification.

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Theodore Haviland - Romeo Blank With Gold Trim - Schleiger 304 -

A favorite among Haviland China lovers is the Romeo Blank with double gold trim - identified by Arlene Schleiger as Schleiger 304.

The blank is the piece of china before it is decorated - the white ware - with its shape and embossing defined. The Romeo Blank - Schleiger 300 - is gently scalloped with some rim embossing. However, this blank really comes into its own with the variation - Schleiger 304 - with the double gold trim.






Many of the patterns found on this particular blank are very similar with patterns of small pink roses or other flowers. These patterns are often combined to create a wonderful table setting with the primary unifying aspect being the Romeo Blank and secondarily the pink color. In fact, most often these types of combined table settings have a much more special effect than a table with the china all identical. Looking at the pictures presented here one can easily imagine such a table setting.














Many pieces of Antique Haviland Limoges China on the Romeo Blank are available for purchase at Holly Lane Antiques. Click on the pictures to be taken directly to their store pages and for specific pattern identification.

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Identifying Antique Haviland Limoges Patterns - ll -

Where do I begin my pattern identification?

First of all I look at the back mark. With the following knowledge - which may be considered over simplification - I can identify most of the Antique Haviland China that I come in contact with. On a rare occasion I need to turn to my reference books for an unusual mark.

The 4 found most often are variations of the following -





1) The H & Co back mark. This is one of the oldest Haviland & Company marks dating to the late 1800's. Variations of the H & Co stamp are found and some date as early as the 1860's.

There are 2 marks on the back of Antique Haviland china - one represents the manufacturer and the other represents the decorator. If there is just one mark the china was sold as whiteware and usually decorated elsewhere. Sometimes there is also a mark representing the store the china was produced for.











2) The Haviland France back mark. This mark is the one most often found and dates to c.1894-1931. This was the period during which most Haviland china was sold. Again these marks are also found combined with store marks. Also the rarely found patterns that were named and identified by Haviland appear with these back marks.


























3) The Theodore Haviland mark. This commonly found mark and its variations date from 1893 to the early 1900's. Theodore was the son of David Haviland. He dissolved his partnership with his brother and set up his own company. His pieces at first had only an impressed TH mark later to include the marks shown. These back marks also sometimes include store names. If a store ordered a certain amount of china the store name was included as part of the back mark. Sometimes an exclusive variation (a special border or gold trim) of a pattern was made for a particular store.











































4) The Charles Field Haviland mark. Charles F Haviland was the nephew of David Haviland and opened his own company in the late 1800's in competition with his uncle's Haviland & Company. Later Charles joined with GDM ( Gerard, Dufraisseix and Morel). A back mark in combination with GDA is often found.



Arlene Schleiger divided her books into sections according to these manufacturers - Haviland & Company, Theodore Haviland, Charles F Haviland.

Continuing the process of Identifying Antique Haviland Limoges China - watch for future blogs.

A large collection of Antique Haviland Limoges China is available for purchase at Holly Lane Antiques.
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Baltimore Rose - A Favorite Antique Haviland Pattern -

One of the most collectible and favorites among the many hundreds of Antique Haviland Limoges Patterns is the pattern commonly known as Baltimore Rose. Haviland did not name this pattern Baltimore Rose. Haviland named very few of its patterns. Many have been named by dealers and collectors through the years, such as Baltimore Rose. This pattern has been identified by Arlene Schleiger with the Schleiger number 1151.


Baltimore Rose is a gorgeous pattern featuring a spray of six roses hanging down into the center. These roses can be found in variations of all pink, pink and white, and pink and yellow - appearing on a variety of blanks and gold trims. Perhaps it is so favored due to the unique placement of the spray of roses - not common in most Antique Haviland Limoges Patterns.

Baltimore Rose Is Stunning!

Many pieces of Antique Haviland Limoges Baltimore Rose are available for purchase at Holly Lane Antiques.

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Identifying Antique Haviland Limoges Patterns - I -

There is nothing quite like Antique Haviland Limoges China with its delicate nature and charming floral patterns. There are hundreds of patterns most with many variations of color or blank which makes identifying the pattern quite difficult.

Often times the patterns are so similar and on the same blank they appear to be the same. Look closely at the two cups and saucers pictured.

Arlene Schleiger wrote 5 books identifying many of the Antique Haviland Limoges Patterns. Her work has been continued by her daughter in law Dona Schleiger who wrote the sixth book in the series.

Arlene states in the forward of the first book - Two Hundred Patterns of Haviland China Book I - published in 1950 -

“For many years I have been specializing in Haviland China. Hence I could see the need for pattern identification.....

First, I made the following list of problems which I knew were involved;

1. The same patterns appear on different blanks. (A blank is the white china form before decoration is applied.) The same pattern appears with and without gold edge.

2. The same pattern appears with the same flowers but in different colors.

3. The flower arrangements vary. Seldom will two plates of the same pattern be exactly alike.

4. In many patterns the flowers are hard to identify. Most of them are pink. Which ones are really roses, wild roses, apple blossoms, etc.?

5. Rarely is a pattern name stamped on a piece. Only occasionally is a number stamped and then usually only on a serving dish.

6. How shall I cover the different Haviland Companies?"

The problems Ms. Schleiger encountered as she began her Haviland Pattern Identification more than a half century ago are the same problems one encounters today as a collector or as one who inherited family china.

Arlene Schleiger used saucers to identify the Antique Haviland Patterns and in the forward to Book V she states that her collection of saucers numbered over 4000 - meaning over 4000 different Antique Haviland Pattern variations!

The Schleiger books have recently been available on Ebay as the family has been liquidating the remaining stock. This is a rare opportunity to own a set of these usually very difficult to find books.

As I began to try to identify the pattern of my first set of Antique Haviland Limoges China my search led me to Dona Schleiger. Her request was I send her a saucer for identification. Soon after - I purchased my set of the original 5 books.

Arlene Schleigher has left us an invaluable resource for identifying Haviland China. However, since her books provide only black and white sketches of the patterns, identifying Haviland China Patterns still presents quite a challenge.

I will continue this discussion in further Blogs - taking you through the process I follow in Haviland Pattern Identification.

A large collection of Antique Haviland Limoges China is always available at Holly Lane Antiques.

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What Is This? A Very Interesting Piece Of Sterling Silver

Recently we came across a bag lot of silver pieces we had brought back with us from the East Coast last fall. It had been purchased at auction last summer. As usual my husband began cleaning and identifying the various pieces. When he came to this piece his research came up with nothing. The only marking is sterling and it is very small - measuring only about 3 5/8 inches long.

A sweet little scoop with holes - but what was it used for?



Since our inventory is mostly made up of antique china and silver pieces we are very aware that at the turn of the century dining was indeed a special event with a piece of china and silver for every imaginable use.

I posted my query about this little scoop to a couple of websites. After many suggestions from the Antique and Collectible Silver Group on I Antique Online such as a marrow scoop, a honey spoon or a sugar sifter, one of the group members suggested contacting the Silver Forum. It was there the mystery was finally solved.

It is an individual nutmeg sifter!



A member of the Silver Forum answered - I learned about nutmeg sifters recently from Lee Gillespie and Mark Simon at a local antique show. They are the authors of PERSONAL SILVER OF THE VICTORIAN AGE AND BEYOND, "A Book for Identification and Practical Uses"

I have become so attached to this small piece of sterling silver and its unique use that it may be a while until it becomes available at our internet store Holly Lane Antiques.

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