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Collecting Antique Chinese Porcelain

This site is an introduction to antique Chinese porcelain and ceramics, and includes tips for collecting Chinese antiques in general.

Establishing a collection of Chinese porcelain requires not only antiques related knowledge, it makes it also necessary to learn a lot of peripheral things as, for example, the ability to recognize fakes. This is especially true with Chinese porcelain. This site provides basic information on genuine and fake antiques from China. It shall enable the prospective collector to make more informed decisions in view to Chinese antiques.

Porcelain Buddha also called Laughing BuddhaActually, the better we understand the issues involved the more we realize how much more knowledge antique porcelain made in China requires.
Even expert collectors of Chinese ceramics are often only specialized on ceramics produced during a few dynasties.

These pages provide tips and information to the beginning collector of antique Chinese porcelain.
It also gives collectors some information regarding the identification of Chinese characters found in antique porcelain marks.
Authenticity problems associated with porcelain and pottery from China require the attention of both, the new and the experienced collector. Some light will be shed on Chinese commercial practices as compared to western purchasing attitudes, and why fakes are proliferating.


First things first:

What do we define as antique porcelain?

Our definition follows to some extent customary practice here where we live:
(1) An antique must show porcelain age signs.
(2) It must originate either in the early republic, Qing or Ming dynasties, or earlier.
The question is what is considered "early republic" period? We usually consider anything made after the Qing dynasty (1644-1911) during the 1910s or 20s as early republic, thus for us it ends 1930. Anything produced later is qualified as "vintage".

This site concerns itself mainly with hand-painted antique Chinese porcelain.
Printed porcelain or transferware is not included.

Qianlong willow plate


What is the difference between Porcelain and Pottery?

Many people do not clearly understand the difference between porcelain and pottery. This is especially often the case in the land and language where porcelain first was produced. In Chinese frequently all types of glazed ceramics are called "porcelain".
Click here
to see a definition.

Marks and Identification

If you are new to Chinese porcelain and are here to identify some items via their marks, then do yourself a favor and read the mark comparison page first. Chinese porcelain marks served a completely different purpose than the marks of Europe. They were not used as trademarks or logos which would allow identification of the manufacturer.



For any unknown terms, please refer to the glossary of Chinese porcelain terms.










Table of Contents

China Antiques Blog - Mark and Identification Queries
China Antiques Blog for Mark and Identification Queries by Visitors to chinese-antique-porcelain.com

Chinese Porcelain Glossary
Chinese porcelain glossary containing must-know porcelain terms and related Chinese language terms

Ancient China Trade - Shipping and the old China trade routes
Ancient China trade picked up during the 17th and 18th centuries, the old China trade with porcelain, silk, tea

Antique Porcelain Gallery - Images
Sample Chinese antique porcelain gallery - pictures of export and minyao porcelain

Antique Porcelain Marks and Antique Pottery Marks
Antique porcelain marks and antique pottery marks on Chinese ceramics

Antique Porcelain Authentication
Antique porcelain authentication for China ceramics

Chinese 60 Year Cyclic Calendar
The Chinese calendar used in dated ceramics is the 60 year cyclic calendar

Chinese Calendar and Year Notation
Chinese calendar and year notations of old, the Chinese zodiac calender and lunar calendar

Chinese History Timeline - Chronology of China History
Chinese history timeline, a chronology of China history

Chinese Emperors -- Chinese dynasties the Ming Dynasty and Qing Dynasty
Chinese emperors, the Chinese dynasties of the Ming and Qing dynasty and their emperors

Porcelain Collections Around the World
Major Chinese Porcelain Collections of the World, in the East and West

Porcelain age signs
Porcelain age signs indicative of the age of china porcelain and ceramics

Antique Porcelain Reproductions
Antique porcelain reproductions and fakes of antique Chinese ceramics made in China

Fake antique porcelain
What you must know about fake antique porcelain from China. Fake antiques are flooding the antique markets

European Porcelain Copies of Chinese Ceramics
European porcelain copies of Chinese ceramics

Buying Antique Porcelain
Buying antique porcelain made in China requires some prior research to avoid buying fake porcelain

Value of Antiques - perceived antique china value
The value of antiques. How the perceived antique china value is affected by various factors like selling venues, condition, rarity, demand

Introduction to Collecting Chinese Porcelain - Ebook
Introduction to Collecting Chinese Porcelain - Ebook

Porcelain Care & Cleaning
Porcelain care and cleaning tips

Porcelain Repair and Restoration
Porcelain repair or china repair is more than just sticking broken pieces together

