Chinese Ceramic Marks Identification

For any piece of fine china the porcelain mark is a symbol of pride in the manufacturer s workmanship.

Chinese ceramic marks identification.

Marks on chinese porcelain pieces are even and regular while marks on japanese porcelain will include an odd number and may be in different colors. The most comprehensive reference book on chinese reign marks is gerald davison s the handbook of marks on chinese ceramics first published in 1994. Experts in chinese antiques understand what different marks represent including the era they denote. Marks of earlier periods have been used throughout almost the history of chinese porcelain.

Marks with letters are listed in alphabetical order. Pottery marks identification guide index a collection of pottery marks using photos and images from our antique collection. Reign marks are usually four or six characters in length and can be found on the base or the side of an item. The final assessment is locating marks on the porcelain.

Chinese antique porcelain identification top. Identify a mark by shape. Chinese porcelain reign marks identification. 10 understand this understand this is a difficult process and there are no shortcuts to becoming familiar with chinese porcelain marks.

See ming wilson rare marks on chinese ceramics london 1998 cat. Some marks look like a circle square bird or animal shape etc. 8 where a yellow glazed bowl with cranes bearing this mark is illustrated from the collection of the victoria and albert museum london. The identification and authentication of chinese porcelain is a complex process of an overall verification of a number of factors.

Porcelain marks are the fingerprints of antique china. Identifying chinese porcelain involves more than just knowing the mark in order to decide age and manufacturer as many novices do believe. Marks on the porcelain antique chinese pottery and porcelain identification. See a comparison of chinese and non chinese marks.

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. 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. 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.