Recognition of genuine pieces of Pontypool or Usk Japanware is complicated by the number of different factories including those of the West Midlands, who produced similar or copied products. Confusion between articles made in Pontypool and elsewhere - all of which are designated 'Pontypool' abound. In the absence of documentation and factory marks it is mainly upon local associations that the identification of Pontypool ware can reasonably rest, but even Midlands japanned goods penetrated into South Wales from an early date, so neither a local provenance nor details of shape and construction alone can demonstrate a local origin.