Identifying Marks and Inscriptions
MARKS AND INSCRIPTIONS ON CHINESE PORCELAIN AND POTTERY
Introduction
Identifying Chinese and Japanese Ceramics is more than just looking at the marks and inscriptions. It is very important to see it into the context of multiple things.
- How the porcelain feels to the touch.
- What the weight feels like in your hands.
- How the painting is excecuted as well as the subject of the painting.
- The colour of the glaze, its sheen and thickness.
- The shape and proportions of the piece.
Allot of this is a mather of picking up many pieces and feel many different textures. Only through handling ceramics and looking at them one can truly learn the differences. This is process that takes many years to learn. It is not an exact science.
Many oriental ceramic objects have marks, a mark might declare that the piece was made at a certain period. However, identifying the mark can give a misleading impression of the period the object was made in. For example, there are many pieces of blue and white porcelain with the mark of the Ming emperor Chenghua. He reigned from 1465-1487. So you would be forgiven for thinking you a had piece of Ming porcelain. Many pieces made during the Kangxi period (1662-1722) bare the mark of Chenghua. This was not a question of deception but of reverence to a gold age of porcelain production in China.
On this page I would like to share some of my knowledge into the identification of the marks and inscriptions. It took me many years to learn the different variations and I still learn every day.
Hopefully, by showing the marks as they appear on the objects, it will help give context. Making it easier to understand what type of mark you might expect to find on type of pottery or porcelain.
Song Dynasty 960-1279
Nothern Song Dynasty 960-1127
A Rare Inscribed Northern Song Tile, Probably from the ‘Iron Pagoda’ of Youguosi, Kaifeng Henan Province. The Pottery Wall Tile Glazed in Amber and Green, Decorated with Buddha Surrounded by Bodhisattvas and Disciples. The Side Inscribed in Raised Moulded Script. For a Very Similar but Double Tile Lacking the Inscription See : The British Museum Item OA 1992.2-6.1. The British Museum Entry Further States “Some Pagodas in the Song Dynasty Were Made Entirely of Cast Iron. Pagodas Fully Covered with Brown-Glazed Pottery Tiles had a Similar Visual Effect and are Often Called Iron Pagodas” e our ‘Archive’ for more information, stock number 17462
Southern Song Dynasty 1128-1279
A Contemporary Ink Inscription While Eating.
An Inscribed Song Stoneware Bowl with Incised and Combed Petal Decoration. The Inscription Which is Contemporary With the Bowl Reads ‘While Eating’. This Unusual Inscription Probably Marks this Piece out as a Vessel Used in a Song Dynasty Restaurant.
Provenance :
Gerald Davison.Label to the side C.P. 133.
Literature :
The Handbook of Marks on Chinese Ceramics (Gerald Davison, Han-Shan Tang Books, 1994. ISBN 0-906610-20-6) Illustrated on Page 23 Item 21.
Jin 1115-1234 and Yuan Dynasty 1279 – 1368
A Rare Jiexiu Ware Inscribed Porcelain Bowl from the Jiexiu Kilns in Shanxi Province. The Bowl has Panels Divided by Ribs. The Decoration is Constructed of Raised Lines and Includes Two Inscribed Tablets with Lotus Leaf Tops. The Rare Inscription reads “Porcelain Vessel“. Other Panels Show pairs of Duck, Phoenix and Flowers.
Published :
Chinese Ceramics in the Carl Kempe Collection (Bo Gyllensvard, Almqvist & Wiksell, 1964) Page 137 Plate 433. Drawing of the inscription Page 147.
See our ‘Archive’ or ‘Sold’ for more information, stock number 20375
A Fine Inscribed Jiexiu White Stoneware Bowl from the Jiexiu Kilns in Shanxi Province, Jin or Yuan Dynasty, 12th or 13th Century. As part of the decoration an inscription reading “zhen fu jia kang” meaning ‘veritable happiness and well-being for your family’ is included at an angle.
