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Glossary
A
Annual
An item that is part of a series, with one piece introduced each year. It's usually marked with the year of issue.
Antique
According to the 1966 tariff act, an antique is an "object of artistic or historical significance at least 100 years old."
Artist/Gallery/Publisher Proofs
The first few prints of an edition of lithographs used to test colors and then given to the artist. They usually aren't numbered nor considered part of the edition, but they can be at the artist's or publisher's discretion. When this happens, the number of prints in the edition is increased. Some collectors buy only artist's proofs, which usually are marked "AP."
B
Back Issue
An item that's not the latest piece in a series.
Backstamp
The information found on the back of a limited edition. It tells about the edition, such as the name of the series, the name of the item, the year of issue, the number of the item within the edition, the name of the artist, the initials of the production supervisor, etc.
Basalt
A hard, fine-grained, unglazed black stoneware perfected by Josiah Wedgwood.
Bas-relief
A raised design achieved by pouring liquid material into a mold and firing it or by applying a three-dimensional design element to a flat surface.
Belleek
A delicate, translucent porcelain with a nacreous glaze. Produced mainly in Ireland.
Bisque
A fired ceramic with no glaze or enamel. It has a matte finish, much like a biscuit.
Blanc de Chine
Translucent white Chinese porcelain often decorated in relief.
Bone China
A ceramic with animal bone powder as the main ingredient. Bone china is thin and translucent, yet strong and durable.
Bottomstamp
Information found on the underneath of a standing piece, such as a figurine or stein.
C
Capodimonte
Denotes a highly ornamented style, usually of flowers, fruits and frilly dressed people. The word originally referred to ceramicware produced on a mountaintop in Naples, Italy (capodimonte means mountaintop in Italian).
Certificate of Authenticity
A piece of paper packed with merchandise, normally a limited edition. It lists information about the item and its place in the edition. It can include the name of the piece, the name of the series, the artist's name and/or signature, the name of the manufacturer, etc.
Character Dolls
Dolls made to resemble actual people or characters from books, folklore, etc.
Cloisonné
Thin strips of metal soldered on the base of a piece to create a design. Different colors of enamel are poured into the design to complete the piece.
Closed Edition
A line or product that's no longer made.
Closed-End Series
A collectible line with a predetermined number of issues.
Cold Cast
A manufacturing process combining polyester resin with other substances (such as metal powder, porcelain powder, wood shavings or ground nut shells). The mixture is forced into a mold under high pressure to allow a forging. The end product usually has exceptional detailing that can be handpainted.
Collectible
A general term used to describe anything a person collects.
Commemorative
An item made to mark a special date, event or holiday.
Crackleware
Ceramics with decorative cracks in the glaze created deliberately by firing and cooling at different rates of expansion and contraction.
Creamware
Cream-colored earthenware perfected by Josiah Wedgwood. Also called Queen's Ware in honor of Queen Charlotte.
D
Decal
A lithograph applied to ceramic or other material then fired.
Delftware
Heavy earthenware coated with a tin oxide white glaze. It originated in Delft, Holland.
E
Edition
Refers to the number of items created with the same name and decorations.
Etching
An image cut into the surface of a metal plate or glass with acid. This word is used also to describe a paper print made by an engraving process.
F
Faience
An earthenware ceramic with a tin-oxide glaze. It originated in Faenza, Italy.
French Bronze
Zinc refined to 99%/97% purity and used as an alternative to bronze. Also known as spelter.
H
Hard Paste Porcelain
Ceramic made with feldspar to increase its strength and translucency. It's fired at about 1,450Þ Celsius.
I
Incolay
A substance made of mineral combinations, including carnelian and crystal quartz.
Intaglio
A design carved below the surface.
Issue Price
The suggested retail price established by the manufacturer.
J
Jasperware
Fine-grained unglazed stoneware introduced by Josiah Wedgwood
L
Lead Crystal
Glass that's made with lead oxide. It gives the piece weight, shine and a clear ring when tapped. Glass with a lead oxide content of 24% is called "lead crystal." Glass with 30% or more lead oxide is called "full lead crystal."
Limited Edition
An item produced in a certain quantity or for a determined number of days. Once these numbers are met, the exact piece is no longer produced.
Limoges
A French city heavy with deposits of kaolin clay and other ingredients used to make china and porcelain.
Lost Wax
A detailed item is created in wax and later used to form a ceramic "negative" mold. The wax form is broken, melted or otherwise "lost" after casting.
Lusterware
Ceramics decorated with an iridescent sheen from metallic oxide applied to a glazed piece then refired.
M
Majolica
Earthenware coated with a heavy white glaze made with tin oxide. It originated at a factory on the Spanish island of Majorca.
Mint Condition
Refers to an item being in new, excellent condition, usually with the certificate of authenticity and original box.
O
Open Edition
An item that is not a limited edition; production can be whatever the manufacturer wants.
Overglaze
Decoration applied after a piece goes through the original glazing and firing.
P
Pewter
A white metal containing tin, lead and antimony. The tin content determines the grade of pewter. Fine pewter has 92% tin.
Porcelain
A ceramic made of kaolin clay, quartz and feldspar and fired up to 1,450Þ Celsius. It's noted for its translucency and ring when tapped.
Primary Market
Original owners of pieces made by a manufacturer and sold through retailers. These items are sold at issue price.
Q
Queen's Ware
Named for Queen Charlotte (see Creamware).
R
Remarqué
A print on which the artist added an illustration in the margin. The remarqué adds to the value of the print.
Retired
An item no longer available from the producer; similar to a piece in a closed edition.
S
Secondary Market
When one consumer sells an item to another consumer. Prices vary according to supply and demand.
Signed and Numbered
When an item bears the signature of the artist and is part of a numbered, limited edition.
Silver Crystal
Faceted Austrian crystal prisms with a 32% lead content. Swarovski registered the name.
Silverplate
A manufacturing process in which pure silver is electroplated onto a base metal, usually brass or pewter.
Slip
Liquid ceramic that's poured into molds to make a basic unpainted piece.
Soft Paste
A clay and ground glass mixture used to produce china. It's fired to a temperature too low to create the hardness of porcelain.
Sterling Silver
An alloy of 92.5% silver and 7.5% copper.
Suspended
An item that's not currently available from the manufacturer but may be available later.
T
Translucency
The amount of light that shines through a non-transparent object.
Triptych
A three-panel art piece.
U
Underglaze
Decorating process that's done before a piece receives a final glazing and firing.
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