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Chinese Blue and White Porcelain Dragon Flask (Bianhu)

Blue and white Chinese porcelain flattened flask decorated with a five-clawed dragon and cloud motifs.

Estimated value

$80 - $250

Rarity

Ordinary(3/10)

Era

20th Century

Origin

🇨🇳 China

Authenticity

Low(15%)
12

CHINESE BLUE AND WHITE PORCELAIN DRAGON FLASK (BIANHU): IDENTIFICATION

A porcelain flattened flask, commonly known as a bianhu, decorated in underglaze cobalt blue. The vessel features a rectangular profile with a domed upper section, a short cylindrical neck with a rolled lip, and two applied handles modeled as chilong (archaic dragons) on the shoulders. The central flat panels display a five-clawed dragon ascending amidst stylized clouds and rolling waves, surmounted by a large ruyi-head collar motif framing a smaller secondary dragon or floral element. The side panels are decorated with scrolling vines and floral motifs. The brushwork utilizes a flat, even wash of cobalt typical of late 19th to 20th-century production techniques.

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

Islamic World14th Century

Brass and bronze canteens of the 13th and 14th centuries dictated the foundational shape of early Ming porcelain moon flasks.

Ritual & Ceremonial Use

  • •Storage and transport of ceremonial liquids during diplomatic or imperial travel.

Meaning Through Time

Ming Dynasty (1368-1644)

Utilized heavily as diplomatic gifts to Middle Eastern rulers.

PRODUCTION & FIRING

The flattened moon flask or bianhu form emerged in Chinese ceramics during the Ming dynasty, specifically the Yongle reign (1403-1424), adapting shapes from Islamic metal canteen vessels. The form saw a major revival during the Qing dynasty, particularly under the Qianlong emperor (1736-1795), who ...
The flattened moon flask or bianhu form emerged in Chinese ceramics during the Ming dynasty, specifically the Yongle reign (1403-1424), adapting shapes from Islamic metal canteen vessels. The form saw a major revival during the Qing dynasty, particularly under the Qianlong emperor (1736-1795), who favored antiquarian aesthetics requiring the kilns at Jingdezhen to produce complex, archaic shapes. The five-clawed dragon motif explicitly served as an emblem of imperial authority.

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 market is heavily saturated with 20th and 21st-century Jingdezhen reproductions of Qianlong-era bianhu flasks.
  • The stiff, uniform execution of the dragon scales and waves lacks the fluidity of period Imperial brushwork.
  • No image of the foot rim or base mark is available, which is mandatory for definitive ceramic attribution.

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

The single, somewhat low-resolution frontal angle prohibits evaluation of the primary diagnostic areas for Chinese ceramics: the base, foot rim paste, and maker's marks.

KEY EVIDENCE

  • 1Flat, uniform cobalt wash lacking the depth of layered antique applications.
  • 2Symmetrical chilong handles applied to the shoulders.
  • 3Absence of base and foot rim imagery prevents examination of paste quality and reign marks.
  • 4Five-clawed dragon motif surrounded by standard ruyi and cloud border patterns.

UNCERTAINTIES

  • •Inability to examine the unglazed foot paste for iron spotting and natural wear.
  • •Inability to verify the presence or quality of an underglaze seal mark.
  • •Brushwork on the central dragon appears rigid compared to known 18th-century imperial examples.

WHAT WOULD IMPROVE CERTAINTY

  • →Provide clear, well-lit images of the base to examine reign marks and the unglazed foot rim.
  • →Provide close-up macro images of the cobalt lines to check for pixelation (transfer printing) versus brush strokes.
  • →Check the interior neck for glaze continuation and construction seaming.

CONDITION & GRADE

Condition

The visible primary face and shoulder handles appear structurally intact. The glaze shows consistent reflection without obvious crazing or matte patches that would suggest acid etching or artificial aging.

CERAMICS MARKET VALUE

$80 - $250

Updated: May 11, 2026

Who buys this

Interior designers and collectors of Asian decorative arts seeking traditional blue-and-white focal pieces.

What increases value

  • •Presence of a period-accurate underglaze blue seal mark on the base
  • •Fluidity and nuance in the cobalt brushwork
  • •Provenance from established collections or auction houses

What lowers value

  • •High prevalence of modern mass-produced copies utilizing identical forms and motifs
  • •Damage to the applied handles, which are susceptible to breaking

What makes top-tier examples

  • •Genuine period paste and foot rim characteristics showing authentic age
  • •Exceptional brush command in the intricate ruyi borders and dragon scales

Grade & condition

Completeness of the applied handles, absence of hairline cracks at the neck, and lack of firing flaws such as glaze crawling.

Rarity & demand

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

FROM THE CABINET OF

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