Chinese Ceramic Pottery Marks

Later porcelain with this mark are often called fakes however the occurrence of this mark on later porcelain is most of the time seen as part of the decoration and not to be taken serious.

Chinese ceramic pottery marks.

This resulted in many porcelain marks simply comprising empty underglaze blue double circles or the use of auspicious symbols in underglaze blue such as an artemesia leaf a lingzhi mushroom or the head of a. 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. This practise of applying stamped four character qianlong nian zhi marks was especially common on porcelain decorated in hong kong during the 1960s and 70s but is in no way limited to this period. A collection of pottery marks using photos and images from our antique collection for easy reference and as a quick guide to the possible attribution of your latest porcelain collectible or pottery marks.

The marks listed below are grouped as far as was possible in a logical order with similar signs graphics shapes etc grouped together. Reign marks can play a pivotal role in helping to identify the period in which chinese artefacts were created. This is a list of chinese porcelain pieces that have been decorated in such a way that the decoration includes a date. Serving as both evidence of its origin age and often times quality the makers mark on a porcelain item is the first place many collectors look before making a purchase.

A useful reference book is the handbook of marks on chinese ceramics gerald davison london 1994. 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. Chinese porcelain reign marks identification.

For any piece of fine china the porcelain mark is a symbol of pride in the manufacturer s workmanship. Porcelain marks are the fingerprints of antique china. Marks found on chinese ceramics are significantly different from those on european antique ceramics. Reign marks are not limited to chinese porcelain they can be found on anything from jades to lacquerware from bronzes to cloisonné enamels.

Mar 18 2015 explore sandi logan s board collection of porcelain pottery makers marks followed by 367 people on pinterest. See more ideas about pottery makers makers mark pottery marks.