Commenting is deactivated.

Please post all new topics and queries to the
Discussion Forum

can you identify this vase please,japanese/chinese?

by david
(uk)

pic1

pic1

hi
my wife has this vase given to her by her late mother and wants to know anything about it,where its from etc,any help appreciated.

Comments for can you identify this vase please,japanese/chinese?

Click here to add your own comments

Dec 07, 2011
vase
by: peter

Hi David,
Pit marks may be glaze contractions (see age porcelain signs) which are relative to production quality at the time of production. They mean insufficient quality control and are only indirect age signs, because they point to the environment of the kiln. Crazing can be artificially created at the time of firing, and may also develop later due to temperature fluctuations. Both are only indirect age signs, relative to production or environment.

As to how printing is detected: when viewed with a magnifier, with handpainted decorations the brush strokes are clearly visible. The strokes will end in softer or lighter color tones where the brush was lifted or the color run out.
With printed items the strokes or lines are often uniform. If you want I can check, but you need to provide a very clear enlarged picture (partial) with high resolution.

Dec 06, 2011
vase
by: david

hi peter

yes those images are exactly as they are on the vase,i took the pictures with my camera phone.

well we can only go on what my wifes mother told us so who knows,i know nothing about these kind of things.

i know from looking close at the vase it has a few pit marks on it(like small holes),and fine crackle marks like thin veins on it.

how would i check if its printed on?

thankyou
david

Dec 06, 2011
vase
by: peter

Hi David,
So, 90 years old?
Believe it or not, traditional Chinese porcelain in or before the 1920s had no bottom like this vase has. The decoration of that time was still in a transition from classic decorations in imperial times to modern. This decoration is certainly not painted in a traditional style. It has little resemblance to any painting style of the time. Only much later imitations could paint something such "un"chinese. It looks more like a vase made for tourists. Generally said, its style resembles not any Chinese style, it would be more likely to be from Vietnam or thereabouts. That might explain the fictious character. I would check with a good magnifier to see if it is printed.

Please ask for a second opinion.

BTW, are the characcters exactly as your pictures? They seem to be mirror images.

Dec 06, 2011
vase
by: david

hi peter

i spoke to the wife and she says her mum has had the vase for around 60 years and my wife has had it 30 years so not sure what modern is classed as?

and thankyou for trying to help in finding out what this is :)

david.

Dec 05, 2011
Not an existing character
by: Peter

David,

It is not that the character of the mark is unclear, it is clear. The character shown is not an existing character. Either the real character was modified (which is rarely done), or it is a fantasy creation.

Dec 05, 2011
thankyou
by: david

thankyou peter
i will pass the news onto my wife

i did look myself for 2 days on the internet to find the writing on the vase but i could not find anything,as you say it may not be japanese/chinese.

i added higher quality picture here of the writing if it helps..

s306.photobucket.com/albums/nn270/davegee_album/vase/?action=view¤t=Untitled.jpg

Dec 05, 2011
vase
by: peter

Hello,
In my view this is modern. The mark is illegible and doesn't have any normal Chinese or Japanese character.
In my view this is either a modern Chinese item or not Chinese (nor Japanese) at all, despite the characters and decoration.

Click here to add your own comments

Return to Ask a Question or Contribute - archived 2012.


search by keyword