Identifying a Piece.
Found a pot in the garden, inherited a platter, or spotted something at a market? Here is how to tell whether it is a Morris & James.
Start with the markLook for the mark.
Almost every Morris & James piece carries a mark. Many have the bronze Morris & James medallion set into the glaze, which indicates a first-grade piece. The Penny Farthing badge, the Morris & James logo, is stamped into plain glaze pots and the underside of flatware.
From the mid 2010s, some smaller items, mainly pots such as the Roulette range, carry just the Penny Farthing, as the badge was too big. In the earlier years, variations of an AM mark were used by Anthony Morris personally, and by the AM Department.
Most potters did not mark their work, but an impression of a foot indicates a specialised piece by Ian Foote, head potter at Morris & James for many years. Look inside the base too, for the date stamp.
Collectors’ note: the marks.
- The Penny Farthing badgeThe Morris & James logo, stamped on the ware. First-grade stock also carried the bronze medallion. Run of Kiln, second-grade and terracotta pieces carry the stamp only. Learn more about the grades
- Penny Farthing onlyFrom the mid 2010s, some smaller items (mainly pots) carry just the Penny Farthing, as the badge was too big. Some bigger pots too, for the look of the design.
- AMVariations of “AM”, used by Ant personally and by the AM Department.
- The decorator’s markOn the back or bottom of nearly all hand-decorated pieces.
- Ian Foote’s FootMost clay makers did not mark their work. Ian Foote’s specialised pieces carry his Foot logo.
- The date stampInside the base, for manufacturing and tracking.
Who decorated it.
Nearly all hand-decorated pieces carry the decorator’s mark. Look inside the pot, or on the back or bottom of the item, for initials or a signature in glaze. Each decorator had their own hand, and there are more than the signatures shown in the photo.
Read more about the team who made the work on The People.
Terracotta bisque is orange.
Morris & James pieces were made from Matakana clay, which fires to a warm orange terracotta. It is another tell-tale sign that a piece is Morris & James. Check the clay on the inside of the pot, or on the back of the item: on a Morris & James piece it will be a light orange.
The only exception is a range of decorated cups and mugs on white clay bisqueware, which Morris & James brought in over the years.
Send us a photo.
If you would like help identifying a piece, send it through our submission form with your clearest photo, ideally of the mark. Tell us the height, and describe any signature or unglazed clay.