Markings & Identification Guide
The first thing most collectors do when they pick up a piece of pottery is flip it over and look at the bottom. With Van Briggle, the marks on the bottom can tell you a lot: when it was made, whether it's an original or a later reproduction, and sometimes even who made it. The problem is that these marks changed over the years, and the differences can be subtle if you don't know what to look for.
This guide brings together the best reference photos available, including seven museum-quality images of maker's marks from the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Ellison Collection. Those photos are hard to beat for clarity and detail. We've also included examples from our own collection spanning 1903 to 2004 so you can see how the marks evolved over more than a century of production.
Tap any image to zoom in for detail.
What to look for
Van Briggle pottery marks typically include some combination of these elements:
- The conjoined "AA" monogram. This is the Van Briggle signature mark, combining Artus and Anne's initials. On early pieces, it's hand-incised. On later production pieces, it's often molded into the clay.
- VAN BRIGGLE or Van Briggle spelled out, sometimes in script, sometimes in block letters.
- COLO. SPGS or Colorado Springs, indicating the place of manufacture.
- Date marks. Some early pieces have the year incised (like "1902" or "1903"). Later pieces may have date codes or no date at all.
- Shape numbers. Many pieces have a number that corresponds to the design in Van Briggle's catalog.
- Finisher's marks. Some pieces have small initials or marks from the individual potter or finisher who worked on the piece.
The style and placement of these marks changed over the decades. Early pieces from 1901 to 1904 (during Artus's lifetime) tend to have hand-incised marks that are sharper and more deliberate. Later production marks become more standardized and are often impressed from a stamp or molded directly into the piece.
Museum reference: the Ellison Collection
The Robert A. Ellison Jr. collection at the Metropolitan Museum of Art is one of the best reference sources available for Van Briggle marks. Every piece in the collection has a dedicated high-resolution photograph of its bottom markings. These are all public domain, so zoom in and study them closely. The pieces span 1901 to 1904.
1901 Earthenware Vase
7 3/4 in. tall
The earliest piece in the Ellison collection. First-year production marks. This is what a genuine 1901 bottom looks like. Study this one carefully.
1902 Miniature Vase
3 5/8 in. tall
Marks on a miniature form. Even at under 4 inches, the AA monogram and date are clearly applied. Compare with its companion piece below.
1902 Miniature Vase
3 11/16 in. tall
Nearly the same size as the previous piece. Look at how the marks differ even between two pieces from the same year. The variations tell you that different hands were applying these marks.
1902 Vase
9 7/8 in. tall
A larger 1902 piece with more room on the bottom for the marks. The increased surface area often means the marks are more legible on medium and larger pieces.
1903 Vase
One year later. Artus was still alive and overseeing production. Compare the style of the marks here with the 1901 and 1902 examples above. You should start to see the consistency in the hand-incised approach.
1904 Vase
11 7/8 in. tall
From the year Artus died. Pieces from 1904 are transitional. Some were made under his direct supervision, others were finished after his death. The marks on pieces from this year can show either approach.
1904 Vase
7 1/2 in. tall
A second 1904 piece for comparison. Having two examples from the same year is a luxury. It lets you see what's consistent (and what varies) in the marking approach at this critical point in Van Briggle's history.
All museum images from The Metropolitan Museum of Art , public domain (CC0).
From our collection: marks over the decades
The museum photos above cover 1901 to 1904, the earliest years of production. But Van Briggle pottery continued for over a century, and the marks changed substantially. Here are some examples from our own collection that show how the bottom markings evolved through the 1900s and into the 2000s.
Circa 1903
Hand-incised marks from the Artus era. The AA monogram, date, and shape number are all carved into the clay before firing. This is what you want to see when you're looking at a piece claimed to be early Van Briggle. The lines are deliberate and vary slightly in depth, the way hand-incised marks always do.
Circa 1950s
By the 1950s, the marks had become more standardized. The AA monogram is still there, but it's typically molded rather than hand-incised. You'll often see "Van Briggle" and "Colo. Spgs" impressed into the bottom. The marks feel more uniform, more industrial. That's not a bad thing; it just reflects how the pottery had grown from a small studio operation into a larger production facility.
Circa 2004
Late-era production before the pottery closed in 2012. The marks are fully standardized at this point. You'll see the AA monogram, "Van Briggle" in script, and "Colo Spgs, Colo" all impressed from a mold. These later pieces are still handcrafted pottery, just with a more consistent marking system.
Side-by-side comparisons
When you put different eras next to each other, the evolution becomes obvious. Early marks are hand-carved, individual, slightly irregular. Mid-century marks are cleaner and more consistent. Late marks are fully standardized. Once you've studied a few examples from each era, you'll be able to estimate a piece's age just by looking at the bottom.
Quick dating tips
Hand-incised AA with a date? You're looking at 1901 to roughly 1907. These are the earliest and most valuable pieces. The marks are scratched into the wet clay by hand.
AA monogram without a date, "Van Briggle" in block or script? Probably 1908 through the 1920s. The pottery stopped routinely dating pieces after the early years but kept the AA monogram.
"Colo. Spgs" or "Colorado Springs" on the bottom? A good sign for authenticity regardless of era. Van Briggle has always been made in Colorado Springs, and most legitimate pieces reference the location.
Molded marks that look perfectly uniform? Later production, typically 1940s onward. The marks are pressed into the clay from a stamp or mold rather than carved by hand. These pieces are still genuine Van Briggle and still collectible.
No marks at all? Could be a very early experimental piece, or it could be something else entirely. Unmarked pieces need careful evaluation. When in doubt, compare the glaze, clay color, and form to known examples.
Further resources
- Van Briggle at the Met . Full documentation of 17 public domain pieces from the Metropolitan Museum, including the Ellison marks photos shown above.
- Researching Your Van Briggle Pieces . Books and references for identifying and dating your pottery.
- Values and Prices . What your Van Briggle piece might be worth.
- Contact us . Have a piece you need help identifying? Send us photos of the marks and we'll do our best to help.