Marks placed on English and European objects made of silver or gold.  Hallmarks were required by law and indicate the maker, date, and place of manufacture; there is usually a fourth mark that certifies that the object meets a minimum standard of purity.

A class of ceramics whose primary ingredient is kaolin, a type of earth containing hydrated aluminum silicates.  Kaolin account for 50% of the paste with feldspar being the other main ingredient.  It is called “hard” past porcelain because it is fired at extremely high temperatures.  Hard paste is also referred to as true or natural porcelain since its chief components exist naturally in the earth.  Hard paste porcelain is translucent and vitreous if glazed.  It is very strong and does not craze.