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Wucai 'Golden Carp' Ginger Jar with Lid

A Chinese Wucai porcelain ginger jar with lid featuring orange koi fish and aquatic plants, with a blue Ming dynasty mark on the base. - view 1
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Estimated value

$80 - $250

Rarity

Ordinary(3/10)

Era

Late 20th Century

Origin

🇨🇳 China

Authenticity

Very Low(8%)
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WUCAI 'GOLDEN CARP' GINGER JAR WITH LID: IDENTIFICATION

A porcelain ginger jar decorated in the Wucai palette featuring iron-red golden carp swimming among aquatic plants and lotus. The vessel displays a rounded, globular body with a matching domed cover. The base bears a six-character apocryphal mark in underglaze blue within a double circle reading 'Da Ming Jiajing Nian Zhi' (Great Ming Jiajing Period Made). The decorative scheme utilizes underglaze blue outlines and washes combined with overglaze enamels in red, green, and yellow.

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

The Jiajing period (1522–1566) of the Ming Dynasty is famous for large 'fish jars' symbolize abundance and wealth. However, the Jiajing mark was extensively reused as a 'mark of commendation' during the Qing Dynasty (particularly the Kangxi and Guangxu periods) and by 20th-century workshops in ...
The Jiajing period (1522–1566) of the Ming Dynasty is famous for large 'fish jars' symbolize abundance and wealth. However, the Jiajing mark was extensively reused as a 'mark of commendation' during the Qing Dynasty (particularly the Kangxi and Guangxu periods) and by 20th-century workshops in Jingdezhen. This specific execution, with its bright, somewhat flat enamel application and modern glaze sheen, suggests a late 20th-century production intended to evoke the classic Ming aesthetic.

COLLECTOR NOTES

1

Authentic 16th-century Jiajing jars of this specific 'Fish' design have reached auction prices exceeding $20 million USD at Sotheby's in 2017.

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 172 ceramics items at rarity 3 or higher.

Typical Characteristics

  • Moderate production runs
  • Common at estate sales
  • Entry-level collectibles

Confidence Factors

  • The Jiajing mark is one of the most frequently faked/reproduced marks in Chinese ceramic history.
  • Glaze surface lacks the 'pinholing' and natural degradation expected of 500-year-old porcelain.
  • Enamels lack the 'halo' or iridescent oxidation characteristic of 16th-century mineral pigments.

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

Identification is stable as a decorative reproduction based on the quality of the enamel, the crispness of the mark, and the modern glaze sheen which deviates from 16th-century survivals.

KEY EVIDENCE

  • 1Six-character Jiajing mark in underglaze blue is written in a standard modern hand rather than the slightly more erratic 16th-century imperial style.
  • 2Iron-red enamel is very uniform in tone, suggesting modern chemically-stable pigments rather than traditional ground minerals.
  • 3The white ground (body paste) is exceptionally bright and lacks the 'mushy' or slightly gray tone found in older Jingdezhen earth.
  • 4Vessel proportions and lid fit are highly standardized, indicative of 20th-century production molds.

UNCERTAINTIES

  • •The base mark is too perfect and centered compared to many authentic period examples.
  • •Absence of 'chatter marks' or radial lines on the base that typically occur from historical trimming tools.

WHAT WOULD IMPROVE CERTAINTY

  • →Inspect the unglazed footrim for 'orange peel' texture or iron spotting.
  • →Shine a strong light through the body to check for translucency and consistency of the clay body.
  • →Check under UV light for any hidden repairs or modern over-painting.

CONDITION & GRADE

Condition

The glaze appears exceptionally clean with no visible crazing, chips, or surface abrasions. The footrim (not fully visible) would likely show a clean, bleached white paste typical of modern gas-fired kilns.

Weight & feel

Estimated 1.5 to 2.2 kg; likely features a thick-walled body consistent with modern slip-casting or heavy hand-turning.

CERAMICS MARKET VALUE

$80 - $250

Updated: May 11, 2026

Who buys this

Home decor enthusiasts and novice collectors looking for traditional Chinese aesthetics without the investment cost of period antiques.

What increases value

  • •Overall decorative appeal and color vibrancy
  • •Presence of a matching, undamaged cover

What lowers value

  • •Large-scale commercial production decreases individual rarity
  • •Any chips to the lid or rim significantly reduce its utility as a decor piece

What makes top-tier examples

  • •Hand-painted variance in the fish scales vs. uniform stenciling
  • •Kiln-fired footrim showing authentic age-related patination

Grade & condition

Surface integrity, enamel thickness, and clarity of the underglaze blue mark.

Rarity & demand

OrdinaryHigh demandSells quickly
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For informational purposes only, not a formal appraisal.

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