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Old base and new body? My Kangxi vase and age

by J.Lim
(Sydney, NSW)

Dear Peter
A second question from me. And I apologise for my awful camera skills.

Yesterday I bought a vase at an auction. The auction did not make any representations about the age of the vase at all, but I bought it anyway as I really like the paintwork. I assumed it was new because, as you see, the body is somewhat even in texture (although not dead shiny).
Newness indications on body:
-very even flat glaze, with a greyish cast and satiny texture but quite flat
- no rust spots or voids apart from one large dint near the bottom with a rust coloured interior
- very even cobalt with few bubbles or unevenness - no heap-and-piling


However, on inverting the vase I see the unmistakable signs of age. The mark is the empty double ring, which might indicate Kangxi or a later replica. I note the following signs of age (the photo is awful I know):
- the same satiny, greyish glaze as the body, fairly lumpy like the "mutton fat" effect
- crackles near the foot, some with rusty colour in them
- two mid sized rust spots and a couple of tiny ones
- several dints and voids in the glaze

I have several genuine 18th century pieces and these age signs look similar.

Maybe this is a 19th century replica of a Kangxi? (I doubt this is actual 18th century since the blue is so even). Or maybe this is an old base with a new body attached?

I have stared my eyes out and can see NO signs of a seam or other indication that the base was originally separate. Yet how can the one look old while the other is so smooth??

Thanks for your help!

Regards
J.Lim

Comments for Old base and new body? My Kangxi vase and age

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Oct 17, 2011
 chemical blue
by: peter

"Chemical blue" means "chemical blue pigment". Please see the explanation here:
https://www.chinese-antique-porcelain.com/blue-pigments.html
Oct 17, 2011
 Thanks for the response!
by: J.L.


Hi Peter

Thanks a lot for your detailed comments again! Since the vase is translucent I will look at it over a bright light and look for a seam.

I will also upload better photos tomorrow so you can see the texture of the vase and the indications on its base.

By the way, what is "chemical blue", and what does it signify if present or absent?
Oct 16, 2011
 vase
by: peter

I have stared my eyes out and can see NO signs of a seam or other indication that the base was originally separate. Yet how can the one look old while the other is so smooth??

I see you you know what to look for! :-)
Anyway, if the bottom was added later the seam would be covered with glaze and refired. So, if it is done well, there would be only traces of this visible inside, probably. But with a narrow neck like this it is almost impossible to check.
The first thing that struck me as odd is the color of the foot rim. This gray rim is often a sign of fakes.

Anyway, as to rust spots and bubbles, with 18th century porcelain you probably could not expect the spots or large bubbles, as production quality was at its best at the time.

Yesterday I bought a vase at an auction. The auction did not make any representations about the age of the vase at all, but I bought it

I assume it was a small auction house? They often are unable to verify items, unlike the larger ones). No representation means either they don't know, or they don't want to tell that it is newer (=not antique)... and the risk is the buyer's.

To me the decoration resembles export porcelain, but from these pictures it doesn't look like if chemical blue (洋藍) was used, however. With a landscape decoration or human figures there might be some additional points to check, but floral designs remained sometimes similar for a long time, especially with export wares. However, if it is export, then it should be possible to find a similar pattern sometime, later, as these ware were produced in large numbers and there must be others.

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