See our ‘Archive’ or ‘Sold’ for more information, stock number 19509
A Rare Yuan Blue and White Porcelain Stem Cup. Decorated with a Panel of Calligraphy. The Inscription would Seem to Bestow Good Wishes to the User. Exhibited at ; The Oriental Ceramic Society of Hong Kong’s Exhibition of Trade Ceramics, Item 89. Label to the Base and another to the Fitted Box. For a very Similar Inscribed Blue and White Yuan Stem Cup See : Chinese Blue and White Ceramics (S.T. Yeo & Jean Martin,Arts Orientalis,1978) Page 96, Illustrated Plate 2, Item 3.
See our ‘Archive’ or ‘Sold’ for more information, stock number 17615.
An Unidentified None-Chinese Inscription from Yunnan Province.
An Unusual Yuan Pottery Jar and Cover from Yunnan Province. The Body Extensively Inscribed with a Non-Chinese Script. The Inscribed Characters were Added When the Clay was Wet, Some of Which Extended to the Base. A Large Area of the Body Has Fired to a Black Tone. The Cover is Undecorated. For Similar Yuan Pottery Examples See : Offering Vessels of Yunnan (Michael C. Teller IV, TK Asian Antiquities,2004) Pages 36 -37, Items 21-23. The Introduction of the Catalogue States that “A large number of jars have some calligraphy, both Chinese and as yet (an)unidentified script, which bears significant similarities to post 10th century Devanagari, a script used to write sacred Sanskrit texts. Approximately 1% of the jars, however, have script all over the vessel…”.
See our ‘Archive’ for more information, stock number 19093.
Ming Dynasty 1522-1644
JIAJING 1522-1666
A Ming Imperial Yellow Porcelain Dish.
From the beginning of Jiajing’s reign, he was infatuated with young women and Taoist pursuits. He was known to be a cruel and self-aggrandizing emperor and he also chose to reside outside of the Forbidden city in Beijing so he could live in isolation while ignoring state affairs. Jiajing employed incapable individuals such as Zhang Cong and Yan Gao, on whom he thoroughly relied to handle affairs of state. He abandoned the practice of seeing his ministers altogether from 1539 onwards and for a period of almost 25 years refused to give official audiences, choosing instead to relay his wishes through eunuchs and officials. This eventually led to corruption at all levels of the Ming government. Jiajing’s ruthlessness also led to an internal plot by his concubines to assassinate him in 1542 by strangling him while he slept. The plot was ultimately foiled and all of the concubines involved were summarily executed.
See our ‘Archive’ for more information, stock number 16895
Jiajing Six Character Mark and of the Period.
Jiajing 1522 – 1566, Large Ming Porcelain Bowl. The Bowl is Decorated with a Extensive Landscape With Three Scholars and their Attendants with Pavilions and Mountains. The Well of the Bowl is Decorated with ‘The Three Friends of Winter’ (Pine, Bamboo, and Prunus). The Base with a Jiajing Six Character mark and of the Period.
See our ‘Archive’ for more information, stock number 16905
Jiajing Six Character Mark and of the Period.
A Ming Blue and White Porcelain Shallow Bowl. Decorated with Fish on the Cavetto, a Crane Between Two Egrets to the Well and Repeated ‘Shou’ Characters to the Everted Rim.
Provenance : Robert McPherson Antiques. The John Drew Collection.
See our ‘Archive’ for more information, stock number 18550
Jiajing Six Character Mark and of the Period.
A Ming Blue and White Porcelain kiln Waster. This Base of a Bowl is Painted with a Male figure with a Deer.
See our ‘Archive’ for more information, stock number 29.
An Ming Imperial Yellow Porcelain Bowl.
For a Jiajing Imperial Yellow Bowl of the Same Size See : Christie’s New York, Fine Chinese Furniture, Ceramics and Works of Art, 20th September 2001. Lot 379.
For a Similar but Smaller Jiajing Imperial Yellow Bowl From the Cunliffe Collection See : Phillip’s, Bond Street, London, 13th June 2001. Lot 240.
Provenance : Robert McPherson Antiques. The John Drew Collection.
