Belleek Porcelain

 

An Irish Wolfhound with its head turned back to face a Round Tower (believed to be Devenish Round Tower on Devenish Island in Lower Lough Erne). To the right of the Tower is an Irish harp. Below, two sprigs of shamrock border the ends of the banner carrying the word "BELLEEK".

Belleek FIRST PERIOD BLACK MARK 1863 - 1890
Early pieces of parian leaving the pottery were either impressed with the word "BELLEEK" or "BELLEEK, CO FERMANAGH". Others were impressed and marked with the Belleek 1st period mark. The color of the mark during this period was predominantly black but other colors were sometimes used, amongst them red, blue, orange, green and brown. Some pieces of Belleek also carry the British Patent Office registration mark, which gives the date of registration, not the date of manufacture.
SECOND BLACK MARK 1891 - 1926
Belleek changed its mark to comply with the McKinley Tariff Act of 1891, requiring imports to the USA to specify the country of origin. A second banner was added below the first mark, carrying the words "CO FERMANAGH, IRELAND". On occasions, particularly on Trays, both 1st and 2nd period marks can be found. Usually the 1st period mark is an impressed mark with a large 2nd period (black) mark. This leads me to believe that the large 2nd period marks were used on the earlier pieces and that later versions were scaled down.
 		 THIRD BLACK MARK 1926 - 1946
A stamp with the words "DEANTA IN EIRINN"
(made in Ireland) and the registered trademark number
0857 was added below the banner.
FIRST GREEN or FOURTH MARK 1946 - 1955
The mark remained the same but had a color change.		 SECOND GREEN or FIFTH MARK 1955 - 1965
To identify that the Belleek mark was registered in the USA the letter "R" within a circle was added above the banner. Compare this with the fourth mark. It is exactly the same apart from the registration mark - a small (R) above the banner. This (R) is a very useful pointer - any piece of Belleek, including baskets, which have this letter are POST 1955.
THIRD GREEN or SIXTH MARK 1965 - 1981
The mark was reduced in size and the words "CO FERMANAGH" deleted, leaving "IRELAND" within a shortened banner.		 FIRST GOLD or SEVENTH MARK 1980
The same as the Third Green, but another color change to Gold. Sometimes people get confused and think that this mark is a "faded" Black mark - if the (R) is above the harp it is seventh mark.

Blue Mark

The current mark is Blue

Much small than other marks.

 

Belleek Annual Basket

Belleek Collectors Society

Belleek Collectors Soctiety

Belleek Ireland

Belleek Fine Bone China

Blarney Woollen Hills
1st Edition

Belleek Ireland

The Captains Plate

Floral Treasures
1999

Galway Irish Crystal Heritage Centre

Millennium Plate Limited Edition
1999-2000

Millennuim Ornament
1999-2000

Millennium Collection Covered Vase

Belleek in Retrospect

Belleek Visitors Centre

Christmas Collectibles
1999

Christmas Belleek Collectibles
1999

      


Provided courtesy Lady Langham


Two Strand
Three Strand
Four Strand
Depicts the looped edge of woven baskets and plates
Date Strands Words Pads Mark
c. 1865-1889 2/3
2/3		 Belleek
Belleek Co. Fermanagh		 1 Impressed
1890-1920 2/3 Belleek Co. Fermanagh
*Ireland		 1, 2, or 3  
1921-1954 4 Belleek (R) Co. Fermanagh
*Ireland		 1, 2, or 3  
1955-1979 4 Belleek (R) Co. Fermanagh
 		 1 or 2  
1980-1989 4 *Belleek (R) Ireland 1 or 2  
1989 4 *Belleek (R) Ireland Oval Gold Printed

*The McKinley Act of 1891 required that the country of origin be marked on all imported goods. The capital 'R' was added in 1955 as proof of USA registration.