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Subject:Help Identify Vase and Markings
Posted By: Jerry Thu, Dec 06, 2018 IP: 24.209.216.178

I purchased this vase at an estate sale. It seems to be a very good quality, but I don't know how to tell the age or the meaning of the markings. Help would be appreciated.





Subject:Re: Help Identify Vase and Markings
Posted By: Bill H Fri, Dec 07, 2018

I've never owned a slip-decorated vase like this one but infer from the spotty fading of the blue mark of "Made during the Yongzheng Period of the Great Qing Dynasty" that it was applied using a printed decal. The foot also appears to have been manually smoothed and to have picked up a tinge of color in the kiln. These clues suggest the piece may have been made during China's Republic period (1912-1949), in my opinion.

Best regards,

Bill H.

Subject:Re: Help Identify Vase and Markings
Posted By: Jerry Sun, Dec 09, 2018

Thank You Bill H.
The Blue Mark is actually under the glaze, so I suspect that the spotty fading has been there since it was made. Also, one thing that is not visible from the pictures are fine grooves around the circumference all the way up and down the vase. Could this mean that this was turned and not from a mold?

Subject:Re: Help Identify Vase and Markings
Posted By: Bill H Mon, Dec 10, 2018

Slip decoration isn't the same process as slip-casting, but another way of applying a motif to the exterior of a ceramic vase using a thick form of glaze to achieve a tactile raised pattern. In Japan, the process is called "Moriage". Your vase may well have been turned.

Also, transfer decoration, in particular blue & white, is usually found under the glaze. The link shows a Japanese Yamatoku dish with underglaze blue decoration and one of its two marks made by a blue transfer. Note how the blue in the mark has a "flow" about it. This is the basis of the term "Flow Blue", associated early on with the English "Willow" pattern, based on the Chinese "Nanking" design. BTW, the British invented the process for transfer-printing of ceramics in the late 18th century. The Dutch soon picked it up from the Brits and passed it along in short order to their trading partners in Japan, where the process is now considered to be an art form.

Best regards,

Bill H.

URL Title :Yamatoku


Subject:Re: Help Identify Vase and Markings
Posted By: Jerry Tue, Dec 11, 2018

Thank You, Bill H.
Your insight is greatly appreciated.


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