See our ‘Archive’ for more information, stock number 18546
Jiajing Six Character Mark and of the Period.
A Ming Blue and White Porcelain Jar.
Provenance : Robert McPherson Antiques. The John Drew Collection.
APOCRYPHAL JIAJING MARKS AND LATER MARKS COPYING JIAJING
Apocryphal marks are frequently encountered on Chinese porcelain particularly on Kangxi Blue and White Porcelain, the mark of the Ming Emperor Chenghua who reigned from 1465 to 1487 being by far the most common, other Ming marks include Jiajing (1522-1566) and less frequently Wanli (1573-1620). These marks were not normally added to the piece to deceive, but more as a sign of reverence to earlier potters of the Ming dynasty (1368-1644). Occasionally they are used on pieces copying Ming Porcelain, these objects were probably made for collectors who could not afford the Ming original. Tianqi (1621-1627) appears to be the earliest period for such an apocryphal mark.
Some Chongzhen and Shunzhi apocryphal marks copying Jiajing marks are very well draw, the calligraphy can be bold and confident, so occasionally these pieces are confused with genuine Jiajing mark and period porcelain.
The Base with a Apocryphal Jiajing Mark (1522-1566).
A Fine Transitional Porcelain Cup, Late Ming Dynasty (Chongzhen 1628-1644) or Very Early Qing Dynasty (Shunzhi 1644-1661) c.1640-1650. Decorated in a Rich Cobalt Blue with Two Dragons with Lotus Coming from their Mouths and Buddhist Emblems.
See our ‘Archive’ for more information, stock number 19042.
The Base with an Apocryphal Jiajing Six Character Mark.
A Shunzhi Porcelain Dish. Late Transitional Porcelain c.1650-1660. Thickly Potted of Shallow Form. Decorated in Blue and White with the ‘Eight Horses’ of Mu Wang within a Landscape. The Base with a Jiajing Six Character Mark.
See our ‘Archive’ for more information, stock number 18594.
An Apocryphal Jiajing Mark, Kangxi Period 1662-1722.
A Fine Kangxi Porcelain Bowl. Decorated with Egrets Standing in Water Among Flowering Lotus Plants. The Base with a Jiajing Mark (Ming 1522-1566).
See our ‘Archive’ for more information, stock number 18705
LONGQING 1567 – 1572
Four Character Longqing Mark and of the Period 1567 – 1572.
Longqing mark and period porcelain is rare, the marks are not particularly well painted and they are normally rather small. They are nearly always a four character mark, they do not seem to have been copied except by modern fakers.
Longqing (March 4, 1537- July 5, 1572) was the 12th Emperor of China (Ming dynasty) and Reigned between 1567-1572. Born Zhu Zaihou, he was the Jiajing Emperor’s son. Realizing the depth of chaos his father’s long reign had caused, Longqing set about reforming the government and employing talented officials in the hope of mending the situation. He reinstigated trade with other empires in Europe, Africa and other parts of Asia and also reinforced border security, nominating several generals to patrol the borders by land and on sea. This included the fortification of seaports along the Zhejiang and Fujian coast to deter pirates, a constant nuisance during the Jiaqing emperor’s reign. Emperor Longqing died in 1572 after a short reign of only 6 years and was succeeded by his son. He is generally considered one of the more liberal and open-minded emperors of the Ming dynasty. Unfortunately, the country was still in decline due to corruption in the ruling class. The emperor Longqing was buried in Zhaoling.
A Rare Ming Porcelain Dish, Four Character Longqing Mark and of the Period. Decorated with Three ‘Chilong’ Dragons in Blue and White, the Center with ‘Anhua’ Decorated ‘Lingzhi’ Fungus.
Provenance :
Philip’s Bond Street, Chinese and Japanese Porcelain, 19th November 1999, Lot 6.
Robert McPherson Antiques.
The John Drew Collection.
A Longqing Dish of this Pattern was Exhibited in Germany See : Ming-Porzellane in Schwedischen Sammlungen (Berlin and Leipzig 1935) Collection of H.Lauritzen, Stockholm.
