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Subject:Guangxu Tea Caddy/Container
Posted By: Bokaba Sat, Jun 24, 2017 IP: 2605:e000:af16:3b00:

I noticed this small container/tea caddy with an overglaze Jiaqing mark sold recently for about $60. This looks late Qing to me. Is my dating correct or is this a modern fake?

Thank you,

Bokaba







Subject:Re: Guangxu Tea Caddy/Container
Posted By: Bill H Sun, Jun 25, 2017

The painting on this probable contemporary-era Chinese product is meek compared to late-Qing and Republic porcelains with similar themes. Here's an auction result for what I believe is a Republic vase having famille rose lotus and auspicious symbols motif on an acanthus leaf ground, with Jiaqing six-character base mark. Note how the vase's pattern has greater definition and shading, as well as how darker greens help add a third dimension to some of the acanthus scrolls. The eBay piece has more of a one-dimensional look from colors that have simply been brushed between the lines coloring book style; the blue bats literally look like they may be frozen in time.

On both pieces, the details are outlined in black, but on the Republic vase, a conspicuous amount of this outlining has gone missing, some of the black pigment burned off in the kiln where not over-coated by transparent glaze, and some of the rest rubbed away from subsequent handling for the same reason.

The condition of the older volatile black pigment is diagnostical of late-Qing and Republic porcelain. The flat, unblemished look of the eBay tea caddy, compared to the more vibrant "jump-out-at-you" look of the Republic vase, is another obvious clue to the former's more recent manufacture

Best regards,

Bill H.

URL Title :Jiaqing Mark Vase


Subject:Re: Guangxu Tea Caddy/Container
Posted By: Bokaba Mon, Jun 26, 2017

Thanks again Bill. I often miss these subtle details.

Bokaba

Subject:Re: Guangxu Tea Caddy/Container
Posted By: JLim Fri, Sep 08, 2017



Dear Bokaba

The footrim is sort of fascinating. It almost looks like artificial dirt/shading has been added, but has worn off at the corners!

It would be interesting to have a closer look at the "rust spots" on the foot, and to have a feel of the levigation.

Rgds
JLim

Subject:Re: Guangxu Tea Caddy/Container
Posted By: Bill H Fri, Sep 08, 2017

Since further comment has livened the thread, thought I'd add a couple of pictures of this small, 4-inch dish that I always thought might be worthy of its Daoguang mark. In any event, I believe its authentically Qing and can serve as an example of how the period enamels are more brilliant than those on more recent examples.

Best regards,

Bill H.





Subject:Re: Guangxu Tea Caddy/Container
Posted By: JLim Wed, Sep 13, 2017



Dear Bill

It is fascinating how the modern copy has created a more "acceptable" look to the enamels, to modern eyes - it's so smooth and balanced looking. The original enamels look almost "acidic" and candy-like to a modern buyer.

I am also liking having a look at the signature on the foot of the bowl. Compare its typically confident and well-practiced squareness, with the feeble wobbly verticals of the fake. Yet another old time skill that may be unreproducible - at a cost feasible to the fakers, anyway.

Rgds
Jonathan


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