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Hi people,

I found a bowl at a flea market that I needed some help on here. I have since contacted Sothebys who had a Gentleman contact me confirming it was 18th Century in His opinion. Well, I have been reading about Chinese ceramics and would like to collect Ming and Qing..does anybody with years of knowledge have any pointers or good books I could look up regarding this?

Kind Regards
Nikkei

on the gotheborg.com website, there is a link on the left side of the home page to a webpage of
"100 Best Books" that should get you started.

Um, even limiting to Ming and Qing Dynasties, is very broad.

Could start by going to museums and seeing if there is a type of ceramic you really like.

Can look for museum and society exhibition catalogs for sale, in shops and on internet. Used ones are often not expensive. They often have useful source-book lists. Also well known auctioneers' sale catalogs for after middle 1950s (are more profusely illustrated in color except special ones for special collections).

There are published surveys of large collections in major museums, most have less detailed information about Qing Dynasty especially its last 100 years. Get one and look at its bibliography. Bookseller such as Paragon on line catalog can help you find such books' titles.

Can visit nearest really large library, look at magazines Orientations, Arts of Asia, publications of Oriental Ceramic Society.

Good luck,
Cal

Hi Guys,

Thank you very much for your assistance and being so informative. I shall visit the museums on my return home to London and buy some reading material. If anyone ends up with any nice starter pieces for sale let me know!

Kind Regards
Nikkei

READ (or LOOK at a lot of pictures) before you buy anything. realize that the stuff you see in museums (and leading auction catalogs) is going to be a lot better quality than the cheaper genuine items available from dealers.

Thank you indeed!
I have been viewing fakes and copies pictures yesterday and reading on differences between pastes/glazes etc.
I've read a little on the motifs of certain periods too but only basic stuff.

I would like to buy some bits found in Museums through Nanhai Marine's site as they reflect the a portion of the museum donation- however some bits were mass produced at the time.

Thanks again for your help! This is really great stuff to know!

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