Chinese Millifiori

Have been going thru marks, not sure if this is 30's-40's, 60's or late 1800's? Each bowl is 2 1/2" tall and measures about 4 1/8" across the top.

 

The mark is the Qianlong seal (with a couple of spelling errors), they are later of course. This style of red mark is usually inter-war to recent, they do have a bit of shading in the enamels so they might be mid 20thC, but they could also be later.

 

Thank you Ce BCA.

 

what does "shading in the enamels" refer to? The color of the apocryphal mark or the colors on the vase?

 

For example the flower petals are not one colour, but have tonality or ombre effect. This takes more time and skill, later poorly painted examples can look like paint by numbers with the colours daubed on top of a printed outline.

 

So its a good thing? I wasnt sure from the comment.

Thank you.

 

Yes, that's correct.

 

but you wouldnt see that sort of thing on older chinese ceramics?

 

Yes, but you don't take it in isolation.

It's an evidence based process, you start with the most obvious and easily distinguished then move on. So here the most obvious is the mark, it is in red and pad printed so we can be pretty much assured it's 20th century. The mark is printed and not painted, so it was likely factory made and mass produced. Then you look at glaze, form, foot rim, painting etc and you build up the detail which allows you to make an assessment. It's much easier in person holding the item than via a picture though.