China Antiques News
Your News Headlines with China Antiques News and Information

Chinese Antiques Search
Chinese antiques search, appraisals search

Sitemap
Sitemap for visitors of this site, with separate blog sitemap

Antique Value - China Antiques Value
China antiques value. How to find the antique value of ceramics and antique china

Song dynasty and its five great kilns
The five great kilns of the Song dynasty

Chinese Art and Craft Motifs
Art and craft motifs used in Chinese porcelain decoration

Antique Appraisals and Appraisers Services
Antique appraisals or valuations can help the collector with new information on his collectibles

"Antiques Porcelain Marks" and Markings of China
Antiques porcelain marks on china and antiques pottery marks

Antique Chinese Porcelain - Buying Tips
Guide to antique Chinese porcelain buying - what to consider when purchasing china and glazed pottery

Dated Porcelain
Dated porcelain is mostly having its source in the later 19th century

Pottery and Porcelain - China Porcelain and Old Time Pottery
Pottery and porcelain of China -- the difference between old time pottery and porcelain

Handling Ceramics Safely
Handling ceramics safely and tips for holding china porcelain

Scientific authentication of antique ceramics using spectrometry
What you should know about scientific authentication of Chinese ceramics, spectrometry and thermoluminescence dating

Porcelain Decoration Styles
Chinese Porcelain Decoration Styles

Porcelain Age Faking Methods
What you must know about porcelain age faking methods of china, and how to avoid buying a fake

China Antiques Blog Archive - Mark and Identification Queries
Antiques Blog Archive for Mark and Identification Queries

Buying Antiques Online
Buying Antiques Online, online auctions, antique buying online, customs duty

Image Gallery
Image Gallery

Swatow wares - controversy of origin
Zhangzhou and the controversy of the origin of Swatow wares

Antique china marks - antique pottery marks
Antique china marks and pottery marks and their use for identification, makers marks

Blue pigments in Chinese porcelain
Blue pigments used in Chinese porcelain - Sumali, Mohammedan blue

Chinese Export Porcelain and Decorative Styles
Chinese export porcelain and other decoration styles

Chinese Language Reign Names
Chinese language reign names of the Ming and Qing dynasty emperors

Baba Nyonya Peranakan Porcelain of the Straits Chinese
Nyonya or Peranakan porcelain, thecolorful Straits Chinese porcelain

Kraak Porcelain
Kraak porcelain is a pattern exported to Europe in the Ming dynasty

Identifying Chinese Porcelain and China Pottery
Identifying Chinese porcelain, the process used for visual identification of Chinese ceramics

Chinese Imari Porcelain
Chinese Imari Porcelain - what is it? A china pattern from the early Qing dynasty

Fake Antiques and the Buyer
Fake antiques from China flooding the antique markets

Antique China Patterns
antique china patterns on export porcelain and chinese ceramics

Novice Collector of Chinese Porcelain
Tips for the novice collector of Chinese porcelain

Shipwreck Ceramics and the Ancient China Trade
Ancient shipwreck ceramics explain trading relations in Southeast Asia

Ceramics Packaging - How NOT to do it
Ceramics Packaging - How not to do it, and proper packaging for china

International Trading - Buying and Selling Abroad
International trading, buying and selling antiques abroad

Yuan Dynasty Ceramics - Shufu porcelain
Yuan dynasty ceramics and porcelain, Shufu porcelain

Ancient Chinese Kilns
Ancient Chinese Kilns listed in relation to location

Fake Antique Trade and Porcelain
What you must know about the fake antique trade

Thermoluminescence Dating of Chinese Ceramics - TL Dating
Thermoluminescence Dating of Chinese Ceramics - TL Dating theory

Laser Ablation Spectrometry
the use of laser ablation spectrometry or spectrometric analysis for authentication of Chinese ceramics

Yixing Pottery and Teawares (Tea Wares)
Yixing pottery or zisha clay used in teawares (tea wares)

Antique China Categories
Antique china categories used in China for porcelain

Chinese Zodiac Calendar and Chinese Zodiac Years
Chinese zodiac calendar - Chinese zodiac years and zodiac signs in Chinese society and culture

Chinese Porcelain Making
The process of Chinese porcelain making in pictures

Chinese Porcelain Figurines
Chinese porcelain figurines and their use in China's culture

China export restrictions of cultural objects
China export restrictions on cultural objects and antique art and crafts

Kiln Firing Faults of Antique Chinese Ceramics
Kiln firing faults as found in Chinese porcelain and other ceramics

Disclaimer
Disclaimer

Privacy Policy
Privacy policy of our website

Contact us
contact page for chinese antique porcelain com

About
Chinese Antiques - a different view

Sites Worth Visiting
Sites worth visiting related to ceramics, antiques or Chinese culture






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