Glaze Crackles

(Comment related to glaze crackles in Chinese Porcelain)

Q&A (continued)

F: Can you comment briefly on how to tell artificial crackles from REAL age crackles in the glaze?

A: Sure, there are other glaze crackles that are natural, and brownish and yellow crackles can be fake too! There are often also crackles in the vitreous, transparent layer of the glaze, which may only be visible with a magnifier or under certain light conditions.
If it were that easy! It requires looking at a lot of naturally occurring and artificial crackles. And even then, it is sometimes difficult to tell.
Additionally, some Chinese kilns were and are still making items with crackles for decoration, which also would be artificially induced. But there purpose is just that: decoration. Those crackles are not intended to pretend age!

Artifical crackles can be induced during firing or cooling, respectively, when the clay body and glaze expand/contract at different rates.
What I understand in view to fake crackles is: most (but not all) of the age faking crackles are of the small type like yours. Fine, very homogenous crackling, mostly uniform in color.

With natural crackling, the crackles are often not uniform in size and they go through to the surface of the glaze. With artificial crackles the vitreous glaze may have filled any fine spaces, and the surface may be completely smooth, as the crackles developed during firing.

Natural crackles will usually occur in the surface layer, and the color of the crackles is from sediments or liquids seeping into the crackles over time.
With natural crackles the extent of this discoloration may be irregular on the same item, giving an unequal appearance. With excavated items the crackles would usually contain some elements of the soil.
Further, with naturally occurring crackles often only a part of the surface may be covered, also giving an irregular appearance. Natural age crackles occur every which way, and as they are not induced artificially they often do not cover the whole bottom or surface area; that is, there is only partial crackling. Natural age crackles are sometimes unsightly, esthetically unappealing and detrimental to the overall appearance. Artificial crackles will try not to affect appearance.

Sorry, there is no shortcut to learning this by experience (=looking at many items), and please be aware that all said above is not absolute, there are always exceptions to the rule. That is why we have to consider all points to come to a conclusion whether an item is genuineor not.

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