Chinese Ceramic Hallmarks

The most comprehensive reference book on chinese reign marks is gerald davison s the handbook of marks on chinese ceramics first published in 1994.

Chinese ceramic hallmarks.

From imperial marks to the many hall and auspicious marks used by scholars collectors potters and artists this is the essential book for all professional buyers collectors and. Probably the best example for this is the porcelain made during the late qing dynasty. It is really interesting to note how the chinese translate the republic period hallmarks. 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.

The best way to distinguish a fake from a real piece is to. 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. If you would like my personal help or opinion on something there is a possibility to email me a question send any number of pictures you like and help support the site at the same time. Today chinese porcelain items with marks you may find or purchase are more likely fakes or newer items than authentic antiques.

Understand this is a difficult process and there are no shortcuts to becoming familiar with chinese porcelain marks. 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. Porcelain marks are the fingerprints of antique china. When repairing ceramic objects knowing it s origin and value is important prior to proceeding with investing in a repair.

In the translations of several chinese language books on chinese ceramics hallmarks such as ju ren tang zhi or da de tang zhi are variously translated as made in ju ren tang when the chinese pinyin is usually translated into english or ju ren tang shop. Reign marks can be found on chinese ceramics mainly from the early ming dynasty 15 th century through to the qing dynasty 1644. 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. In the guangxu period huge amounts of porcelain china were produced and many of these bear different kangxi reign marks.

Marks of earlier periods have been used throughout almost the history of chinese porcelain. 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.