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Re: Re: Re: Could this be IMPERIAL???

Posted By: Bill H
Posted Date: Oct 01, 2010 (01:58 AM)

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Tim, I bought my copy at the museum in Taipei in 1987. I believe it is out of print, but you may be able to find a used copy at a major source such as Paragon Book Gallery in Chicago [www.paragonbook.com] or even book auctions on eBay.

The name is 'Catalog of the Special Exhibition of K'ang-hsi, Yung-cheng and Ch'ien-Lung Porcelain Ware from the Ch'ing Dynasty in the National Palace Museum' published by the National Palace Museum, Wai-shuang-hsi, Shi-lin, Taipei. There is no ISBN.

In my opinion, your vase doesn't particularly have a Qianlong oomph to it but is a decent Republic or slightly later example of that most common of Chinese themes, the 'Flower & Bird painting' {hua niao tu). I'm not sure your vase is so early, but the clerical style of Chinese script was popular on porcelain during the first few years of the Republic and especially around the Hongxian period (1915-16), although most of the Qianlong marks of this type seem to have been blue & white.

While you're ordering books, if you don't have them, you would do well to round up copies of 'The Great Fortune' and 'Vom Schatz der Drachen' [From the Dragon's Treasure], both of which works are catalogs of the late acclaimed porcelain collector Georg Weishaupt. They are required reading for anyone who hopes to appreciate late Qing and Republic porcelains. Both have images of the marks on most of the porcelains described.

There appears to be no artist signature in the inscription on your vase, just poetic verse and ersatz seals. However, it may be that your bidders think they recognize the style of some famous Republic porcelain painter. Mainland China discussion groups debate the nuances of such pieces intensely. As has been pointed out, there also are a lot of recreational bidders around eBay who get their kicks out of bidding high and not paying.

Good luck,

Bill H.

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