Chinese Ceramic Marks

Marks found on chinese ceramics are significantly different from those on european antique ceramics.

Chinese ceramic marks.

For the first hundred years or so of porcelain production there were only two known pigments that could withstand the high firing temperature necessary. Most porcelain marks on fine antique china such as the meissen marks are underglaze meaning they were applied to the piece prior to firing. In china porcelain marks or pottery marks on antiques had mostly a different purpose and way of expression than those used in the west since at least the 17th or 18th century. See ming wilson rare marks on chinese ceramics london 1998 cat.

Iron red and cobalt blue. This was a mark of respect to pay tribute to bygone emperors. When viewing pieces at auction these marks will be listed as apocryphal. The shende tang was completed in 1831 thus making daoguang pieces with this mark attributable to the two decades between 1831 and 1850.

As china has a long and illustrious history of ceramic production artisans would include reign marks from earlier periods. 8 where a yellow glazed bowl with cranes bearing this mark is illustrated from the collection of the victoria and albert museum london. 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.