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Blue and White Porcelain Bowl with Kangxi Apocryphal Mark

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Estimated value

$250 - $650

Rarity

Average(4/10)

Category

Ceramics & Pottery

Era

Late 19th century (circa 1880-1900)

Origin

China

Visual assessment

Photo-based interpretation · not authenticated

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BLUE AND WHITE PORCELAIN BOWL WITH KANGXI APOCRYPHAL MARK: IDENTIFICATION

A deep, flared-rim porcelain bowl decorated in underglaze blue. The exterior wall features a continuous narrative scene of figures in a stylized landscape, specifically depicting women (possibly Chang'e) with a rabbit, a common motif referencing the mid-autumn moon festival. The narrative style and 'cracked ice' or diaper-patterned border panels are typical of late 19th-century Qing Dynasty production. The base carries a six-character kaishu (regular script) mark reading 'Da Qing Kangxi Nian Zhi', though the calligraphy and cobalt saturation indicate a later 19th-century attribution rather than a 17th-century period piece.

Compare with other ceramic pieces in the archive: Blue and White Porcelain Small Bowl with Apocryphal Chenghua Mark, Chinese Blue and White 'Boys at Play' Porcelain Bowl, Chinese Blue and White Porcelain 'Dragon and Phoenix' Charger.

PRODUCTION & FIRING

During the late Qing Dynasty (Guangxu period, 1875-1908), Chinese porcelain manufactories in Jingdezhen experienced a revival, frequently using apocryphal marks of the Kangxi reign (1662-1722) to honor the high craftsmanship of that earlier era. This specific scene of figures in a landscape became a

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staple of 'Export-style' porcelain produced for both domestic use and the European market throughout the 1880s and 1890s.

COLLECTOR NOTES

1

The 6-character mark on the base claims a date between 1662 and 1722, but the stiff calligraphic style identifies it as a 19th-century homage.

SCARCITY

Average · 4/10 estimated rarity

This is a qualitative collection score, not a measured survival count, market percentile or proof of authenticity.

Visual assessment

Photographs alone cannot establish authenticity. The following analysis notes have not been independently verified; references to a match or confirmation are interpretations, not documentary evidence.

  • Apocryphal 6-character Kangxi mark is non-period and from a later era
  • Stiff decorative painting style consistent with late 19th-century mass production
  • Presence of a significant hairline crack reduces collector value
What photo analysis can and cannot establish

ANALYSIS NOTES

AI-assisted notes based on the photographs and supplied context. These are interpretations, not an examination by a human specialist or proof of authenticity.

The form, palette, and apocryphal mark are highly diagnostic of the late Qing export/revival period, though a hands-on 'tap test' for additional hairlines is required for finality.

OBSERVATIONS & INTERPRETATIONS

  • 1Kaishu mark calligraphy is too rigid for the Kangxi period.
  • 2The cobalt blue sits on the surface of the glaze rather than 'melting' into the paste.
  • 3Visible vertical hairline crack at the 1 o'clock position in the first image.
  • 4Footrim paste is white and clean, lacking the 'oily' feel of 17th-century porcelain.

UNCERTAINTIES

  • •The hairline crack significantly impacts structural integrity and value.
  • •Apocryphal mark may be misinterpreted by novice buyers as 17th-century period.

WHAT WOULD IMPROVE CERTAINTY

  • →Perform a ring test (tap the rim) to check for hidden vibrations/cracks.
  • →Review the piece under UV light to check for professional overpainting at the crack terminal.
  • →High-resolution photo of the interior botton to check for 'kiln grit' or glaze pooling.
COLLECTOR GLOSSARY (3 terms)
Apocryphal Mark
A mark placed on porcelain representing an earlier, more prestigious era than the actual date of manufacture.
Underglaze Blue
Decoration applied using cobalt oxide to the unfired body before glazing and firing at high temperatures.
Hairline
A fine, tight crack in the ceramic body that does not yet completely separate the piece.

Condition & estimated grade

A visual condition estimate. This is not a professional grading certificate.

Condition

A visible vertical hairline crack is present on the rim extending downward into the pattern. The footrim shows minor grit inclusions and shelf wear localized to the unglazed contact ring.

CERAMICS MARKET VALUE

$250 - $650

Estimate recorded: May 11, 2026

Estimate context (not a documented sale): Similar late 19th-century marked bowls have sold at Christie's Interiors and local European auctions (2022-2023) for $300-$800 depending on condition.

Who buys this

General antique collectors and mid-level Asian art enthusiasts looking for decorative period pieces rather than investment-grade imperial ware.

What increases value

  • •Clarity of the narrative scene featuring Chang'e
  • •Large size of the bowl (likely over 20cm diameter)

What lowers value

  • •Vertical hairline crack on the rim (up to 60% value deduction)
  • •Lack of period Kangxi authenticity

What makes top-tier examples

  • •Luminous, multi-toned sapphire cobalt
  • •Thin, translucent 'eggshell' body
  • •Authentic Kangxi-period footrim construction

Grade & condition

Determination of grade based on glaze integrity, presence of cracks/chips, and clarity of the cobalt painting.

Rarity & demand

AverageModerate demandModerate liquidity
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For informational purposes only, not a formal appraisal.

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