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Chinese Shino-Glazed Cylindrical 'Bamboo' Vase, 20th Century

A cylindrical white glazed ceramic vase with Chinese characters in relief and a bamboo-like texture. - view 1
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Estimated value

$45 - $120

Rarity

Ordinary(3/10)

Era

Circa 1970-2010

Origin

🇨🇳 China

Authenticity

Very High(85%)
22

CHINESE SHINO-GLAZED CYLINDRICAL 'BAMBOO' VASE, 20TH CENTURY: IDENTIFICATION

Cylindrical glazed ceramic vessel featuring relief-molded Chinese characters and a bamboo-culm aesthetic. The form exhibits a pinched, closed base and a slightly irregular rim, characteristic of slab-built or hand-molded studio pottery. The glaze is a thick, milky-white feldspathic 'Shino' style with visible pinholing and a 'crawling' effect where the glaze has pulled back from the body during firing.

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 draws from the Ming Dynasty tradition of bamboo-form brush pots but utilizes a glaze technique more commonly associated with 20th-century aesthetic revivals. The use of simplified or stylized characters suggests a production date post-1950, likely intended for the decorative export ...
This object draws from the Ming Dynasty tradition of bamboo-form brush pots but utilizes a glaze technique more commonly associated with 20th-century aesthetic revivals. The use of simplified or stylized characters suggests a production date post-1950, likely intended for the decorative export market or as a piece of contemporary studio ware. The base construction lacks the traditional footrim typical of early Qing or Ming ceramics, pointing toward modern manufacturing methods.

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 173 ceramics items at rarity 3 or higher.

Typical Characteristics

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

Confidence Factors

  • Construction techniques (seam lines) are consistent with modern decorative production
  • Material and glaze type align with 20th-century decorative trends
How does authenticity detection work?

CERAMICIST'S ASSESSMENT

Asian Art Specialist

East Asian Art Expert

The identification of the material, glaze type, and construction method is straightforward based on the provided images, though the exact kiln remains unidentifiable without a mark.

KEY EVIDENCE

  • 1Visible vertical molding seam indicative of mass-production/commercial molding
  • 2Thick Shino-type glaze showing 'crawling' typical of modern studio kilns
  • 3Closed, pinched base lacks the refined footrim of authentic period ceramics
  • 4Relief characters lack the fluid carving depth associated with hand-incised Ming/Qing wares

UNCERTAINTIES

  • •Lack of maker's mark or reign mark on the base
  • •Prominent manufacturing seam suggests decorative rather than fine-art origins

WHAT WOULD IMPROVE CERTAINTY

  • →Capture a clear, high-resolution photo of the relief characters to determine if they form a coherent poem or are decorative
  • →Measure exact height and diameter in millimeters to compare with known export catalog sizes

CONDITION & GRADE

Good

Grading breakdown

Glaze integrity is high with no visible chips; however, the manufacturing seam is prominent and the base exhibits minor kiln-soot staining.

Condition

Significant vertical seam visible on the side indicating mold-forming; the base shows unglazed, coarse clay with some staining and shelf-wear consistent with late 20th-century age.

CERAMICS MARKET VALUE

$45 - $120

Updated: May 10, 2026

Who buys this

General interior decorators and collectors of modern Asian-inspired home goods.

What increases value

  • •Visual character of the Shino glaze
  • •Functionality as a brush pot or vase

What lowers value

  • •Presence of visible manufacturing seams significantly reduces value for serious ceramic collectors
  • •Anonymity of manufacture (lack of studio mark)

What makes top-tier examples

  • •Hand-carved rather than mold-pressed characters
  • •Refined, hand-turned footrim
  • •Natural ash glaze (Yobitsugi) rather than commercial Shino

Grade & condition

Glaze consistency, absence of chips/cracks, and clarity of the relief molding.

Rarity & demand

OrdinaryModerate 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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