How to Tell if a Chinese Vase is Valuable

Chinese Vase -

How to Tell if a Chinese Vase is Valuable

Antique pottery was made for the emperors of the Qing Dynasty, and by the time of the Ming, it became China's great industrial centre and then reached the world, and people around the world loved the production. Chinese vases are made of antique porcelain and glass. Although some people have tried to reproduce ancient vases but remember the original Chinese artwork has unique features that you can use to tell if they are precious. However, keep in mind that not all companies use the same technique to mark their work, so don't expect every ancient vase to have the same characteristics. For a novice collector, it can be a little difficult to know an authentic piece of porcelain. Since each dynasty and each era brought its porcelain type, there is no single way to check valuable pieces against modern counterfeiting.

To check if a Chinese vase is valuable, find the mark on the vase bottom. The marks on the vase bottom may indicate the company name that made the vase and the Chinese pottery name. If the vase has the name of the company and the name of the potter, it can be much more valuable than if it has only the name of the company. Marks on the vase bottom can be painted, inked, or engraved on the bottom.

How to value Chinese vases?

To check Chinese vase value, there are many factors to consider:

  • Period
  • Age
  • Artist
  • Decoration
  • Shape
  • Palette
  • What Kiln

Another factor to keep in mind is that when it comes to ancient Chinese porcelain, no one can tell the exact price, which means a vase can sell for $1000 today, but a month later, the same vase can sell for $5000 or more, so it is almost impossible to get a fair price in a market.

The best thing to do is consider the overall features of the piece, including the period, the shape, and the decoration, and base your assessment on recent auction records. The word Ming vase is usually used; it indicates something worth millions, but not necessarily; a non-imperial authentic Ming dynasty period vase can be picked up for at least $100, while a real imperial Ming vase can cost many millions depending on the decoration and vase period.

How do I know if my Chinese vase is valuable?

Here are few other factors that can help to know if Chinese vase is valuable:

Check the Vase Bottom

Turn the vase and scan the find the symbol or logo on the vase bottom. Such signs include the company name that makes the vase and its artist name. The sign is painted on the bottom of the vase or in engraved form. As to represent different years, manufacturers have different types of symbols; after identifying the symbol, you can research the same year.

Mark Identification

After finding the symbol, you need to identify the seal mark. You can usually identify the mark using an Internet search engine. If you have difficulty identifying the symbol, Reverse Image Search is helpful; in which you upload an image of the symbol and result in related images from the web. There is a comprehensive list of traces of famous manufacturers in Kovels and antique marks. You can also inquire at your local bookstore or order an antique marks glossary.

Composition Checking

When estimating the vase age, the proliferation of reproductions can be confusing. However, you can look for several clues to determine if your vase is genuine. Because really old vases were created using wood-based kilns that lacked temperature control, small mistakes were inevitable. Alternatively, modern gas-based kilns rely on mass production using molds. As a result, variations and imperfections are unusual.

The mold mark coarseness, cracks in the glass, shape asymmetry, and intense glow are some of the things that make your vase a real deal rather than a reproduction.

Review the Overmark

An overmark looks like a mark placed on the manufacturer's original mark. To see if your vase is the same, you will need to check the bottom carefully.  Original maker's mark smudging is a standard tool of the glazing process used to seal overmarks and indicate authenticity. Since this technique was used on vases from 1880 to 1930, you can adjust your vase to that extent if you find an overmark.

Get an Appraisal

To find out if your vase is an authentic antique vase, forging can be difficult for an untrained person; the best way to find out is to take it to a competent expert in the field of antiques. You can also ask a reputable antique dealer about a genuine vase, although finding a certified appraiser's valuation ensures that there is no conflict of interest.