Support antique porcelain before inspecting it
Place the vessel on a clean, padded and stable surface, supporting the body and foot rather than lifting from a rim, handle or applied decoration. Photograph its complete profile before turning it.
Shape and measurements
Record height, maximum width, mouth and foot dimensions with the tool and unit. Keep the measuring points visible and avoid forcing a calliper against fragile glaze.
Body, glaze and decoration
Use neutral front, back, side and overhead views to show the form, exposed body, trimming or firing traces, glaze, painted decoration and any mark. Preserve the orientation of each underside photograph.
Map hairlines from a complete view
Look closely around the rim, handles, joins and foot, where stress may appear. Locate every hairline, chip or glaze loss on the whole vessel before providing a magnified image.
Use diffuse light for colour and low-angle light for shallow cracks, retouching and surface differences. Do not wet the porcelain to make a line more visible.
Distinguish manufacture, wear and repair
A firing line, kiln grit, glaze crawl or trimming trace may belong to production, while impact chips and later hairlines have different evidence. Describe the visible feature before assigning a cause.
Check for adhesive, fill, overpaint, retouching, metal staples or kintsugi around breaks. Leave an uncertain repair open when photographs cannot establish the material or extent.
Hong Kong humidity can encourage mould on packaging and condensation on cool surfaces. Use a stable, ventilated storage area and monitor changes instead of moving porcelain abruptly between hot, cold, wet and dry conditions.
Control moisture rather than chasing a perfect number
Keep the vessel away from direct air-conditioning draughts, heaters, windows and damp walls. Allow an acclimatisation period before opening a cold container in warm humid air.
Let a cold container warm gradually before opening it in humid air, and inspect the wrapping rather than allowing condensation to settle on the glaze.
Do not wash first
Avoid soaking, household cleaners, bleach, steam and rapid heating. Old repairs, porous body and unstable decoration may react unpredictably to water or chemicals.
Loose dust can be photographed before any conservation decision. If removal is necessary, ask what the body, glaze, decoration and repaired areas can safely tolerate.
Use inert padding that contacts broad, sound areas without pressing a rim, handle or repaired join. Never allow one vessel to bear directly against another in a box.
Choose supports and wrapping with the form in mind
Label the outer container and keep a photograph of the packed arrangement. Materials that smell strongly, shed fibres or hold moisture should not touch the porcelain.
Begin with a complete profile, all sides and the underside. Add measurements, body and glaze details, decoration, mark and firing traces with consistent orientation.
Locate every hairline, chip, glaze loss and suspected repair on the overall views. A close-up without position can make a minor flaw impossible to interpret.
Note recent humidity, condensation, mould on packaging or rapid temperature change, but do not claim that climate caused a crack without supporting evidence.
Retain old labels and family accounts separately, then transport the vessel upright in a fitted support with every vulnerable rim, handle or repair identified before movement.