See our ‘Archive’ for more information, stock number 18597
- Gerald Reitlinger (1900- 1978)Everyone was now in such a muddle that there was a sort of gentleman’s agreement not to talk about it any more
WANLI 1573 – 1620
Wanli Six Character Mark with the Inclusion of ‘Beautiful Vessel for Jade Hall’ Wanli nian zhi Yu Tang Jia Qi.
A Rare Wanli Blue and White Porcelain Bowl. The Base with a Wanli Mark Incorporating Yu Tang Jia Qi (Beautiful Vessel for Jade Hall). This Thinly Potted Wanli Porcelain Bowl is of Circular Form with a Slightly Everted Rim and Curved Sides, it is Covered by a Pale Blue-Grey Tinged Glaze, the Interior Painted in Fine Bright Underglaze Cobalt Blue with a Double Circle Enclosing a Medallion of Flowering Branches of Peony, the Underside Encircled Alternately by Roundels Enclosing Flowering Sprays and Fruiting Sprays Among Cloud Scrolls.
This rare mark, a standard Wanli six character mark with the inclusion of ‘Beautiful Vessel for Jade Hall’ Wanli nian zhi Yu Tang Jia Qi is very neatly painted unlike marks on none-imperial Wanli porcelain. The present example is almost certainly imperial, the addition of the hall mark within the Wanli reign mark might not denote that this bowl was made for a specific imperial hall.
Ming Wilson explains in ‘Rare Marks on Chinese Ceramics’ when discussing a Wanli bowl with a eight character mark that includes the characters meaning ‘for use in the Hall of Pure loyalty’ that the bowl was made for an official at court. The name ‘Hall of Pure loyalty’ was bestowed by Wanli on the high ranking official Zhang Juzheng (1525-1582). So it is quite possible the present example was also made for a high ranking official at the imperial court, however it is also possible the hall mark does indeed denote the place which the bowl was destined for.
Gerald Reitlinger (1900- 1978)
Regarding porcelain reign marks and dating (1881):
‘Everyone was now in such a muddle that there was a sort of gentleman’s agreement not to talk about it any more.’
From our ‘History’ section, see ;
CHINESE PORCELAIN
25 YEARS OF UNSCHOLARY COLLECTING:
An Entertainment and an Anthology of Scholars’ Taste.
by D.R Laurence MD, 2003
For a pair Wanli dishes with the mark discussed above see : Rare Marks on Chinese Ceramics, A Joint Exhibition from the Percival David Foundation of Chinese Art and the Victoria and Albert Museum (Ming Wilson, School of Oriental and African Studies in association with Victoria and Albert Museum. 1998. ISBN 0-7286-0290-3) pages 48 and 49 as well as the introduction.
See our ‘Archive’ for more information, stock number 20396
This extensively inscribed Ming blue and white stele is dated to the thirty-sixth year of Wanli (1609) and the day equivalent to November 2nd. The inscriptions on the front and back show that Cheng Bozhong had passed the Imperial Examinations, he had a family, their names are also noted.
A Rare Dated Ming Blue and White Porcelain Stele. Dated to November 2nd 1609. Constructed of a Rectangular Porcelain Slab with a Flange that Inserts into a Brick Form Base. Ming blue and white porcelain stele are very rarely found outside museum collections.
Provenance :
The Museum of Art and Far Eastern Antiquities in Ulricehamn Sweden.
Published :
Chinese Ceramic Treasures, A Selection From Ulricehamn East Asian Museum, Including The Carl Kempe Collection (National Museum of Art and Far Eastern Antiquities in Ulrichenhamn, Sweden, 2002.ISBN 91-971367-4-3)Pages 250 and 251. Both sides illustrated in colour with a full translation into Swedish.
See our ‘Archive’ for more information, stock number 20396
Wanli Six Character Mark and of the Period.
A Ming Porcelain Dish. Wanli Six Character Mark and of the Period. Decorated in Blue and White with a Medallion Comprising Four ‘Ruyi’ heads Around a Flower Head.
