Kovels.com founders, Ralph and Terry Kovel (rhymes with "oh well") were first bitten by the antiques bug when they tried to furnish their first apartment on a budget.

They bought porcelains at house sales and tried to decipher the marks on the bottom of each piece. The only available reference books were written for experts and were of little help. Ralph put together a list of the marks and makers they had discovered.   More detail...