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Subject:Re: Porcelain Mark Help?
Posted By: Bill H Mon, Jan 09, 2012
I have a low batting average for these zhuanshu seal marks but a fatal attraction to keep taking stabs at them. The base mark here is shown upside down. When flipped, it might be read in Mandarin from the top right downward as 'Han Ji Zhen Cang', which could be translated as 'Precious collection of the Rare and Ingenious (objects)'. I double-checked and couldn't find it in the Davison book either. I'm pretty sure about the 'Zhen Cang' part of this mark, but less certain of 'Han Ji'.
The two painted sides have artwork in the styles of members of the Republic-era school called the 'Eight Friends of Zhushan', and Zhushan (Jingdezhen) is mentioned in the bird and flowers painting. It resembles works by Bi Botao and Xu Zhongnan of the 'Eight Friends' group. The other one of fish swimming amidst water weeds is in the style of their compatriot Deng Bishan. I don't see the names of any of these artists in the inscriptions and don't have time this week to peck through the cursive script to see whose names if any actually might be there. Here's an image of a jar that I believe has authentic Deng Bishan markings.
The 'Eight Friends' are big sellers, and copies of their works about. This piece should be suspected of modernity until proven otherwise.
Best regards,
Bill H.
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