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Blue and White Fenghuang Ewer

Blue and white porcelain ewer with phoenix design and curved spout, featuring a modern mark on the base. - view 1
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Estimated value

$40 - $120

Rarity

Ordinary(3/10)

Era

Mid to late 20th century

Origin

🇨🇳 China

Authenticity

Low(15%)
8

BLUE AND WHITE FENGHUANG EWER: IDENTIFICATION

A porcelain ewer featuring a pear-shaped body with a long curved spout and a loop handle, decorated in underglaze cobalt blue with a fenghuang (phoenix) amidst scrolling lotus vines. The vessel includes a small domed cover with a bud-shaped finial and a small attachment loop on both the handle and lid for a security chain. The base shows a thick, unglazed footrim surrounding a glazed recessed center containing a modern hand-painted alphanumeric mark.

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

Ordinary40-55%
CommonLegendary

Standard antiques commonly found at estate sales and flea markets. Plentiful supply meets modest demand.

Rarity 3/10. Curiosa currently catalogues 173 ceramics items at rarity 3 or higher.

Typical Characteristics

  • Moderate production runs
  • Common at estate sales
  • Entry-level collectibles

Confidence Factors

  • Modern alphanumeric hand-painted mark on the base inconsistent with imperial or period production
  • Simulated 'heaping and piling' lacks the true crystalline depth of authentic 14th-century examples
  • Artificially applied grime on the unglazed footrim to simulate age

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

High confidence in the identification as a modern reproduction due to the presence of modern western markings on the base and the characteristic appearance of 20th-century decorative export porcelain.

KEY EVIDENCE

  • 1The paste is visible at the footrim and appears as a modern, refined white porcelain body.
  • 2The handle and lid feature loops for a chain, a design detail common in 18th-20th century revivalist pieces.
  • 3The cobalt blue sits on top of the glaze in places (simulated spots) rather than being fully integrated into the body as seen in authentic early Ming wares.
  • 4The hand-painted 'uf.yw' mark is modern western script, confirming late-period commercial handling.

UNCERTAINTIES

  • •The artificial appearance of the 'heaping and piling' effect.
  • •The modern script inventory mark.

WHAT WOULD IMPROVE CERTAINTY

  • →Examine beneath the handle for any hidden factory stamps.
  • →Perform a 'tap test' to check for a high-pitched ring, confirming a well-fired porcelain body.
  • →Check for translucency by holding a light inside the neck.

CONDITION & GRADE

Condition

The footrim shows artificial aging with applied surface dirt. The alphanumeric mark 'uf.yw' in the center of the base is a modern addition, likely a stock or inventory code from a secondary market seller.

CERAMICS MARKET VALUE

$40 - $120

Updated: May 11, 2026

Who buys this

General decorators and collectors of Chinoiserie who appreciate the traditional aesthetic but aren't seeking investment-grade antiquities.

What increases value

  • •Appeal of the fenghuang motif
  • •Completeness including the original lid

What lowers value

  • •Modern inventory mark on the base reduces 'antique' appeal
  • •Commonality of this specific reproduction type in the export market

What makes top-tier examples

  • •Hand-thrown construction vs slip-casting
  • •Authentic period-correct marks from the Yuan or Ming dynasties
  • •Natural 'orange peel' glaze texture

Grade & condition

Chips to the spout tip, stability of the finial on the lid, and overall glaze clarity.

Rarity & demand

OrdinaryModerate demandSells quickly
Browse similar ceramics objects

For informational purposes only, not a formal appraisal.

FROM THE CABINET OF

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