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Chinese Fish Bowls - Please Help!

by Rick
(Brighton, UK)

Two Fish Bowls

Two Fish Bowls

Can anyone help me identify these two shallow bowls with fish (carp?) designs. They're about 22cm (8.75 inches) in diameter and glazed front and back. I think they are Chinese, but I don't even know which way up the maker's marks should be, and these seem to vary a lot. Any info would be most welcome. Thank you in advance!

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May 04, 2010
 fish motif
by: Anonymous

...I would like to find out a little more detail, as these marks are unlike any imperial ones that I have been able to find. I also wonder how bowls that are, say, between 100 and 250 years old are 'very common'.
==================================
They were probably once used by the common population in China. Very common refers to the fact that there are still many in existence today, and although antique they are not rare. I wouldn't wonder if some were still in use. In China, porcelain items were used until they broke, sometimes over generations.
There are several variations of this fish motif, but this is probably the most common one. They are far from export ware quality, much less to speak of that of imperial wares.
Because of this, although being antique, their value is not very high. They are something to begin collecting with.
May 04, 2010
 Any more?
by: Rick

Thank you, Peter, for such a quick response. However, I would like to find out a little more detail, as these marks are unlike any imperial ones that I have been able to find. I also wonder how bowls that are, say, between 100 and 250 years old are 'very common'.
May 04, 2010
 fish bowls
by: peter

Hello,

Yes, these are indeed Chinese bowls or plates. The marks show abbreviated characters and are difficult to read, however, these are very common bowls from the later part of the Qing dynasty (1644-1911).

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