For a Wanli Mark and Period Dish of this Pattern and Size See : Sotheby’s London, Fine Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art, 11th June 1991. Lot 157.
Provenance :
Sotheby’s, Fine Chinese Ceramics, Bronzes and Works of Art, London 7th December 1993.
Robert McPherson Antiques.
The John Drew Collection.
See our ‘Archive’ for more information, stock number 18558
A Small Imperial Ming Blue and White Porcelain Saucer Shape Dish. Six Character Wanli Mark and of the Period. Decorated in a Deep Cobalt Blue With a Plant With Three ‘Ruyi’ Shaped Ends and a Border of Fruiting Branches, The Reverse Decorated With Flowers.
See our ‘Archive’ for more information, stock number 17503
A Saucer Dish, Ming Dynasty. The Base with a Six Character Wanli Mark and of the Period (1573-1620). Decorated with a Scholar in a Landscape Seated Under a Pine Tree with Two Attendants, One of whom is Offering a Book. To the Left Can be Seen Tops of Buildings with Clouds Around them. The Scholar is Seated Next to a Prunus Tree, with a Small Amount of Bamboo in the Foreground, While a large Pine Tree Shades Him. These Three Plants, Pine, Bamboo and Prunus, are Referred to as ‘The Three Friends of Winter’. The Base with a Six Character Wanli Mark and of the Period (1573-1620) to the Center, the Rim with Branches of Flowers and Fruit.
See our ‘Archive’ for more information, stock number 18909.
A Small Ming Porcelain Bowl. Wanli Six Character Mark and of the Period. Finely Decorated with Buddhist ‘Treasures’. Painted in a Silvery Blue (Popular at the End of the 16th century).
For a Wanli Mark and Period Dish of this Pattern See ; Christie’s Hong Kong, The Christina Loke Balsara Collection of Fine Chinese Ceramics, 19th January 1988. Lot 258.
Provenance : Robert McPherson Antiques. The John Drew Collection.
See our ‘Archive’ for more information, stock number 18541
A Fine Ming Blue and White Porcelain Dish. Wanli Six Character Mark and of the Period. Decorated with Kylin and a Tiger in a Landscape.
For a Wanli Mark and Period Dish of this Size and Pattern From the Riesco Collection that was Exhibited at the O.C.S. Exhibition of Chinese Blue and White Porcelain, 14th to 19th Centuries (1953, Catalogue Number 173) See : Sotheby’s Fine Chinese Ceramics, Bronzes and Works of Art, London, 11th December 1984. Lot 327.
Provenance : Robert McPherson Antiques. The John Drew Collection.
See our ‘Archive’ for more information, stock number 18531
Rare Shaded Double-Gourd Mark, Wanli Period. An Unusual Ming Blue and White Porcelain Dish, Wanli c.1580. Decorated with a Mountainous Landscape to the Center and a Border of Water Birds (Probably Egrets) Among Lotus. The Base with a Rare Shaded Double-Gourd Mark.
See our ‘Archive’ for more information, stock number 20906
TIANQI 1621 – 1627
Tianqi Mark and of the Period (1621-1627) porcelain is unusual. It normally shows a poorly drawn four character mark which should in most, if not all circumstances, be seen as none imperial. Six character marks were also produced, a few could possibly be imperial but Tianqi’s reign is at the very end of the Ming dynasty when imperial patronage stopped. The potters of this period found new clients among the scholar classes as well as making fine pieces for export. The pieces illustrated here were made for the Japanese market.
A Tianqi Mark and Period (1621-1627) Ko-Sometsuke Dish Made for the Japanese Market. Painted in Blue and White with a Scholar Sitting Under a Willow Tree.
Provenance :
R & G McPherson Antiques.
The John Drew Collection of Chinese and Japanese ceramics.
Exhibited :
Ostasiatiska Museet. Ulst.1964. Nr 102.
Published :
Ming Blue and White from Swedish Collections by Jan Wirgin. (Östasiatiska museets utställningskatalog nr 1)
See our ‘Archive’ or ‘Sold’ for more information, stock number 20702.
