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Re: Re: A mighty amazing thread, a nice plate and a nice vase!

Posted By: Bill H.
Posted Date: Mar 14, 2009 (07:14 PM)

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Hi everyone, sorry to leave the thread hanging while on vacation without regular PC access. After perusing the larger photos, I still think the baluster vase is an early 20th century Republic Period product.

This is a subjective opinion, based on subtleties of style and color. It looks to me like someone was attempting to replicate the famille verte palette as it was applied to porcelain during the Tongzhi Period, but with an added subordinate theme (the pendant jewels) that was more prevalent during the early 20th century

It also figures, in my mind at least, that the "average" apocryphal Qianlong mark of the late 19th century (when most apocryphal marks proliferated) was written in standard kaishu script without borders.

This is my opinion, a distillation of my 30 years experience as a collector and student of Chinese and other Asian art. I don't anticipate that everyone, if anyone, will agree with it, because I expect that each of us has arrived at this forum via a different route.

As to the jade qilin, the original evaluation has been validated independently. Besides that, I simply have too much confidence in and respect for the original evaluator to toss out his own or his company's name for the public at large possibly to turn into a target for criticism of a personal nature. Anyone who doesn't understand that rationale is part of the problem I address by observing it. At the same time, if anyone wants to have a field day criticizing the jade qilin based on its own merits, have at it under the proper thread, which I haven't had a chance to check lately.

At last count, I had 25 or 30 pieces of porcelain in that "Rooster & Bridge" pattern, including slight variants with and without "Made in China" markings. As far as I can tell, retail values of these dishes peaked a few years back along much the same curve as sales of Tony's first book, which featured them, but certainly ought to be worth holding onto for their investment value through the current economic downturn. They remain some of the best decorated porcelains among those mass-produced during the early 20th century. And if there's anyone out there who doesn't know, the ones where the bridge is painted in bright orange and yellow enamels (instead of blues) are more modern repros.

And that's all, folks, until I finish this vacation next week. If anyone out there needs to exercise their gums, you're just gonna have to chew on this for the time being! :)

Bill H

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