Blue and White Dragon Meiping Vase

Name: Blue and White Dragon Meiping Vase
Brand: ubf6009
Availability: LimitedAvailability

A blue and white porcelain meiping vase with a dragon design and a detailed view of its unglazed, aged base. - view 1

1/2

Estimated value

$250 - $800

Rarity

Average(4/10)

BLUE AND WHITE DRAGON MEIPING VASE: IDENTIFICATION

A high-shouldered ceramic vessel known as a meiping, featuring underglaze cobalt blue decoration of a three-clawed dragon amidst clouds and stylized waves. Significant cobalt 'heaping and piling' is visible where the pigment has concentrated and oxidized during firing. The form exhibits a short neck with a slightly flared lip and a body that tapers significantly toward the base.

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

The heaping and piling effect appears overly uniform, a common trait in modern 'chemical cobalt' reproductions
The base paste lacks the 'oily' or smooth texture associated with genuine Yuan or early Ming Jingdezhen clay
The iron spots on the foot appear surface-applied rather than leaching out from the body during a high-heat reduction firing

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

The identification of the form and decorative style is certain, but the high risk of it being a 20th-century 'boutique' reproduction leads to a moderate confidence in its antique status.

KEY EVIDENCE

1Presence of 'heaping and piling' in the cobalt pigment, attempting to mimic 14th-century imports.
2Dry, flat unglazed base without the 'shrimp red' oxidation typical of early Jingdezhen wares.
3Meiping profile exhibits a somewhat stiff shoulder curve compared to the fluid lines of period originals.
4Iron spots on the base are clustered in a way that suggests artificial application after firing.

UNCERTAINTIES

•The base shows significant 'grime' that does not match the relatively clean, high-gloss surface of the glazed body.
•Uniformity of the wave patterns at the base suggests a more modern, standardized workshop hand.

WHAT WOULD IMPROVE CERTAINTY

→Close-up of the lip/rim under 10x magnification to check for micro-bubbles in the glaze.
→Short-wave UV light test to check if the 'dirt' on the base is organic or a synthetic pigment glaze.
→Tap test to observe the resonance of the body; high-fired porcelain should have a clear, metallic ring.

CONDITION & GRADE

Excellent

Grading breakdown

The vessel is structurally sound with no visible hairline fractures or repairs. Grading is based on the integrity of the glaze and the lack of traditional kiln defects.

Condition

Surface shows artificial aging on the base through ground-in dirt. No visible cracks or chips on the body, though the glaze appears unusually bright for a several-hundred-year-old object.

Weight & feel

Estimated at 2.5–3.5 kg; the base thickness suggests a heavy, slip-cast or thick-walled hand-thrown construction characteristic of modern revivals.

CERAMICS MARKET VALUE

$250 - $800

Updated: May 10, 2026

Who buys this

Collectors of 'Zhonghua Minguo' (Republic era) or late 20th-century high-quality decorative arts, and interior designers looking for 'blue and white' aesthetics.

What increases value

•Quality of the hand-painting on the dragon's scales
•Clarity of the cobalt blue pigment
•Overall height and presence of the vessel

What lowers value

•Confirmation as a modern reproduction significantly lowers value to decorative rather than investment levels
•Any hidden cracks or repairs revealed by UV light

What makes top-tier examples

•Genuine 14th-century examples possess an 'orange peel' texture to the glaze
•Authentic period bases show natural kiln-fire oxidation (orange/red tint) at the glaze line