Red Chinese Porcelain Marks Identification

Reign marks are usually four or six characters in length and can be found on the base or the side of an item.

Red chinese porcelain marks identification.

The identification and authentication of chinese porcelain is a complex process of an overall verification of a number of factors. The best way to distinguish a fake from a real piece is to become very familiar with documented pieces of real chinese porcelain. Marks with letters are listed in alphabetical order. Reign marks can be found on chinese ceramics mainly from the early ming dynasty 15 th century through to the qing dynasty 1644.

In general the marks will be red or blue and hand painted or stamped. The most common marks on porcelain tend to be written in underglaze blue within a double circle. Marks of earlier periods have been used throughout almost the history of chinese porcelain. Consider the color of the marks and how they were applied to the porcelain piece.

If you see red marks the piece was likely created in the mid. See a comparison of chinese and non chinese marks. In general the marks will be red or blue and hand painted or stamped. 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.

Some marks look like a circle square bird or animal shape etc. Identify a mark by shape. 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. Consider the colour of the marks and how they were applied to the porcelain piece.

Identifying chinese porcelain involves more than just knowing the mark in order to decide age and manufacturer as many novices do believe. If you see red marks the piece was likely created in the mid 19th century while pieces with blue marks were likely made later. A useful reference book is the handbook of marks on chinese ceramics gerald davison london 1994. Chinese porcelain reign marks identification.

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. 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. Offered here is an attempt to identify some of the marks on mostly late.