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I'm not sure what I have here, but would like to appreciate it and have a little more information on what I have now in my home. It's a pretty big vase (I think) at about a foot tall. Is it just a mass production or something with a story to it?

Thanks in advance for your help.

As the interior motif implies, you have a fishbowl, one that was transfer-decorated on a Chinese blank, replete with Qianlong stamp. This work was done around the third quarter of the 20th century in what was then the Portuguese enclave of Macao, now returned to China, in the mouth of the Pearl River estuary south of Guangzhou. Most people would use the item nowadays as a cachepot or planter. It is of decorative value only.

If you'd like to see further information on Macao porcelain-painting factories and their products, just query the name Macao and its alternate transcription of Macau in the forum search engine. Altogether you'll get over 200 replies for your effort.

Macao has produced some respectable and monumental decorative ceramics since a number of Mainland China factories relocated there and to nearby Hong Kong to escape Civil War and the advent of World War II, beginning in the 1930's. However, as far as I know, none of these products appear to have gained enough "treasure" status to make headway in major auction circuits yet.

Best Regards,

Bill H.

Thank you both for your help.

mass produced decorative bowl with a reign mark added referring to the Qianlong emperor, which has been added to many ceramic and other items in the years since his reign in the 18th century.

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