As we have discussed in previous posts, the bottom marks on Roseville pottery vary over the company’s many years of production.  For new collectors the numbers that appear on the bottoms of Roseville pottery often add to the confusion of identifying Roseville pottery patterns.  Shape numbers and sizes were used by Roseville throughout the years of production and were sometimes noted on the bottoms of the pieces even from the earliest days of the pottery. 

For early and middle period Roseville Patterns produced prior to 1936, it is not unusual to find three digit shape numbers in red or black crayon on the bottoms of pieces. Starting in 1936, Roseville began using the die-impressed trademark "Roseville" along with the shape number and size.  Beginning in 1940 the Roseville mark, shape number and size were marked with raised lettering. 

If you have any of the readily available Roseville Pottery reference guides the numbering system allows collectors and dealers to identify a Roseville pattern, size and style of piece (vase, bowl, wall pocket, tea pot, umbrella stand, bookends, basket, jardiniere, window box, etc) simply by knowing the shape and size number without even seeing the piece. 

For the most part, Roseville maintained a consistent shape numbering system that is relatively easy to follow. The marks are typically 2 or 3 digit numbers which indicate the pattern and shape of the piece followed by a dash and a one or two digit number which corresponds to the size of the vase, bowl, etc.

For example, if you have a piece marked "Roseville 35-9"  and you have your handy Roseville reference guide you can quickly identify the piece as a 9" vase from the Roseville Bushberry line.  For unmarked middle period Roseville it is possible to find pieces marked with the shape number in red crayon.  An example of this is shown in the photo to the right. The vase is marked 621 in red crayon. This shape corresponds to a Roseville Cherry Blossom vase. 

A few notes on the size notations for Roseville vases, jardinieres and bowls. A vase will in almost all cases be 1/4" to 1" taller than the shape number would indicate.  For example a Roseville Pine Cone vase shape 747-10 is typically about 10 1/2" tall.   

For Roseville bowls and jardinieres the size measurement is taken from the inside diameter.  For example, a jardiniere marked 657-8 is a Roseville Bushberry jardiniere.  The 657 refers to the shape and pattern, while the 8 indicates it is 8" diameter. The 8" is measured from the inside rim to the opposite inside rim.  Similar to Roseville vases, the inside diameter of an 8" Roseville jardiniere is typically going to be about 8 1/2".  A Roseville console bowl marked 294-12 can be identified as being from the Moss pattern with an inside rim to rim length of just over 12".

Greg Myroth – Shop for Roseville Pottery