Chinese Bowl, Swatow? Old or new?

Discussion in 'Pottery, Glass, and Porcelain' started by ValerieK, Apr 15, 2018.

  1. ValerieK

    ValerieK Well-Known Member

    I've had this bowl for a few years now, and I love it whatever it is, but I really would like to find out more. I was told that it was in the style of Swatow ware, and that does seem to be right. I understand that the strange unglazed circle is characteristic of ware exported to Malaysia and Indonesia, although I don't know why this was. After looking at lots of Swatow ware images, I can see that my bowl has much bolder colours than most of the ones pictured, and it has no obvious signs of wear. It certainly hasn't been dredged up from a shipwreck, like so many of the ones online! There are two chips, one looks new and one looks older, but I don't feel that there is any age to this bowl. The fish design (which I love) looks more like modern studio pottery than the abstract swirls of most Swatow ware.
    So, is this a reproduction made for the tourist trade, or a modern piece made for the same use that the early ones were made, or what else? I don't think it could be a fake made to fool people, even the originals aren't very expensive, so they would hardly be worth faking, and the abstract swirls of the early pieces would be easier to do than this design. Any comments would be welcome!

    (For some reason there seem to be two copies of the first image but one upload, please just scroll down for the back!)

    Fish Bowl - 1.jpg Fish Bowl - 1.jpg Fish Bowl - 1 (1).jpg
     
    Christmasjoy and aaroncab like this.
  2. say_it_slowly

    say_it_slowly The worst prison is a closed heart

    I think the unglazed circle is so that the bowls can be stacked one inside another for firing. That way they don't stick together when the glaze is hot.
     
    Christmasjoy likes this.
  3. ValerieK

    ValerieK Well-Known Member

    Thanks for this, say_it_slowly! Yes, I think there is a distinct advantage to the potter, to be able to leave the unglazed circle, but I would have thought that it was a disadvantage to the customer. Maybe it cut down on wastage so much that the wares were cheaper, and the Asian market liked cheaper bowls. Or perhaps the bowls kept the contents cooler because they were more permeable to water - maybe they could have been stood in a tray of water, and have it evaporate. With my bowl, I would think that the unglazed circle would be off-putting to a modern customer - apart from me, of course! - so I am really puzzled as to when it was made, and for whom.
     
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