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Chinese Blue and White Porcelain Arched Flask

Blue and white ceramic arched flask showing a five-clawed dragon and applied chilong handles

Estimated value

$150 - $450

Rarity

Average(4/10)

Era

Mid-20th to early 21st Century (Reproduction)

Origin

🇨🇳 China

Authenticity

Low(25%)
10

CHINESE BLUE AND WHITE PORCELAIN ARCHED FLASK: IDENTIFICATION

An arched rectangular porcelain flask featuring underglaze blue decoration, measuring approximately 25-30 cm in height based on standard proportions for this form. The vessel displays a central five-clawed dragon suspended over stylized crashing waves, bordered above by a prominent ruyi-head collar containing scrolling lotus motifs. Two applied chilong (dragon) handles flank the short, cylindrical neck, which is finished with a squared rim decorated with a continuous scroll band.

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 slab-built arched flask shape emerged at the Jingdezhen kilns during the Qianlong reign (1736-1795), requiring specialized mold-pressing techniques rather than traditional wheel-throwing. The five-clawed dragon was strictly regulated by sumptuary laws during the Qing dynasty, originally ...
This slab-built arched flask shape emerged at the Jingdezhen kilns during the Qianlong reign (1736-1795), requiring specialized mold-pressing techniques rather than traditional wheel-throwing. The five-clawed dragon was strictly regulated by sumptuary laws during the Qing dynasty, originally restricting this specific motif to direct use by the emperor and his immediate household.

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

  • The cobalt wash appears overly uniform, lacking the organic 'heaping and piling' iron rust spots found on earlier wares.
  • Absence of base and footrim imagery prevents evaluation of the porcelain paste and identification of reign or factory marks.
  • Chinese imperial-style porcelain is one of the most heavily reproduced categories globally.

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 of the form and decorative motifs is straightforward, but attributing age to Chinese blue and white porcelain from a single frontal photograph limits certainty regarding authentic period versus modern production.

KEY EVIDENCE

  • 1Uniform bright cobalt tone underglaze
  • 2Complex mold-pressed arched rectangular form
  • 3High-gloss unblemished transparent glaze
  • 4Applied chilong structural elements at the shoulder

UNCERTAINTIES

  • •Inability to examine the unglazed footrim for paste characteristics and firing evidence
  • •Lack of visible age-related surface wear or typical kiln faults on a complex molded shape

WHAT WOULD IMPROVE CERTAINTY

  • →Provide a well-lit image of the base to identify any reign marks and examine the unglazed footrim.
  • →Examine the painted blue areas under 10x or 40x magnification to check the bubble structure of the glaze.

CONDITION & GRADE

Condition

The visible glaze surface lacks obvious crazing, fritting at the sharp edges, or handling wear. The applied chilong handles and rim appear fully intact without signs of UV-reactive restoration fills.

Weight & feel

Due to the thick porcelain walls required to prevent warping in molded rectangular forms, examples of this scale typically weigh between 1.5 and 2.5 kg.

CERAMICS MARKET VALUE

$150 - $450

Updated: May 10, 2026

Who buys this

Interior decorators and casual collectors of Chinese export-style decorative arts.

What increases value

  • •Complexity of the molded form
  • •Intact applied handles without firing cracks

What lowers value

  • •Pervasive availability of similar reproductions from Jingdezhen kilns
  • •Lack of verified provenance or base marks

What makes top-tier examples

  • •Verified period reign marks on the base
  • •Subtle 'orange peel' glaze texture indicating age

Grade & condition

Presence of hairline cracks at the neck, handle restorations, and firing faults.

Rarity & demand

AverageModerate demandModerate liquidity
Browse similar ceramics objects

For informational purposes only, not a formal appraisal.

FROM THE CABINET OF

KI

king888
Wonderseeker•1 item

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