Skip to main content
Curiosa
Sign InTry a scan

Chinese Export Porcelain 'Hong' Punch Bowl

18th-century Chinese Export porcelain punch bowl depicting the Canton Hongs with foreign flags under a blue sky. - view 1
1/3

Estimated value

$15,000 - $45,000

Rarity

Very Rare(8/10)

Era

Circa 1780-1790

Origin

🇨🇳 China

Authenticity

Moderate(65%)
15

CHINESE EXPORT PORCELAIN 'HONG' PUNCH BOWL: IDENTIFICATION

Large punch bowl featuring a continuous hand-painted scene of the hongs (trading factories) at Canton. The exterior depicts the Danish, Spanish, Swedish, British, and Dutch national flags flying above their respective waterfront warehouses. The interior is decorated with a floral festoon border and a central medallion illustrating a merchant interior scene. The footrim is unglazed, showing a fine-grained white porcelain body characteristic of Jingdezhen production.

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.

PRODUCTION & FIRING

Created during the Qianlong period, circa 1780-1790, these bowls were luxury commissions for Western merchants operating in Canton (Guangzhou). The depiction of the hongs represents the strictly regulated 'Canton System' where foreign trade was confined to a small strip of land along the Pearl ...
Created during the Qianlong period, circa 1780-1790, these bowls were luxury commissions for Western merchants operating in Canton (Guangzhou). The depiction of the hongs represents the strictly regulated 'Canton System' where foreign trade was confined to a small strip of land along the Pearl River. Similar examples are held in the collections of the Metropolitan Museum of Art (Accession 81.1) and the Winterthur Museum, documenting the architectural evolution of the Guangzhou waterfront before the 1822 fire.

COLLECTOR NOTES

1

The flags on these bowls act as a chronometer for historians; the presence of the American flag usually dates a bowl to after 1784 when the Empress of China first arrived in Canton.

2

A catastrophic fire in 1822 destroyed most of the actual waterfront depicted on these bowls, making them some of the most accurate visual records of 18th-century Guangzhou.

SCARCITY

Very Rare95-98%
CommonLegendary

Museum-quality consideration with documented examples tracked by specialists. Appear at auction perhaps once a year.

Rarity 8/10. Curiosa currently catalogues 1 ceramics item at rarity 8 or higher.

Typical Characteristics

  • Museum-quality consideration
  • Tracked by specialists
  • Auction house highlight pieces

Confidence Factors

  • High value of 'hong' bowls incentivizes high-quality 20th-century reproductions
  • Evidence of correct 18th-century iron-red diaper patterns is present but requires physical inspection of the paste
  • Vibrancy of the blue sky enamel can occasionally indicate later Samson of Paris or Macao copies
How does authenticity detection work?

CERAMICIST'S ASSESSMENT

Ceramics Historian & Kiln Specialist

Ceramics Expert

Identification as a 'hong' bowl is certain based on the flags and architectural motifs; however, high-quality 19th and 20th-century copies exist, requiring physical inspection of the paste and glaze for absolute 18th-century confirmation.

KEY EVIDENCE

  • 1Presence of pre-1800 flags (specifically the pre-1801 Union Jack and the Swedish flag)
  • 2Correct depiction of the 'Swedish Hong' which is a standard marker for 1780s export scenes
  • 3Interior festoon border style consistent with late Qianlong period export wares
  • 4Hand-rendered iron-red fretwork on the rim consistent with Jingdezhen artisanal techniques

UNCERTAINTIES

  • •Uniformity of the blue enamel sky: older examples often show more graduation or mottling
  • •Condition: extraordinarily clean interiors on these bowls can sometimes suggest professional restoration or later production

WHAT WOULD IMPROVE CERTAINTY

  • →Check for translucency by holding a light inside the bowl; 18th-century porcelain should show a warm, slightly orange/creamy glow
  • →Inspect the footrim for 'chatter marks' or grit from the kiln floor
  • →Perform a UV light test to identify invisible crack repairs or overpainted enamels

CONDITION & GRADE

Grading breakdown

Ceramics are generally assessed by structural integrity rather than a scale grade; this appears to be in 'Good' to 'Very Good' antique condition with no immediate evidence of stabilization staples or large rim chips.

Condition

The images show preserved enamel colors with minimal fading. Possible minor wear to the gilt rim and a small firing speck visible in the interior well center. The exterior sky area shows a consistent blue wash without modern mechanical stippling.

Weight & feel

Substantial and dense, likely weighing between 2.5 to 3.5 kg depending on the exact diameter, which typically ranges from 30 to 40 cm for 'hong' bowls.

CERAMICS MARKET VALUE

$15,000 - $45,000

Updated: May 11, 2026

Who buys this

Top-tier collectors of Chinese Export porcelain, maritime history museums, and high-end interior designers.

What increases value

  • •Clarity and completeness of the flag sequence
  • •Large physical dimensions (bowls over 14 inches command significant premiums)
  • •Vibrance of the enamel colors, especially the blues and greens

What lowers value

  • •Any hairline cracks or professional restoration significantly reduces auction value by 50% or more
  • •Fading of the iron-red enamels or 'rubbing' of the gilt rim

What makes top-tier examples

  • •Presence of the American flag (Stars and Stripes)
  • •Diameter exceeding 15 inches
  • •Documented provenance to a major 18th-century merchant family

Grade & condition

Presence of 'star cracks' in the base, enamel loss (flaking), and rim fritting (small chips).

Rarity & demand

Very RareHigh demandModerate liquidity
Browse similar ceramics objects

For informational purposes only, not a formal appraisal.

FROM THE CABINET OF

BR

bruinsma
The Connoisseur•57 items

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