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Colorful Old Chinese Vase

by Milly
(Des Moines)

Hello Peter and thanks for viewing my vase. I do not know anything about this vase but it seems quite old. Any information would be much appreciated. I am considering taking it to an appraiser so that I can get it insured if it is valuable but I'd rather not waste my time on something with little or no value. Thank you for your input.

Milly

Comments for Colorful Old Chinese Vase

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jar? pot?
by: peter

Hello,
I'm afraid there are several things wrong with this. It somehow resembles a teapot, but teapots are smaller and and don't have four lugs. The lugs for the handles are usually attached directly above and behind the spout, the other one on the opposite side of the pot. Or, there is a handle attached directly to the body, opposite of the spout. I can't see how pouring from this would be made. The lid looks like a teapot lid.

The body of this item resembles more that of a ginger jar, and the spout is attached too high to be used as teapot, it seems to me.
Further, this item has obviously been re-painted; the place with the green background and red character is painted quite badly. Usually, items made in a regular kiln are not painted that way.
For a few examples how genuine antique porcelain looks, please check out the gallery. Most of the items are from the Qing dynasty (1644-1911).

Chinese traditional wares don't use red necks or spouts. This looks like Japanese Kutani.
I'm not quite sure if this is a fabrication with spout and lugs added later (would need to do a hands-on inspection to tell), but most of it seems to be re-painted. The only that is sure is that this item was certainly remade in some manner.
It is not a traditional item, both in view to shape and color decoration. Please be also aware that items frequently are made to look dirty in order to make them look old.
I hope you did not spend much on this.

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