A Rare Tianqi Blue and White Porcelain Censer, the Base with a Six Character Tianqi (1621-1627) Mark and of the Period. Probably Made for the Tea Ceremony.
This rare late Ming Porcelain incense burner, known as a Koro in Japan, is part of a group of pieces made during the first half of the 17th century for use during the Japanese tea ceremony. It is a rare form and a Tianqi mark is very unusual on shaped vessels. This mark is one of the more unusual Ming Porcelain marks but when it is encountered, it is nearly always found on small serving dishes.
See our ‘Archive’ or ‘Sold’ for more information, stock number 19833.
An Unusual Late Ming Wucai Dish. Tianqi Four Character Mark and of the Period.
See our ‘Archive’ or ‘Sold’ for more information, stock number 18603.
A Rare Dated Ming Porcelain Dish. Sketchily Painted with Four Central Characters Reading ‘Tianqi Qinian’ ; Tianqi 7th Year (corresponding to 1628). For a Pair of Very Similar Ming Dishes Also Dated 1628 See : Christie’s London, Fine Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art, December 10th 1990. Lot 161. Provenance : Robert McPherson Antiques. The John Drew Collection.
See our ‘Archive’ or ‘Sold’ for more information, stock number 18535.
CHONGZHEN 1628-1644
Chongzhen mark and period porcelain is exceptionally rare. Occasionally inscribed pieces like the present example with a date corresponding to 1640 are found, these are never the less very rare too. These pieces are none imperial and were normally dated as part of a dedication to a temple or other building. The inscriptions typically read made during the 12 year of the reign of Chongzhen for example.
A Rare Chongzhen (1628-1644) Porcelain Jar Dated 1640. Decorated with an Open Landscape Scroll, a Vase of Flowers and other Objects. Dated by Inscription to 1640.
Provenance : Christie’s London, Feb. 1979 Lot 52. A Private English Collection. R & G McPherson Antiques. The John Drew Collection. Illustrated in : The Hatcher Porcelain Cargo’s (Colin Sheaf and Richard Kilburn, Phaidon 1988).
See our ‘Archive’ or ‘Sold’ for more information, stock number 18632
MING DYNASTY 1368 – 1644. OTHER MARKS
A Very Rare Inscribed Porcelain Kiln Waster, Probably Ming Dynasty (1368-1644).
Made for testing the quality of the clay this fragment is inscribed ‘5th August Yu Tian Shun Shop 1st Try For Testing the Clay’. This base appears to be inscribed in cobalt, but because the piece hasn’t been glazed it has remained a brownish black rather than firing blue. The footrim has not been cut, it has been left as a solid. This kiln waster probably comes from Jingdezhen, the Yu Tian Shun workshop would have been one of the very many workshops within Jingdezhen.
See our ‘Archive’ for more information, stock number 18045
An Unusual Large Ming Dynasty Inscribed Pottery Ridge Tile c.1500-1640. Probably Shanxi Province. The Base of the Mounted Figure of a Warrior is Inscribed Under the Glaze “Ma Chiu”. This is Probably the Name of the Rider, a Historical Chinese Character.
Provenance : (According to the old label on the base of the fitted stand) Stuart Earl of Morey Viscount of Findhorn. The Label states that there were two such figures. We sold the other one many years ago.
See our ‘Archive’ or ‘Sold’ for more information, stock number 19065.
“Fine Vessel for the Jade Hall” :
This four character mark found on some late Ming porcelain was very popular during the Shunzhi Period of 1644 – 1661. It frequently occurs on a group of thickly potted saucer shaped dishes of a type that was popular during Shunzhi`s reign. According to Michael Butler (Shunzhi Porcelain, Treasures from an Unknown Reign, Butler, Curtis and little, University of Washington Press,2002) Terese Tse Bartholomew in her book Myths and Rebuses in Chinese Art refers to “Jade Hall” as a wealthy establishment, and also an elegant name for the Hanlin Acadamy, an official bureau made up of scholars who had attained the highest degrees (politically relevant since the jinshi degree was reinstated by the new regime in 1646.