Chinese porcelain dating

How to date antique Chinese porcelain?

As per usual any dates or marks on antique Chinese porcelain should be be treated with utmost caution however, it is my impression that dates found in poems or other inscriptions on porcelain, from late 19th century until mid 20th century in most cases seems to be surprisingly correct.

How can you tell if a porcelain has been made in China?

Some curves and angles are immediate red flags to an expert, as these shapes were not used in China during the dynasties. If the porcelain’s shape passes the sight test, the next assessment is the colour palette used. Very particular colours and pigmentation’s were available during the production of Chinese antiques.

When was porcelain first made in China?

China first exported it to the world via the Silk Road. Chinese porcelain production first began in the area that China occupies today in the Han dynasty–206 BC to 220 AD. And imperial production didn’t slow until the beginning of the 20th century, when the last Chinese dynasty, the Qing, ended in 1912.

When did China start using reign marks on porcelain?

In the early Ming dynasty, which began in 1368, porcelain makers in China started using reign marks regularly. They range from complicated markings in Chinese characters to auspicious symbols like mushrooms, scepter heads, and leaves.

How to identify Chinese porcelain from the period?

It is said, that the only rule that is really certain when it comes to Chinese reign marks, is that most of them are NOT from the period they say. Still the marks are something of a fingerprint of the potter and its time. If carefully studied they offer a great help in identifying the date and maker of most Chinese porcelain.

What are Chinese porcelain decorations with dates?

This is a list of Chinese porcelain pieces that have been decorated in such a way that the decoration includes a date. The dates are almost exclusively given as Chinese cyclical dates, which are repeated in 60th year cycles.

When was porcelain first made in China?

China first exported it to the world via the Silk Road. Chinese porcelain production first began in the area that China occupies today in the Han dynasty–206 BC to 220 AD. And imperial production didn’t slow until the beginning of the 20th century, when the last Chinese dynasty, the Qing, ended in 1912.

How to tell if a porcelain is antique or recently made?

Antique Porcelain Age Signs. Porcelain age signs give us an opportunity to determine whether a ceramic item is really antique or recently made. Age characteristics can be fake, but the average age faking can be detected by knowledgable collectors or dealers. If a piece of China shows no visible age signs at all, we consider it as recently made.

When did porcelain start being marked Made in China?

Marks incorporating western characters do not occur before the 1890s and almost all we see are after the 1950s. Most porcelain marked Made in China is usually from the 1970s and later. Theoretically, any mark at the base of a piece of Chinese porcelain should be the reign title of the Emperor during which period the piece was made.

What does “reign mark” mean on Chinese porcelain?

2) Having no mark at all does not mean that it is valueless, just that the piece did not need to be stamped to sell – so was probably not intended for export. So what does the reign mark on Chinese porcelain mean? Yes it can mean that the piece is of the period.

How was Porcelain marked in the Ming dynasty?

Only during the Yongle reign (1403-1424), the reign of the third Ming emperor, white and blue porcelain made at the imperial kiln in Jingdezhen was marked for the first time. The mark used was a reign mark having the meaning of Made in the Yongle years. However, only limited numbers of porcelain was marked that way.

Are there any Chinese marks on blue and white porcelain from Yuan dynasty?

The Ming dynasty reigns of Yongle, Xuande, Hongzhi, Wanli had marks with Zhuanti style characters, the others were mostly written in Kaiti style. No Chinese marks on blue and white porcelain are known from the Yuan dynasty (1206-1367).