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Chinese Blue and White Octagonal Cup, Late Qing to Republic Period (c. 1880–1930)

Top view of a Chinese octagonal blue and white porcelain cup featuring a central figure painting.

Estimated value

$80 - $250

Rarity

Ordinary(3/10)

Era

Late 19th to early 20th century

Origin

🇨🇳 China

Authenticity

Moderate(55%)
21

CHINESE BLUE AND WHITE OCTAGONAL CUP, LATE QING TO REPUBLIC PERIOD (C. 1880–1930): IDENTIFICATION

An octagonal underglaze blue porcelain cup featuring a central medallion of a seated female figure ('Meiren') in a garden setting. The interior rim is decorated with a cross-hatch diaper border interspersed with floral motifs. The glaze exhibits a slight blue-white tint characteristic of later provincial wares.

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.

CROSS-CULTURAL PARALLELS

Where This Object Echoes

Japanese Edo Ceramics1700–1850

The 'Meiren' motif was adapted into Japanese 'Bijin-ga' (beautiful person) porcelain designs during the 18th century.

Ritual & Ceremonial Use

  • •Used in the 'Scholar's Studio' context for light refreshments or as a vessel for rinsing calligraphy brushes.

Meaning Through Time

Ming/Qing Dynasty

The female figure depicted in a garden signified refined literary leisure and moral cultivation.

PRODUCTION & FIRING

The 'Meiren' (beautiful woman) motif became ubiquitous during the Kangxi period (1662–1722) and was heavily revived during the late 19th-century Tongzhi and Guangxu periods. This specific execution, featuring simplified brushwork and a faceted octagonal form, aligns with the export and domestic ...
The 'Meiren' (beautiful woman) motif became ubiquitous during the Kangxi period (1662–1722) and was heavily revived during the late 19th-century Tongzhi and Guangxu periods. This specific execution, featuring simplified brushwork and a faceted octagonal form, aligns with the export and domestic utilitarian wares produced in Jingdezhen during the transition from the Qing Dynasty to the early Republic era. Sotheby's 2021 sales of similar late Qing provincial porcelains demonstrate a steady market for these accessible Scholar's studio items.

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

  • Late Qing styles are frequently reproduced in modern Jingdezhen workshops
  • Absence of a base/footrim photo prevents verification of clay paste and wear patterns
  • The simplified 'Meiren' figure style is common in both period items and late 20th-century decorative replicas
How does authenticity detection work?

CERAMICIST'S ASSESSMENT

Asian Art Specialist

East Asian Art Expert

The form and motif are well-documented for the era, but the lack of a footrim photo and the presence of potential modern transfer characteristics limit certainty in separating a late 19th-century original from a mid-20th-century replica.

KEY EVIDENCE

  • 1Octagonal vessel geometry is consistent with late 19th-century Jingdezhen production.
  • 2The diaper border pattern is a standard late-Qing decorative shorthand.
  • 3Underglaze cobalt saturation shows the typical 'inky' consistency of late 1800s wares.
  • 4Figure's proportions and simplified facial features reflect the Republic period transition.

UNCERTAINTIES

  • •Rim decoration appears somewhat blurred, which can characterize modern slip-transfer copies.
  • •The interior glaze lacks the 'mutton-fat' depth often seen in early Qing examples.

WHAT WOULD IMPROVE CERTAINTY

  • →Macro photograph of the base and footrim to check for 'chatter marks' or oxidation.
  • →Side-profile photo to assess the sharpness of the octagonal facets.
  • →Check for any marks on the bottom (reign marks or hall marks).

CONDITION & GRADE

Grading breakdown

Presence of a visible rim chip and kiln-derived surface pitting prevents a 'Fine' designation; however, the polychromy remains vibrant without significant fading.

Condition

Small chip visible on the upper left rim edge (approx. 2mm). Minor glaze pinholes and typical firing irregularities for provincial market porcelain.

CERAMICS MARKET VALUE

$80 - $250

Updated: May 10, 2026

Who buys this

Entry-level Chinese porcelain collectors and interior designers seeking authentic scholars' table accents.

What increases value

  • •Well-formed octagonal geometry
  • •Clear, central 'Meiren' figure motif
  • •Lack of significant structural cracks

What lowers value

  • •Visible rim chips significantly reduce value for serious collectors
  • •Lack of a formal reign mark limits upper-tier auction potential

What makes top-tier examples

  • •Presence of a genuine Guangxu marks (1875–1908)
  • •High-contrast, vibrant cobalt blue without greyish undertones

Grade & condition

Condition is dictated by the severity of rim chips, glaze crazing, and the presence of kiln grit or 'mushikui' (insect-bite) glaze losses.

Rarity & demand

OrdinaryModerate demandSells quickly
Browse similar ceramics objects

For informational purposes only, not a formal appraisal.

FROM THE CABINET OF

R2

r2d2
Wonderseeker•4 items

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