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Chinese Blue and White 'Meiping' Vase with Figurative Scene

Large Chinese blue and white meiping vase with a narrative scene of a man on a horse, featuring a heavily stained unglazed base. - view 1
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Estimated value

$150 - $450

Rarity

Average(4/10)

Era

Late 20th Century

Origin

🇨🇳 China

Authenticity

Low(15%)
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CHINESE BLUE AND WHITE 'MEIPING' VASE WITH FIGURATIVE SCENE: IDENTIFICATION

A high-shouldered ceramic meiping vase featuring underglaze blue decoration. The central register depicts a narrative scene with an equestrian figure and attendants amidst pines and craggy rocks, executed in a style reminiscent of Yuan or early Ming 'Interregnum' period wares. The shoulder is decorated with a scrolling lotus band, while the base features elongated lappets. The glaze exhibits a characteristic blue-white tint with visible iron-spotting in the cobalt application.

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

  • Artificial 'iron spots' in the blue pigment appear forced rather than natural metallic precipitation
  • Base staining is overly uniform and typical of modern chemical aging seen in Jingdezhen copies
  • Drawing style lacks the fluid calligraphic line weight found in authentic 15th-century examples

Expert review recommended. Consider consulting a specialist before making purchasing decisions.

How does authenticity detection work?

CERAMICIST'S ASSESSMENT

Asian Art Specialist

East Asian Art Expert

The visual indicators of artificial aging on the base and the mechanical nature of the underglaze painting provide strong evidence for a modern attribution.

KEY EVIDENCE

  • 1The 'heaped and piled' effect (iron spots) is concentrated in a way that suggests modern stippling rather than natural kiln firing of smalt cobalt.
  • 2The base paste is excessively gritty and the dark spotting is non-organic, typical of 'dirt' mixed with adhesive to simulate age.
  • 3The pine needles and rock formations are rendered with simplified, repetitive strokes inconsistent with the variability of Ming brushwork.

UNCERTAINTIES

  • •The heavy base staining (image 2) is a classic indicator of a deliberate attempt to deceive regarding the object's age.

WHAT WOULD IMPROVE CERTAINTY

  • →Examine the interior for horizontal throwing rings which can indicate hand-turning vs. slip-casting.
  • →Perform a non-destructive UV light inspection to check for hidden repairs or modern glaze additives.
  • →Compare the specific narrative scene to known 14th-century woodblock prints.

CONDITION & GRADE

Condition

Surface appears intact with no visible structural cracks. Base shows aggressive artificial aging techniques including chemical staining to simulate centuries of burial.

Weight & feel

Estimated at 2.5 to 3.5 kg based on size and typical wall thickness of modern heavy-bodied porcelain.

CERAMICS MARKET VALUE

$150 - $450

Updated: May 11, 2026

Who buys this

Primarily sought by home decorators or novice collectors looking for an antique aesthetic without the high cost of authentic period wares.

What increases value

  • •Visual scale and decorative impact
  • •Quality of the figurative painting relative to other modern copies

What lowers value

  • •Clear identification as a modern reproduction by experts significantly caps value
  • •Oversupply of similar high-quality copies from Jingdezhen

What makes top-tier examples

  • •Authentic 'heaped and piled' effect from imported Samarra cobalt
  • •Presence of a genuine period reign mark (unlikely here)
  • •Naturally occurring 'sunken' iron spots that break the glaze surface

Grade & condition

Glaze clarity, painting detail, and evidence of hand-throwing.

Rarity & demand

AverageModerate demandModerate liquidity
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For informational purposes only, not a formal appraisal.

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