Skip to main content
curiosa
Add

Chinese Blue and White Porcelain Arched Flask

Select the photograph to look closer.

Estimated value

$150 - $450

Rarity

Average(4/10)

Category

Ceramics & Pottery

Era

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

Origin

China

Visual assessment

Photo-based interpretation · not authenticated

Save to revisit in your watchlist. This does not add the object to your own collection.

28

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: Chinese Blue and White Porcelain 'Dragon and Phoenix' Charger, Chinese Blue and White Porcelain 'Peacock' Vase with Reticulated Openwork, Chinese Blue and White 'Boys at Play' Porcelain Bowl.

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

Read full story

restricting this specific motif to direct use by the emperor and his immediate household.

SCARCITY

Average · 4/10 estimated rarity

This is a qualitative collection score, not a measured survival count, market percentile or proof of authenticity.

Visual assessment

Photographs alone cannot establish authenticity. The following analysis notes have not been independently verified; references to a match or confirmation are interpretations, not documentary evidence.

  • 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.
What photo analysis can and cannot establish

ANALYSIS NOTES

AI-assisted notes based on the photographs and supplied context. These are interpretations, not an examination by a human specialist or proof of authenticity.

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.

OBSERVATIONS & INTERPRETATIONS

  • 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.
COLLECTOR GLOSSARY (3 terms)
Chilong
A stylized, often hornless dragon frequently used as an applied decorative handle or sculptural element on Chinese ceramics.
Underglaze blue
A technique where cobalt oxide pigment is painted directly onto unfired porcelain before being coated with a clear glaze and fired at high temperature.
Ruyi
A curved decorative motif resembling a ceremonial scepter or a cloud, often used as border bands on porcelain.

Condition & estimated grade

A visual condition estimate. This is not a professional grading certificate.

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

Estimate recorded: May 10, 2026

Estimate context (not a documented sale): Late 20th-century decorative pieces of this scale and form frequently sell between $150 and $450 in regional US auction houses as recorded on LiveAuctioneers in 2024-2025.

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

Questions & contributions

Explore Ceramics & Pottery

Pottery, porcelain, stoneware, earthenware, and kiln-fired objects.

Ceramics & Pottery value and rarity guide

What’s in your collection?

Keep its photographs, maker’s marks and the story you know in one object record. Start with a photo.

Add an object

Start for free. No credit card needed.