Skip to main content
Curiosa
Sign InTry a scan

Blue and White Porcelain Small Bowl with Apocryphal Chenghua Mark

A small blue and white Chinese porcelain bowl with floral motifs and a six-character Ming dynasty style mark on the base. - view 1
1/2

Estimated value

$150 - $450

Rarity

Average(4/10)

Era

Late 19th to early 20th century

Origin

🇨🇳 China

Authenticity

Uncertain(35%)
4

BLUE AND WHITE PORCELAIN SMALL BOWL WITH APOCRYPHAL CHENGHUA MARK: IDENTIFICATION

Small porcelain bowl featuring underglaze cobalt blue decoration. The interior cavetto is decorated with four floral sprays surrounding a central pinwheel-style floral medallion within double circles. The exterior depicts matching abstracted floral motifs and stylized clouds. The base features a six-character apocryphal mark in a double square reading 'Da Ming Chenghua Nian Zhi'. The body shows a high-white translucent paste with a smooth, slightly oily glaze characteristic of late 19th to early 20th-century Jingdezhen production.

Compare with other ceramic pieces in the archive: Chinese Blue and White Porcelain 'Dragon and Phoenix' Charger, Blue and White Phoenix Ewer, Underglaze Blue Floral Bowl bearing Xuande Mark.

PRODUCTION & FIRING

While the base mark references the Chenghua reign (1465-1487) of the Ming Dynasty, the calligraphy style and glaze consistency suggest this is a 'guanyang' or 'after the style of' production from the late Qing Dynasty to the early Republic Period (circa 1880-1920). During this era, Jingdezhen ...
While the base mark references the Chenghua reign (1465-1487) of the Ming Dynasty, the calligraphy style and glaze consistency suggest this is a 'guanyang' or 'after the style of' production from the late Qing Dynasty to the early Republic Period (circa 1880-1920). During this era, Jingdezhen potters frequently applied Chenghua marks as a tribute to the 'golden age' of porcelain, a practice documented by auction houses like Sotheby's and Christie's for domestic and export wares.

SCARCITY

Average55-70%
CommonLegendary

Typical antique shop fare. Requires some searching but regularly available. This is where most genuine antiques fall.

Rarity 4/10. Curiosa currently catalogues 101 ceramics items at rarity 4 or higher.

Typical Characteristics

  • Standard antique shop items
  • Regularly available
  • Moderate collector interest

Confidence Factors

  • The Chenghua mark is apocryphal and does not match 15th-century imperial calligraphy standards.
  • The bright white paste is characteristic of 19th-century industrial refinement rather than 15th-century 'mushy' paste.
  • The precision of the inner double-circle line suggests modern or late-period centering techniques.

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

How does authenticity detection work?

CERAMICIST'S ASSESSMENT

Ceramics Historian & Kiln Specialist

Ceramics Expert

Identification is based on well-documented mark styles and glaze characteristics from Jingdezhen, though the distinction between late 19th and early 20th century is difficult without physical handling.

KEY EVIDENCE

  • 1Apocryphal 6-character Chenghua mark in double square.
  • 2Underglaze cobalt blue floral decoration with mid-range saturation.
  • 3Footrim shows 'burnt-orange' oxidation line where the glaze meets the paste.
  • 4Cavetto decoration includes classic 'spiraling' cloud/floral forms.

UNCERTAINTIES

  • •The calligraphy of the mark is too stiff for authentic 15th-century imperial ware.
  • •The glaze has a slightly blue-green tint typical of late Qing coal-fired kilns.

WHAT WOULD IMPROVE CERTAINTY

  • →High-resolution photo of the footrim to check for 'chatter marks'.
  • →Shortwave UV light test to check for transparent over-paints or repairs on the rim.
  • →Translucency test by holding a light source behind the wall to check paste density.

CONDITION & GRADE

Condition

The rim shows no visible chips or 'mushikui' (moth-eaten) edging. The footrim shows minor shelf wear and darkening of the unglazed paste.

CERAMICS MARKET VALUE

$150 - $450

Updated: May 11, 2026

Who buys this

Collectors of late Qing Dynasty provincial wares and enthusiasts of 'mark and period' study pieces.

What increases value

  • •Clarity of the cobalt decoration
  • •Lack of chips or hairline cracks on the fragile rim
  • •Quality of the mark's calligraphy

What lowers value

  • •Common nature of late-period apocryphal wares
  • •Any hidden hairline cracks (often detected by a 'ping' test)

What makes top-tier examples

  • •Authentication as a genuine 15th-century piece (unlikely here)
  • •Vivid 'Su-ni-po' blue imitation effect

Grade & condition

Condition of the rim, presence of kiln grit in the glaze, and centering of the interior decoration.

Rarity & demand

AverageModerate demandModerate liquidity
Browse similar ceramics objects

For informational purposes only, not a formal appraisal.

FROM THE CABINET OF

54

5444
Wonderseeker•1 item

COMMENTS

No comments yet. Be the first to share your thoughts!

Sign in to leave a comment

ABOUT CERAMICS & POTTERY

Pottery, porcelain, stoneware, earthenware, and kiln-fired objects.

Ceramics & Pottery value and rarity guide

SHARE THIS CURIOSITY

Have your own curiosities to discover?

Scan Your Curiosity