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| Real or Fake? | William Lowe | Art Nouveau French collection | Wong Lee | |
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| Real or Fake? | William Lowe | Art Nouveau French collection | Wong Lee | |
Is the pottery you have the real thing, a copy or fake?
NOTE: My opinion is that these items are not William Lowe and are not English - but that is only my opinion - you need to form your own.
These crackled porcelain and bronze pieces are / have been offered as two incorrect names & dates.....
"Antique items of William Lowe manufacture" NOTE: William Lowe was an English china manufacturer operating at the Sydney works, Longton, Stoke-on-Trent during the period 1874-1931. [
on William Lowe]
It appears that this ware is not English or French and it is not antique or old - it is manufactured by Wong Lee (since 1995) ..... "Wong Lee International Company of Hong Kong, specifically Wong Lee Productions Co. This mark has been used on exports since 1999." "was founded in 1995 and has been exporting since around 1999. 'WL' stands for Wong Lee and the '1895' is in commemoration of the end of the war between Japan and China ... exactly 100 years before Wong Lee Productions was founded."
This ware is well made, heavy, nice bronze - so if you want to buy it as an attractive item then that is OK - however it is highly likely that it is not old, not, English, not French and not an expensive antique.
WL 1895
Crackled porcelain with Bronze
handles and mount
on the base is the WL 1895 mark as shown above.
Comments received:-
"this was a reproduction of Napoleon III made in China or Indonesia. The mark WL 1895 is from Asia and not from William Lowe, the date 1895 is the date of the end of the war between China and Japan.
Plus when I talked to the Museum, they told me that William Lowe never made items in Bronze and Crackled porcelain, and that the emblem WL1895 was never used by William Lowe.
The expert said that this items where beautiful and very nicely made, they are heavy and solid......"
Offered (incorrectly, I think) on ebay as Rare and old William Lowe Art Nouveau French collection c. 1920
Offered (incorrectly, I think) on ebay as Antique English ewer(pitcher). William Lowe Royal Sydney Ware circa 1915. This is charming piece of English porcelain. Ormolu achieved its highest technical and artistic development in 18th century France, and the technique spread to England. However, workmanship had deteriorated by the 19th century. Gilt bronze rather than ormolu. By the 20th century, true ormolu was no longer produced because the process was so toxic. Although William Lowe was one of the lesser-known Staffordshire potters,The decoration is clearly inspired by that of Chinese Ming period porcelains. The floral hand painting with to many colors to mention.
"This particular mark has cost some folks dear, so we are spreading the word":
http://www.potteryspot.com/potteryforum/index.php?act=vtopic&tid=1Identified as Wong Lee Production Co. Thanks to C.S. Marshall
This mark has been erroneously attributed to the William Lowe Pottery of England,
but actually represents a subsidiary of the Wong Lee Int. Co., Hong Kong.,
founded in 1995.
From the "Gotheborg.com" web site - specialising in antique Chinese and Japanese porcelain http://www.gotheborg.com/
"WONG LEE" (Unconfirmed)
Modern Chinese porcelain mark said to be made by the "Wong Lee" (WL) company. They are not copies of anything, it is just a company in China who is making pieces on the style of Napoleon III. Always with crackled grounds and with bronze (ormulu) fittings. A rumor that has it that this mark should be of "William Lowe", is incorrect. There are no similarities in type of wares or with any marks used by Wm Lowe. The date 1895 is unrelated to the date of the piece but is among other things the date of the end of the war between Japan and China. The exact whereabouts of this WL company is unknown until further.
Mark:
"Wong Lee" (WL) company, found on porcelain in the style of Napoleon III.
Date: Modern, probably 2000-2005.
see a discussion that the ware is William Lowe
NOTE: although Bob Hudson on the link above uses references from the www.thepotteries.org web site (i.e. this one) I do not subscribe to its conclusions (but I defend his right to make any conclusion he wishes!!!)
NOTE: all the information is given in good faith and believed to be correct -
however if you are going to use it for the basis of valuations, purchases
or sales then you must verify it from independent, qualified sources.
Nov 2005
