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Chinese Blue and White Ginger Jar, Late Qing to Republic Period Style

A Chinese blue and white porcelain jar with a lid and a four-character Kangxi reign mark on the base. - view 1
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Estimated value

$80 - $250

Rarity

Ordinary(3/10)

Era

Late 19th to early 20th century (circa 1890-1940)

Origin

🇨🇳 China

Authenticity

Uncertain(35%)
19

CHINESE BLUE AND WHITE GINGER JAR, LATE QING TO REPUBLIC PERIOD STYLE: IDENTIFICATION

A porcelain baluster-form jar with a domed lid featuring a Buddhist lion (shishi) finial. The body is decorated in underglaze blue with four lobed panels containing figures and floral motifs, separated by vertical lines and topped with bat (fu) designs. The base bears a four-character underglaze blue reign mark in kaishu script.

Compare with other ceramic pieces in the archive: Alabaster Urn-Shaped Vase, Han Dynasty Style Glazed Ceramic Boar Figurine, Chinese Blue and White 'Three Friends of Winter' Stem Cup, Ming Style.

CROSS-CULTURAL PARALLELS

Where This Object Echoes

Dutch Delftware1650-1750

17th-century European potters mimicked these exact blue and white Chinese designs to meet high domestic demand.

Ritual & Ceremonial Use

  • •Historically used in domestic scholars' studios for storing ginger, tea, or spices.

Meaning Through Time

Ming to Qing

Transitioned from strictly functional storage to highly decorative objects collected for their symbolic motifs.

PRODUCTION & FIRING

The four-character mark reads 'Kangxi Nian Zhi' (Made during the Kangxi reign), referencing the 1662-1722 period. However, the shorthand kaishu calligraphy style and the specific cobalt saturation are consistent with production from the late 19th century through the mid-20th century. During this ...
The four-character mark reads 'Kangxi Nian Zhi' (Made during the Kangxi reign), referencing the 1662-1722 period. However, the shorthand kaishu calligraphy style and the specific cobalt saturation are consistent with production from the late 19th century through the mid-20th century. During this era, Jingdezhen kilns frequently used apocryphal Kangxi marks on export wares as a tribute to the high artistic standards of the 17th century.

SCARCITY

Ordinary40-55%
CommonLegendary

Standard antiques commonly found at estate sales and flea markets. Plentiful supply meets modest demand.

Rarity 3/10. Curiosa currently catalogues 173 ceramics items at rarity 3 or higher.

Typical Characteristics

  • Moderate production runs
  • Common at estate sales
  • Entry-level collectibles

Confidence Factors

  • The mark is apocryphal, representing a later production date than the 17th-century reign it cites.
  • Simplified brushwork in the facial features of the figures is typical of late Qing/Republic export production.
  • Recent mass-produced reproductions of this specific style are common in the current market.

Expert review recommended. Consider consulting a specialist before making purchasing decisions.

How does authenticity detection work?

CERAMICIST'S ASSESSMENT

Asian Art Specialist

East Asian Art Expert

Identification of the era and mark status is straightforward based on visible calligraphy and motifs, though modern reproduction cannot be 100% ruled out without examining the clay body in person.

KEY EVIDENCE

  • 1Underglaze blue cobalt shows characteristic 'heaping and piling' mimics found in later 19th-century wares.
  • 2Four-character kaishu mark 'Kangxi Nian Zhi' is written in a hurried style inconsistent with 17th-century imperial workshops.
  • 3The finial construction and specific 'bat' border motifs are diagnostic of late-period Jingdezhen export porcelain.
  • 4Pitting and iron spots in the glaze indicate a traditional wood-fired kiln but lack the extreme refinement of early Qing porcelain.

UNCERTAINTIES

  • •Damage to the lid reduces the value significantly for serious porcelain collectors.
  • •The mark is definitely apocryphal; the object is approximately 100-130 years old, not 300.
  • •The drawing of the figures is somewhat crude compared to mid-Qing standards.

WHAT WOULD IMPROVE CERTAINTY

  • →Provide a high-resolution close-up of the unglazed footrim to check clay texture and orange oxidation.
  • →Take a photo of the interior of the jar to examine potting rings and glaze thickness.
  • →Measure the exact height in centimeters to compare with standard archival sizes for ginger jars.

CONDITION & GRADE

Condition

Significant chips are visible on the edge of the lid. The footrim shows surface dirt and expected shelf wear for a piece of this age. Some losses to the finish of the finial are evident.

Weight & feel

The potting appears moderately thick, suggesting a weight of approximately 400-600 grams for a jar of this size range (estimated 15-20 cm).

CERAMICS MARKET VALUE

$80 - $250

Updated: May 11, 2026

Who buys this

General antique collectors and those interested in late-dynastic Chinese export ceramics.

What increases value

  • •The presence of the original lid increases value despite the damage.
  • •Clear, legible reign mark and classic blue-and-white color palette.

What lowers value

  • •Visible chips on the lid rim significantly impact the high-end secondary market value.
  • •Generic motif lacking specific narrative or 'Master of the Rocks' style refinement.

What makes top-tier examples

  • •Vibrant 'sapphire' blue cobalt.
  • •Six-character mark instead of four.
  • •Flawless condition of the finial and lid rim.

Grade & condition

Condition of the lid, clarity of the mark, and absence of hairline cracks in the body.

Rarity & demand

OrdinaryModerate demandModerate liquidity
Browse similar ceramics objects

For informational purposes only, not a formal appraisal.

FROM THE CABINET OF

BR

bruinsma
The Connoisseur•59 items

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