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Chinese Famille Rose 'Dragon' Vase with Islamic Inscriptions, 20th Century

A white Chinese porcelain vase with colorful dragons and red Arabic calligraphy, featuring a tall neck and gold horizontal bands. - view 1
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Estimated value

$150 - $450

Rarity

Average(4/10)

Era

Circa 1920-1960

Origin

🇨🇳 China

Artist / Creator

Chinese vaas

Authenticity

Moderate(55%)
40

CHINESE FAMILLE ROSE 'DRAGON' VASE WITH ISLAMIC INSCRIPTIONS, 20TH CENTURY: IDENTIFICATION

A globular porcelain vase with a tall flaring neck, decorated in the Famille Rose palette with five-clawed dragons chasing flaming pearls. The vessel is uniquely characterized by the inclusion of Arabic calligraphy rendered in iron-red enamel, likely repeating the word 'Allah'. The white glaze ground features an incised 'anhua' or secret decoration of swirling clouds, while the dragons are executed in polychrome enamels including green, pink, and iron-red. A central iron-red seal mark depicts two dragons flanking a rectangular cartouche containing pseudo-archaic seal script characters.

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.

COLLECTOR NOTES

1

Similar 'Islamic-market' porcelain reached its peak popularity during the Zhengde period (1506-1521) when many court officials were Muslim Eunuchs.

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

  • Pseudo-archaic seal mark does not match standard Imperial reign marks
  • Calligraphy appears stylized for decorative effect rather than formal script
  • Enamel palette and gilding wear are consistent with mid-20th century decorative production
How does authenticity detection work?

CERAMICIST'S ASSESSMENT

Asian Art Specialist

East Asian Art Expert

The object presents clear stylistic indicators of 20th-century export porcelain, but the absence of a shot showing the foot/base prevents a conclusive dating between the late Republic and mid-century periods.

KEY EVIDENCE

  • 1Iron-red Arabic calligraphy integrated with traditional five-clawed dragons
  • 2Presence of 'anhua' cloud motifs incised into the paste
  • 3Famille Rose enamel palette featuring pink and light green translucent pigments
  • 4Gold-painted bands showing significant surface oxidation and rubbing
  • 5Atypical seal mark flanked by dragons, suggesting a private shop mark rather than an Imperial kiln mark

UNCERTAINTIES

  • •The Arabic script is somewhat crude, suggesting the decorator may not have been literate in the language
  • •The gilding appears to be a lower-quality overglaze 'liquid gold' rather than burnished leaf

WHAT WOULD IMPROVE CERTAINTY

  • →Examine the footrim for unglazed paste texture and kiln grit
  • →Check the interior of the neck for throwing rings or casting lines
  • →Obtain a high-resolution image of the base under UV light to check for restorations

CONDITION & GRADE

Condition

Significant wear is visible on the gold-painted bands at the neck and shoulder. Frittering or minor glaze loss is evident near the base of the central seal mark.

Weight & feel

The globular form suggests a weight of 1.5 to 2.2 kg, typical for slip-cast or wheel-thrown export wares of this size.

CERAMICS MARKET VALUE

$150 - $450

Updated: May 10, 2026

Who buys this

Collectors of Islamic-market Chinese porcelain and interior designers looking for unusual Chinoiserie accents.

What increases value

  • •The rare combination of Islamic script and Imperial-style dragons
  • •Large globular form with intact neck

What lowers value

  • •Heavy wear to the gilding significantly impacts aesthetic value
  • •The decorative nature of the mark limits appeal to high-end Imperial porcelain collectors

What makes top-tier examples

  • •Authentic 16th-century examples of this hybrid style fetch exceeding $10,000 at Christie's
  • •Superior calligraphy and thicker, vibrant enamel work

Grade & condition

Completeness of the gilding, clarity of the incised clouds, and lack of hairline cracks in the neck.

Rarity & demand

AverageModerate 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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