Tongzhi Mark and Period Celadon-Glazed Dragon Bowl

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Estimated value

$1,500 - $3,500

Rarity

Uncommon(5/10)

TONGZHI MARK AND PERIOD CELADON-GLAZED DRAGON BOWL: IDENTIFICATION

This is a Chinese porcelain bowl featuring a pale celadon glaze over an incised anhua decoration. The exterior walls are finely carved with two five-clawed imperial dragons pursuing flaming pearls amidst stylized clouds. The footrim is encircled by a key-fret band. The base reveals a six-character underglaze blue kaishu mark reading 'Da Qing Tongzhi Nian Zhi', indicating production during the Tongzhi reign. The paste appears white and refined where exposed at the unglazed footring, which shows a characteristic rounded 'minnow's back' profile.

Compare with other ceramic pieces in the archive: Chinese Blue and White with Underglaze Red 'Dragon' Bottle Vase, Qianlong Mark, Blue and White Porcelain Small Bowl with Apocryphal Chenghua Mark, Chinese Falangcai Style Ruby-Ground Floral Bowl with Kangxi Yu Zhi Mark.

PRODUCTION & FIRING

The Tongzhi reign (1862–1874) of the Qing Dynasty followed the destruction of the Jingdezhen imperial kilns during the Taiping Rebellion. Rebuilding began in 1864, leading to a revival of monochrome glazes inspired by earlier Ming and Kangxi prototypes. Celadon glazes of this period, often termed

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'winter green' (dongqing), were intended to emulate jade. These bowls were frequently commissioned for court use or provincial official distribution during the late 19th-century restoration of imperial ceramic production.

SCARCITY

Uncommon · 5/10 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.

Late 20th-century reproductions of Tongzhi monochrome wares are abundant and often replicate marks with high accuracy.
The blue underglaze mark shows slight blurring characteristic of period cobalt, but physical inspection of the footrim wear is needed.
Uniformity of glaze color can sometimes indicate modern industrial firing rather than historical wood-fired kilns.

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 mark and form are highly consistent with Tongzhi period standards recorded by Sotheby's and Christie's. However, the high quality of modern fakes in this specific category necessitates a moderate risk adjustment until the footrim can be handled.

OBSERVATIONS & INTERPRETATIONS

1Six-character Tongzhi mark in underglaze blue aligns with late 19th-century imperial style.
2Presence of 'anhua' (hidden) dragon decoration is consistent with Tongzhi court requirements.
3The footrim geometry shows the 'minnow's back' rounded profile typical of Jingdezhen production.
4Coloration of the celadon glaze matches the 'dongqing' (winter green) palette of the period.

UNCERTAINTIES

•Minimal visible wear to the basal ring suggests the bowl may have been stored or is a later copy.
•The clarity of the incised lines is very sharp, which is sometimes a trait of modern mold-pressed or CNC-carved reproductions.

WHAT WOULD IMPROVE CERTAINTY

→Perform a 'tap test' with a wooden dowel to check for a clear, high-pitched ring indicating an absence of hidden cracks.
→Examine the 'anhua' decoration under a 10x loupe to see if lines were hand-incised or molded.
→Use a UV light to check the rim for overpainting or professional restoration.

COLLECTOR GLOSSARY (3 terms)

Anhua: 'Secret' or 'hidden' decoration incised into the paste before glazing, best seen when backlit.
Kaishu: The 'regular script' style of Chinese calligraphy used for most Qing imperial marks.
Celadon: A transparent glaze with a high iron oxide content that turns green when fired in a reducing atmosphere.

Condition & estimated grade

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

Condition

Small firing pits and minor iron spots are visible on the interior and base. There is a tiny nick or grit on the inner footrim, but no radiating hairlines or major chips are evident in the provided images.

Weight & feel

This porcelain bowl, measuring approximately 15 cm in diameter, would feel light and resonant, characteristic of high-fired Jingdezhen kaolin clay.

CERAMICS MARKET VALUE

$1,500 - $3,500

Estimate recorded: May 10, 2026

Estimate context (not a documented sale): Similar Tongzhi mark and period celadon dragon bowls have achieved between $2,000 and $4,500 at Bonhams and Christie's in 2022-2023.

Who buys this

Advanced collectors of Qing Dynasty monochrome porcelains and investors specializing in late 19th-century imperial wares.

What increases value

•Authenticity of the Tongzhi mark and period (M&P) status
•Intactness of the delicate 'anhua' carving
•Absence of hairlines or rim chips

What lowers value

•Identification as a Republic-era or modern reproduction
•Hidden cracks detectable only by strike-resonance
•Visible iron spots or glaze impurities

What makes top-tier examples

•Evenness of glaze across the entire body
•Perfectly centered and balanced six-character reign mark
•Fluidity in the dragon's carving

Grade & condition

Condition grade is determined by glaze integrity, presence of firing flaws, and footrim wear consistent with age.

Rarity & demand

UncommonModerate demandModerate liquidity

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For informational purposes only, not a formal appraisal.

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