One Base Mark Cannot Describe a Whole Piece of Porcelain
A mark must be considered with the vessel’s form, body and glaze, painting and foot rim. Two pieces carrying the same reign mark can differ completely in brushwork, glaze, foot trimming and kiln traces; a cropped photograph of the mark can hide the object itself.
Keep old boxes, stands, labels and family provenance as background. Age and authenticity still require support from the physical details. Do not force off a fixed wooden stand or clean the glaze before photographing it.
Examine the Piece from Outside to Inside
- Form: Record the height, mouth diameter, widest body diameter and foot diameter, noting the proportions and any distortion.
- Body and glaze: Observe the glaze colour, crackle, crawling, bubbles and exposed body. Do not date a piece from one sign of ageing.
- Decoration: Photograph the composition, brushwork, colours and upper and lower borders clearly; do not crop figures or inscriptions.
- Foot rim: Include the foot wall, body trimming, kiln traces and complete mark.
- Condition: Mark every rim chip, hairline, join, area of filled glaze and retouching.
Let Dimensions and Outline Describe the Form
Meiping, yuhuchun, Guanyin bottles, dishes, bowls, censers and scholar's objects have different proportions between mouth, neck, shoulder, body and foot. A phone's wide-angle lens enlarges the nearest area, so step back and zoom in, keeping the lens level with the middle of the piece. Record height, mouth diameter, widest body diameter and foot diameter separately. Photograph a pair together to compare their outlines and dimensions.
Read Body, Glaze and Foot Rim Together
Exposed areas can show the body's colour, texture and trimming direction. Record glaze thickness, runs, crawling, crackle, bubbles and signs of use. These features vary with kiln, vessel type and firing method; no single point dates a piece. A foot photograph should include both sides of the foot wall, the contact surface, kiln grit or firing-pad marks, the inscription and the surrounding glaze.
An inscription's apparent age cannot be separated from the object. After a close-up of the mark, photograph the entire base so its characters, position, glaze and foot trimming remain in context. Retain and photograph any paper label, wax seal, old inventory number or collection label rather than scraping it away.
Antique Porcelain This page brings together the main views to photograph and common vessel types. If a piece has metal fittings, leave them attached to avoid damaging the join.
Photographing Large and Paired Pieces
For a large bottle or jar, first photograph the front, back and both sides, then the rim, neck, body, foot and base mark. Photograph paired pieces together for scale before recording each base and area of damage separately, so details from the two are not confused.
Checking Concealed Cracks and Old Repairs Safely
Hairlines often extend from a rim, handle, foot or existing chip and may disappear under frontal light. Turn the piece slowly in diffused natural light and photograph the line from both inside and outside. Do not tap the piece, fill it with hot water or apply dye to find a crack. Photograph the boundary of any join, filled glaze, overpainting or kintsugi and note looseness, but do not take an old repair apart.
Clear a level route before moving a large piece. Support its base and body with both hands; never lift it by the rim, handles or wooden stand. Secure any loose internal component with soft, acid-free paper. Have another person steady the piece for a base photograph, or leave it upright and record only what is safely visible. Decide on packing only after the dimensions, weight, cracks and fittings have been documented.
Porcelain Records on This Site
- Daoguang Blue-and-White Lotus Scroll Offering Dish
- Qing Dynasty Blue-and-White Porcelain
- Blue-and-White Immortal Landscape Bell Bowl, Jiajing Mark
- Famille Rose Eight Treasures Gu Vase on a Turquoise Ground
- Famille Rose Nine Peaches Tianqiuping Vase, Qianlong Mark
Period and Decoration Guides
- Old Porcelain: Body, Glaze, Marks and Firing Traces
- Kangxi–Qianlong Porcelain: Form, Body, Glaze and Marks
- Chinese Porcelain: Form, Body, Glaze and Condition Checks
What a Photograph Cannot Confirm
Distant photographs may identify the vessel type, mark and visible damage. Glaze texture, the ceramic body, fine overpainting and concealed cracks may still require a physical inspection. Packing and transport should be arranged only after the dimensions are confirmed.
send photographs of the whole piece and its foot rim. Place a soft tape measure beside the piece; never turn it upside down on a hard floor.
