How to Date Chinese Porcelain By The Foot Rims
Foot rims of Chinese porcelain items could be a very helpful tool when trying to determine whether they are genuine antiques or just one of many modern reproductions that are flooding the market at the moment. When you recognize the trends and forms used during certain periods and dynasties, it is usually quite easy to spot when there is something obviously ‘wrong’ with the piece. However, it’s not always easy to spot a fake based on the foot rim alone, so it is always important to take into consideration all elements of your item when trying to determine its age – material, form, glaze, enamels, firing imperfections, style of the decoration, surface wear, similar known examples etc.
This page lists photos of Chinese foot rims on ceramic pieces dating from the Ming Dynasty to the 20th century. All photos are ours and of items currently in our collection or items that we’ve handled in the past. None of these items were scientifically tested to determine their exact age and all dates provided are based on our own opinion and experience so they might be slightly off. Use this material for reference only as it doesn’t reflect the total variability of pieces produced during these periods.
For the dating of Chinese porcelain marks, see our Chinese Porcelain Marks Identification Guide.
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Ming Dynasty (1368-1644)
Longquan celadon glazed tripod censer, c. 15th-16th century, Ming Dynasty
Junyao type flambe glazed tea bowl, c. 15th-16th century, Ming Dynasty
Blue and white Swatow dish with typical ‘messy’ base with remnants of kiln grit, c. Wanli period, late 16th-early 17th century.
Blue and white porcelain dish with coiled chilong design, c. Wanli period, late 16th-early 17th century.
Another dish with ‘messy’ glazing and a lot of kiln grit. Late Ming dynasty, first half of the 17th century
Rectangular blue and white ‘ko-sometsuke’ dish with a leaping carp, late Ming dynasty, first half of the 17th century
Early Qing Dynasty – Kangxi/Yongzheng Period
Early Kangxi period wucai decorated charger with underglaze blue artemisia leaf mark inside a double circle, late 17th-early 18th century.
Dehua (‘Blanc de Chine’) porcelain foo lion joss stick holder, late 17th century, Kangxi period.
Kangxi period Imari decorated octagonal teapot stand, early 18th century.
Kangxi period Imari decorated teacup, early 18th century.
Kangxi period ‘Long Eliza’ vase with later European decoration and pseudo-Chinese iron red mark painted over original underglaze blue mark, early 18th century.
Kangxi period anhua decorated porcelain dish with later European ‘Amsterdam bont’ overglaze decoration, early 18th century.
Kangxi-Yongzheng period blue and white porcelain dish, early 18th century
Famille rose decorated export porcelain dish, c. Yongzheng period (1722-1735)
Qing Dynasty – Qianlong Period (1735-1796)
Early Qianlong period (1735-1796) famille rose decorated export dish.
Early Qianlong period (1735-1796) export dish.
Qianlong period export dish with later European ‘clobbered’ decoration.
Qianlong period blue and white decorated large tureen stand, 18th century.
Oval blue and white decorated dish with landscape framed by Fitzhugh-type border, c. 1770.
Qianlong period blue and white porcelain gravy boat based on European form, 18th century.
Famille rose decorated Qianlong period pseudo-tobacco leaf pattern gravy/sauce boat, 18th century.
Qianlong period ‘en grisaille’ decorated porcelain tea caddy, 18th century.
Later Qianlong period famille rose decorated spoon rest, 18th century.
Later Qianlong period export bowl decorated in typical ‘Mandarin’ palette, 18th century.
Qing Dynasty – Early 19th Century
Jiaqing period export porcelain dish with dove carrying an olive branch, early 19th century.
Famille rose decorated bowl with six-character Jiaqing seal mark, early 19th century.
Famille rose ‘Wu Shuang Pu’ decorated round covered pot with six-character Daoguang seal mark, early 19th century.
Later Qing Dynasty – 19th/Early 20th Centry
Famille rose decorated cup with four-character Tongzhi seal mark, second half of the 19th century.
Relief moulded famille rose decorated bitong brush pot, 19th century.
Famille rose decorated pedestal dish with bats, second half of the 19th century.
Famille rose decorated wine pot with butterflies, second half of the 19th century.
Canton famille rose porcelain dish, 19th century.
Rose mandarin pattern Canton famille rose dish, second half of the 19th century.
Famille rose decorated ‘Nanking ware’ warrior vase with incised mark, late 19th century.
Iron red decorated porcelain charger, Guangxu period, late 19th-early 20th century.
Republic Period (1912-1949)
Famille rose decorated dragon and fenghuang dish with hand-painted iron red Qianlong mark, Guangxu-Republic period.
Famille rose decorated birthday bowl with stamped four-character Qianlong mark, Republic period.
Famille rose decorated kamcheng pot with stamped red four-character mark, Republic period.
Famille rose decorated charger with foo lions, stamped six-character Qianlong mark and Kangxi-style groove foot rim, Republic period.
People’s Republic of China (PRoC) – post-1949
Late Republic – early PRoC famille rose decorated vase with stamped four-character Qianlong seal mark.
Early PRoC famille rose decorated wall plate with maidens in the garden and hand-painted four-character Qianlong mark.
A 20th century famille rose decorated porcelain charger with bats and peaches. Stamped with a six-character China, Jingdezhen mark.
Partially transfer-printed PRoC famille rose decorated bottle vase with figural scenes and six-character Guangxu reign mark.
Later 20th century doucai jar with six-character underglaze blue Chenghua reign mark inside double circles.
Later 20th century famille rose decorated vase with underglaze blue six-character Qianlong seal mark.
Modern 20th century famille rose vase with printed blue four-character Yongzheng reign mark.
Modern Kangxi style floor vase with figural scenes.
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