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Water absorption test on old? Chinese pottery - Help needed
Posted By: Tim
Posted Date: Aug 30, 2015 (09:44 AM)
Message
Greetings.

I'm wondering if someone can help provide some insight on specific instructions on how to perform a water absorption test on 'old' Chinese pottery. I would also like to know if there is a time line cut off as to how recently made a piece of pottery can be for the test to work.

In the past, I just wet my finger tip with water, then press my finger to the pottery. If the water spot is quickly absorbed and there was an acidic/earthy smell, then my assumption was that the pottery was at least Tang dynasty or older. Is there a more precise method to doing the test?

Recently, I bought 2 large Chinese archaic designed pottery vessels. Given their large size, overall good quality, unusual design, and abundance of dirt to make them look old, I assume they're fakes. Since they are rather nice to look at, I bought them anyway.

However, when I performed my version of the water absorption test, they passed with flying colors - that is, unless I'm doing it wrong.

Here is a video (taken and narrated by my lovely wife) of me performing the water absorption test.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=stmm39xrLKU&feature=youtu.be

You'll just have to take my word that these large pottery vessels smell 'old'. I have owned a few small Tang figurines which came from reputable galleries in NY and Paris. The smell is distinct and easy to remember, but as I know, fakes can be very convincing now days.

Before I go spending $400 on a TL test with Oxford, I'd like to get some feedback.

All opinions and constructive comments are welcome and greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
Tim






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