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Ge-Type Crackle Glaze Hu Vase

Chinese Ge-type crackle glaze Hu vase with tubular handles and dark iron-wire crazing on a grey ground. - view 1
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Estimated value

$400 - $1,200

Rarity

Average(4/10)

Era

Late 19th to early 20th century

Origin

🇨🇳 China

Authenticity

Moderate(55%)
11

GE-TYPE CRACKLE GLAZE HU VASE: IDENTIFICATION

A stoneware vase of compressed pear-shaped form, known as a 'Hu' shape, featuring double tubular 'arrow' handles at the neck. The vessel is covered in a thick, ash-grey glaze characterized by a dense network of 'iron wire' (dark) and 'golden thread' (light) crackle, emulating the Ge ware of the Song Dynasty. The glaze stops cleanly above the footrim, revealing a dark, iron-rich stoneware body that has fired to a reddish-brown 'iron foot'.

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.

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

  • Ge ware is among the most frequently imitated styles in Chinese ceramics.
  • Uniformity of crackle on the base suggests a later production rather than Song Dynasty original.
  • The sharpness of the tubular handle joints points to 19th/20th-century manufacture.
How does authenticity detection work?

CERAMICIST'S ASSESSMENT

Ceramics Historian & Kiln Specialist

Ceramics Expert

The form and glaze characteristics clearly identify it as a Ge-type archival vessel, but the precise age between late 19th century and mid-20th century is difficult to distinguish without seeing the interior and tactile inspection of the paste.

KEY EVIDENCE

  • 1Hu-shaped bronze form with tubular 'arrow' handles characteristic of archaizing ceramics.
  • 2Distinctive 'Jin Si Tie Xian' (Golden Thread and Iron Wire) bi-tonal crackle pattern.
  • 3Dark, unglazed footrim consistent with 'iron foot' (Tie Zu) stoneware techniques.
  • 4Glaze opacity and color characteristic of late Qing or Republic period Ge-type wares.

UNCERTAINTIES

  • •Extremely uniform crackle may indicate 20th-century production.
  • •The stained crackle appears somewhat forced in the foot area.
  • •High gloss level may suggest a later firing temperature than early stoneware.

WHAT WOULD IMPROVE CERTAINTY

  • →Provide a high-resolution photo of the interior rim to check glaze thickness.
  • →Look for any impressed four or six-character marks on the base under the crackle.
  • →Conduct a 'tap test' to determine the resonance and density of the body.

CONDITION & GRADE

Condition

The footrim shows minor shelf wear and some firing grit typical of kiln-floor contact. No immediate evidence of rim chips or structural cracks is visible beyond the intentional glaze crazing.

Weight & feel

Estimated at 1.5 to 2.2 kg, suggesting a dense, thick-walled stoneware body typical of later archaic revivals.

CERAMICS MARKET VALUE

$400 - $1,200

Updated: May 11, 2026

Who buys this

Collectors of Qing Dynasty revivals and interior decorators specializing in East Asian scholarly aesthetics.

What increases value

  • •Definition and contrast of the bi-tonal crackle
  • •Integrity of the 'iron foot' coloring
  • •Symmetry of the tubular handles

What lowers value

  • •Modern 1990s+ reproductions significantly devalue the item
  • •Hairline cracks hidden within the decorative crazing
  • •Loss of glaze at the rim

What makes top-tier examples

  • •A Qianlong or Yongzheng imperial mark would increase value by a factor of 50+
  • •Natural 'sweaty' luster rather than modern glassy shine

Grade & condition

Surface luster, crackle complexity, and presence/absence of kiln flaws.

Rarity & demand

AverageModerate demandModerate liquidity
Browse similar ceramics objects

For informational purposes only, not a formal appraisal.

FROM THE CABINET OF

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