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Chinese Republic Period Famille Rose Cong-form Vase

Square Chinese porcelain cong vase with landscape painting and black calligraphy on a white glaze, showing a rim chip. - view 1
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Estimated value

$150 - $450

Rarity

Average(4/10)

Era

Republic Period, circa 1920-1940

Origin

🇨🇳 China

Authenticity

Moderate(65%)
16

CHINESE REPUBLIC PERIOD FAMILLE ROSE CONG-FORM VASE: IDENTIFICATION

A square-sectioned porcelain vase modeled after the Neolithic jade 'cong' shape, featuring hand-painted landscape panels and calligraphic inscriptions. One face depicts a traditional 'shanshui' (mountain-water) scene with a pavilion, pine trees, and distant peaks in the 'Fencai' palette. The remaining faces are strictly calligraphic, executed in black overglaze enamel with red seal marks. The shoulder tapers into a circular neck, a typical configuration for this ritual-inspired form produced during the early 20th century.

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

This object dates to the Republic Period (1912–1949), an era where Jingdezhen potters frequently looked back to classical forms and literati painting styles. The cong shape itself originated in the Liangzhu culture (circa 3300–2300 BCE) as a ritual jade vessel symbolizing the earth. During the ...
This object dates to the Republic Period (1912–1949), an era where Jingdezhen potters frequently looked back to classical forms and literati painting styles. The cong shape itself originated in the Liangzhu culture (circa 3300–2300 BCE) as a ritual jade vessel symbolizing the earth. During the 1920s and 30s, such vases were often commissioned as scholarly gifts or interior decor for the emerging middle class in Shanghai and Guangzhou.

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 100 ceramics items at rarity 4 or higher.

Typical Characteristics

  • Standard antique shop items
  • Regularly available
  • Moderate collector interest

Confidence Factors

  • Shape and decoration are consistent with Republic period production (1912-1949)
  • Calligraphy style shows genuine hand-application rather than transfer-print
  • Crazing patterns align with mid-20th-century porcelain aging
How does authenticity detection work?

CERAMICIST'S ASSESSMENT

Ceramics Historian & Kiln Specialist

Ceramics Expert

The form and decorative style are highly diagnostic of the Republic period, though the lack of a base photo prevents a 90%+ confidence level.

KEY EVIDENCE

  • 1Cong-form geometry consistent with Jingdezhen Republic period outputs
  • 2Fencai palette used in the landscape includes 20th-century synthetic pinks and greens
  • 3Calligraphy exhibits the 'literati' style typical of 1920s porcelain decorators
  • 4Glaze cooling and crazing are indicative of early 20th-century kiln firing temperatures

UNCERTAINTIES

  • •Major rim chip significantly reduces auction potential
  • •Base mark is not visible in provided images to confirm factory attribution

WHAT WOULD IMPROVE CERTAINTY

  • →Provide a high-resolution photo of the underside (base) to check for a maker's mark or footrim wear
  • →Use a UV light to check if the rim chip has had any previous disguised repairs
  • →Measure height in centimeters to determine if it is a standard library size (approx 20-30cm)

CONDITION & GRADE

Fair

Grading breakdown

The primary downgrade is the large rim chip (approx. 1cm) and the visible crazing, which impacts both structural integrity and aesthetic value.

Condition

Significant structural damage is visible with a large chip and associated hairline crack on the rim. Scattered kiln grit and minor enamel wear are present on the body faces.

CERAMICS MARKET VALUE

$150 - $450

Updated: May 11, 2026

Who buys this

Specialist collectors of Republic-era porcelain and interior decorators seeking 'Scholars' Object' aesthetics.

What increases value

  • •Authenticity of the hand-painted calligraphy
  • •Classical Cong form which remains popular in Asian art markets

What lowers value

  • •The prominent rim chip reduces value by approximately 50-70% compared to a pristine example
  • •Anonymity of the painter (lack of a signature by a known Zhushan artist)

What makes top-tier examples

  • •Attribution to a named Republic-era artist like Wang Qi
  • •Flawless glaze without crazing or kiln debris

Grade & condition

Condition grade is primarily determined by rim integrity, surface scratches on the enamels, and clarity of the calligraphy.

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•57 items

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