What does the Royal Crown Derby backstamp tell you?

A Royal Crown Derby backstamp is the maker’s mark applied to the base of a piece. It can confirm the manufacturer and, in many cases, support dating. Royal Crown Derby has used a range of marks across time, including the well-known crown-and-crossed-batons motif associated with Crown Derby and later Royal Crown Derby output. Backstamps may be printed, impressed, or hand-painted depending on the period and range. For collectors, the most practical use is authentication, where a correct mark style for the era should match the shape, decoration style, and known production period. If the mark looks wrong for the decoration, treat the attribution with caution.