In case it helps, most of the very recent Chinese beehive marks we have seen tend to be a bit more rounded. These much newer items are sometimes also of good quality. Very recently, and perhaps because Arnart ImportsвЂ™ items have now gained a good reputation for quality amongst collectors, it appears that trading companies and other importers from China and elsewhere are now using several similar marks. Although most ca 1870s вЂ“ 1930s marks were applied by hand, so some may vary ever so slightly from item to item, there are usually one or two details that help in attributing them accurately, especially with the help of a book or website and is easy to tell apart from others. Most beehive mark copies are fairly easy to tell apart as each specific Artisan or Studio used a different variation. Kolmar Porcelain (Prussia) ca 1897 вЂ“ 1944.Josef Kawan (Vienna, Austria) ca 1907 вЂ“ 1915.Hutschenreuther (Germany) ca 1880s and again after 1970s Augarten Vienna Porcelain (Vienna, Austria) ca 1922 вЂ“ Present.Ackermann & Fritz (Volkstedt, Germany) ca 1908 вЂ“ 1951.Some Artists and Studios of that period include: Many of these вЂњcopyвЂќ marks have been well documented and attributed to various makers by ceramics historians in several books and websites. Most were made at reputable Studios and by accomplished Artisans, usually in the Bohemian region of Europe, but also in England, France, Italy etc. In fact, the vast majorities of these later Royal Vienna pieces, especially those made ca 1870s вЂ“ 1950s, are of high workmanship and usually command high prices. A word of caution: many pieces that used a copy or imitation beehive mark are not necessarily of poor quality. Not only was this mark forged almost immediately upon the original factory being auctioned off by the King because of financial difficulties, but this mark is also found to be used in several variations even to this day, sometimes by trading companies or importers. There are so many copies and imitations of the beehive mark, it can make your head spin. However, this is exactly where more doubts creep in. If it is an original Imperial & Royal Manufactory piece, the authentic beehive mark is never symmetrical and always underglaze in blue or impressed. Therefore, when someone proclaims a piece to be вЂњRoyal ViennaвЂќ, the obvious question should be вЂњdo you mean from the Imperial & Royal factory period or made later in that style?вЂќ For example, most classically themed decorative plates that have a вЂњbeehiveвЂќ mark and made ca 1880s вЂ“ 1940s, are often called вЂњRoyal Vienna Plates,вЂќ but in this case, when applied correctly, the reference is to their style. However, it should be pointed out that this term is also being used by others to refer to the style of certain items, not necessarily their origin or maker. This symbol, known as the вЂњbeehiveвЂќ mark in English-speaking countries because of its resemblance to a normal beehive when upside down, is the second most copied or imitated Porcelain mark in history after MeissenвЂ™s Crossed Swords.ДЄs mentioned, it is true that some collectors refer to pieces made by the original Imperial & Royal Porcelain Manufactory as вЂњRoyal ViennaвЂќ and use this term as an abbreviation. In addition to their legacy for stunning Porcelain Artwork and Ceramic masterpieces, one other involuntary contribution made to todayвЂ™s Collecting world is their famous вЂњbindenschildвЂќ mark meant to represent the Royal Shield found in the center of the Royal Crest of the Hapsburg Royal Family, who mentored and financed them. However, Royal Vienna was not their official name. To begin with, there is not and never was a company or factory called вЂњRoyal Vienna.вЂќ Many Collectors have used this term to refer to the вЂњImperial & Royal Porcelain ManufactoryвЂќ in Vienna, Austria, and in operation ca 1718 вЂ“ 1864 only. Yet, in our research, we have often found that there are several meanings attached. It turns out that the term Royal Vienna and the вЂњbeehiveвЂќ mark occur frequently on fine Porcelain & China pieces, mostly on items of decorative appeal. Over the years I have seen so many versions and on so many lovely pieces, it is hard to keep those creeping doubts from screaming at you: Fake!! Fake!!Д®specially when coupled with the words ROYAL VIENNA, with or without the beehive mark, it is enough to drive you crazy and swear that youвЂ™d never buy another one of those ever! SoвЂ¦ I did a lot of research and decided to share what I know in the hopes of keeping at least some people saneвЂ¦ If you are like me and love fine porcelain, I am sure that my frustration when finding a great piece with the вЂњbeehiveвЂќ mark is all too familiar. Royal Vienna and the Beehive Mark: Real or Fake?

Royal creamware plate