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Dear friends,

I�m totally novice in collecting Chinese old ceramics and pottery. My goal is to start a small collection of mingqi from all dynasties.

Easy to say, hard to do. I really can�t afford to buy it in an auction house or to a specialized expert dealer. It�s, most of the time, really expensive. I really don�t say it don�t worth the price, of course, but I suppose it�s possible to find mingqui � in poor condition for example � at a lower price.

I think that�s a good way to start a collection.

So I searched a lot on Ebay to find an affordable dealer which can be �more or less - trusted. I eliminated all dealers from China or any dealers which sell �too nice things at a too low price to be truth�.

I found a dealer (pseudo �Jimmy77888�), based in US, specialized in broken Chinese antiques at a very low price. His feedback is very positive. All the items he is selling looks old, but not too nice to be real. I contacted several people who bought him items, and all were confident about authenticity of what they received.

I made a first small buy (three liao dynasty tsa-tsa ) and I was very happy about it. Of course, I really don�t know it�s old or not. But I checked it within an archaeological dealer who had a few tsa-tsa, and I can say the color, technic used and small defaults are the same. But good copy or real vintage, who can say ?

Now I ordered on ebay a few mingqi from this dealer. I let you appreciate them with theses photos. The price is very cheap, only 30 $ each and are supposed to be from tang dynasty. I don�t know what to think about it � When I look what sells other expert dealers it�s much more expensive (around 250 $ each) but much nicer also and not broken !

So, what do you think about it ? Do you think it�s a trusted seller ? Or does he sells fakes ?

I am by far not an expert but I would say, there is a good chance this is fake. In fact, you may want to check out our antiques blog on this very topic - we actually have a video showing how these items are being made. The blog is at http://www.acf-china.com/blog/

URL Title :A blog about chinese antiques

Fred
It is the old story, don't trust anyone. People thinking that their pieces are antique is not equal to scholars who study the material for many years. To start out with fakes is good, because you have study material. On eBay most dealers know exactly what they are doing, and giving away good pieces for little money is not one of their hobbies.
Ernest

First, let me say that I have dealt with this eBay dealer for some years. I have always found his goods "as described". If he is selling a reproduction of a Tang or Ming grave figure, he says that's what they are. His English is sometimes romantic, but I have always found him to be honest and fair.

For example, he always highlights in the description and the photographs any faults or repairs.

The goods he sells may not be the finest Imperial pieces, but the old ones are good honest pieces, which allow more people to actually handle and study the glazes, clay bodies and details of old ceramics. And they suit me as the focus of my principal study is the 'mingyao' ceramics of China - the bowls and dishes used by the ordinary people rather than the courtiers of the Imperial household.

Also, as I said in my posting in the Forum to this same question, when a piece arrived accidentally broken, he immediately and without question sent a replacement. I don't think you can expect that from the average dealer!

Bonjour Fred,

I have been looking at this dealer, who was not on my list of "favorite sellers" before.
He is now.
In his numerous pieces and objects he have for sale, I have not seen any obvious fake. On the contrary.
I even bought 5 pieces from him last week and will be able to tell you more once I receive them.

Best regards,
Pierre.

Thank you very much for your precious answers.

Pierre > what are the other ebay dealers you're dealing with ?

Hi Fred,

It is a little bit delicate to mention names, simply because you can never be sure.

I believe just about every dealer, ebay or not, have some good pieces and some bad one.

The area of interest you have is about the same as mine.
I used to observed for years a few Ebay dealers, with good reputation, specialised in mingyao, and I found some fakes and some deliberate misleading descriptions within their inventory.
That goes for authors on authentication books and active members of this forum as well.(a lire entre les lignes!!!)

Every year or two I send a few pieces to the lab. to check on authenticity and guess what..., the only dealer that never failed is a Chinese one from Shanghai.
Unfortunately this dealer is not selling those kind of things on Ebay anymore and recycled himself/herself into antique furnitures.

All I can say is, be very careful.

Best regards,
Pierre.

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