Red Chinese Porcelain Marks Identification

Reign marks can play a pivotal role in helping to identify the period in which chinese artefacts were created.

Red chinese porcelain marks identification. Reign marks should be studied alongside the many different variations of hallmarks auspicious marks potters marks and symbols that you find on the bases of chinese porcelain throughout the ages. Marks of earlier periods have been used throughout almost the history of chinese porcelain. See a comparison of chinese and non chinese marks. The best way to distinguish a fake from a real piece is to become very familiar with documented pieces of real chinese porcelain.

If you see red marks the piece was likely created in the mid. The identification and authentication of chinese porcelain is a complex process of an overall verification of a number of factors. A useful reference book is the handbook of marks on chinese ceramics gerald davison london 1994. Identifying chinese porcelain involves more than just knowing the mark in order to decide age and manufacturer as many novices do believe.

Mark on chinese porcelain erotic cup. Reign marks are usually four or six characters in length and can be found on the base or the side of an item. There was a brief time during the kangxi period in 1667 when the emperor issued an edict forbidding the use of his reign mark on porcelain in case the ceramics were smashed and discarded. Almost at the same time that the chinese invented porcelain they also invented marks and copies sometimes to learn sometimes to honor sometimes to deceive sometimes to replace sometimes just to meet a demand.

Consider the color of the marks and how they were applied to the porcelain piece. Chinese porcelain reign marks identification. Reign marks can be found on chinese ceramics mainly from the early ming dynasty 15 th century through to the qing dynasty 1644. Consider the colour of the marks and how they were applied to the porcelain piece.

Notice that the red mark also must have been applied in hong kong since it is actually moved off center to give way for the gold mark. Some marks look like a circle square bird or animal shape etc. In the world of ming and qing dynasty art knowing how to look at a reign mark is a key asset for any collector specialist or enthusiast to correctly identify the date and the value of a piece of chinese porcelain. Identify a mark by shape.

The most common marks on porcelain tend to be written in underglaze blue within a double circle. If you see red marks the piece was likely created in the mid 19th century while pieces with blue marks were likely made later. Offered here is an attempt to identify some of the marks on mostly late.