Porcelain Plaques

Paintings on Porcelain

Evaluating porcelain plaques with paintings can be complicated, not the least because many are 20th century, and the artists painting them have been widely copied.

For dating porcelain plaques we have to try to verify the possible age of the porcelain itself.

What is required to check them via pictures:

First there should be a closeup shot of a partial area on the back available, to check for any manufacturing traces.
Then the size is needed for evaluation, because the greatest number of plaques were made in the 20th century. In the 19th century, that is until the late Qing dynasty,plaques could only be manufactured in small sizes. That is simply because it was technically difficult to make large flat ones with the tools and methods used in those times.
If the size is large, it is mostly possible to exclude the 19th century as possible age. If small both Qing dynasty and later in the 20th century is possible.

If painting style, colors and signed artist all conform to the 19th century, then an older item is likely. Otherwise we check the black writing for abrasion that occurs on real Qianjiang porcelain over time from handling. The black color is the one most easily abraded and pitch black writing normally points to more recent items.

If the artist's name is given, and it is a relatively unknown painter, then that is about where dating stops. The name or cyclical date, if present, can be fake or genuine. They are only of use if the porcelain and its painting show an age that could conform to the same age.
Unless it is a famous painter's work it is difficult to identify authenticity from style, etc.  With famous artists the content and style, as well as the hand-writing can be checked via comparison to other works of the artist.

However, this requires an eye for paintings and Chinese calligraphy, a specialty that differs from antique porcelain identification. It is usually only worthwhile to research this if a high value item is suspected.
Mostly only a number of 20th century porcelain painters have that kind of value.