Chinese Ceramic Marks

See ming wilson rare marks on chinese ceramics london 1998 cat.

Chinese ceramic marks.

As china has a long and illustrious history of ceramic production artisans would include reign marks from earlier periods. Marks found on chinese ceramics are significantly different from those on european antique ceramics. 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. Marks on antique porcelain differences between east and west.

It lists around 1 800 marks including all the major ming 1368 1644 and qing 1644 1911 dynasty imperial reign marks in addition to the many studio marks hall marks and myriad miscellaneous marks that are also to be found on vessels throughout china s rich cultural heritage. Most porcelain marks on fine antique china such as the meissen marks are underglaze meaning they were applied to the piece prior to firing. This was a mark of respect to pay tribute to bygone emperors. 8 where a yellow glazed bowl with cranes bearing this mark is illustrated from the collection of the victoria and albert museum london.

Iron red and cobalt blue. The shende tang was completed in 1831 thus making daoguang pieces with this mark attributable to the two decades between 1831 and 1850. For the first hundred years or so of porcelain production there were only two known pigments that could withstand the high firing temperature necessary.