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Question about a chinese vase

by Luciano
(Rome)

Hello,
I have bought this vase in porcelain with lots of interesting figures and a mark in the bottom.
I would like to know something more about all these figures and also, possibly, the meaning of the mark.
It seems not recently made and, even with a cute magnifier for watchmen, I do not see dots: but, nevertheless, it doesn't seem hand painted. May you suggest a possible technique?
I hope in your kind and expert help.
Thanks a lot and greetings from Rome,
Luciano

Comments for Question about a chinese vase

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decoration
by: peter

Luciano, the decoration on the neck depicts banana leaves. The one on the shoulder near the neck shows a Ruyi decoration, and the band along the bottom is a stylized lotus petal decoration.

The other objects are a bit difficult to explain. There are branches with plum blossoms, but much of the other are what the Chinese call 博古圖 (Bogu-tu), depicting objects associated to scholars, study (studios), a censer, etc., all considered objects expressing refinement.
Thank you so much for your kind reply
by: Luciano

Hello Peter,
thank you so much for your kind reply.
I agree with you: this is a transfer printing. I am sorry to know that also the mark was probably added for decoration only.
By the way, please, have you any news about those figures all around the vase?
Regards,
Luciano
vase
by: peter

Hi Luciano,
I believe with "dots" you mean the tiny printed dots of raster printing? There is an older method called transfer printing which will not create dots. I don't know if there is another one for porcelain.

Anyway, you are right that it looks printed. The mark is written incorrectly too. It was probably added for decoration only.

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