This post is dedicated to European ceramics inspired by antique Chinese and Japanese porcelain or other Oriental objects. Europe has a long history of trade with these countries so it is not surprising that many European potters were inspired by their designs and attempted to recreate them in order to capitalize on their popularity. All objects pictured below are from our own collection (some already sold). We will keep updating this page as we come across any additional examples of European ‘Chinoiserie’ or ‘Japanesque’ ceramics influenced by Oriental designs.
Last update: August 2024
Beautiful antique Meissen porcelain dish decorated with ‘Yellow Tiger’ pattern based on Japanese Kakiemon porcelain. Marked with underglaze blue swords mark. Knaufzeit period, 1860-1924.
Very rare early 20th century dish by French artist Gabriel Fourmaintraux (1886-1984). Decorated in Kakiemon style with a scene featuring dragon coiled around a bamboo and a tiger gazing up to the sky. This pattern was copied either from the original 17th century Japanese Arita piece or from one of later European copies of this type (such as those produced by Chelsea Porcelain Manufactory during the mid-18th century). Marked with Sun symbol to the base with initials GF inside and inscribed Desvres France 20500.
French Chantilly decorated Limoges porcelain plate in Kakiemon style. Marked with traditional red hunting horn mark and inscribed Chantilly, décoré à la main. Green Limoges, France stamp with overpainted flowers. 20th century.
French Limoges porcelain plate decorated in the manner of Chinese Qing dynasty famille verte porcelain. Marked with iron red Chantilly hunting horn mark and with France déposé biscuit stamped mark used by C. Ahrenfeldt between 1894-1930.
Antique Haviland and Co. Japanese Fan-Shaped Platter by Dammouse. Fleurs Parisiennes Pattern by Girardin. Rare Limoges porcelain platter by Haviland and Co. produced during the peak of French Japonisme movement of the late 19th century. Porcelain blank was designed by A. Dammouse and is based on the shape of Japanese war fans (gunbai-uchiwa). Hand-painted impressionist decoration from the series ‘Fleurs Parisiennes’ created in 1882 by J. Girardin. Green H & Co. L mark to the base used by Haviland between 1876 and 1889.
Samson, Edmé et Cie, Paris – jardinière withChinese style brown-dressed mask handles and famille rose type decoration featuring exotic birds and oversized peonies. Marked with underglaze blue ‘S’ mark.
Porcelain tray by Samson of Paris, done in typical manner of Chinese famille rose export porcelain. Red pseudo-Chinese mark on the back typically found on Samson porcelain copying Chinese designs.
Rare Coalport imari style plate decorated in ‘money tree’ or ‘rock and tree’ pattern. Impressed number 2 on the back used between c. 1815 and 1825.
Highly unusual antique English Chinese style clobbered dish. Transfer-printed underglaze blue fence pattern with bamboo, peonies and scholar’s rocks is combined with hand-painted overglaze polychrome decoration done in the manner of C.J. Mason. Iron red pseudo-Chinese artemisia leaf mark underneath. It’s interesting to note that outlines of dragons are present in the transfer-printed underglaze pattern.
Another English ‘clobbered’ plate with dragon and butterflies painted in the manner of Miles or C. J. Mason. Red nine-character pseudo Chinese mark to the base. This pattern and mark combination is often found on clobbered Chinese export porcelain.
Pair of 19th century miniature teapots decorated by C.J. Mason around c.1840-45. Decorated in Chinoiserie pattern featuring dragons, flowers and butterflies. Each marked with characteristic rectangular iron red pseudo-Chinese mark to the base.
Antique Mason’s Ironstone Bandana Pattern Pot Pourri Vase with Blue Handles. Stunning Mason’s chinoiserie gilt vase in the Bandana pattern featuring transfer-printed and hand-coloured Foo lions against gold background. Impressive blue twin handles imitating original Chinese examples. Underglaze blue pseudo Chinese Jiaqing (1796-1820) reign mark to the base.
Rare antique C. J. Mason & Co. ironstone vase featuring transfer-printed pattern imitating Chinese export porcelain and with two colourful applied chimeras on the shoulder. Base stamped with underglaze blue pseudo-Chinese reign mark of Emperor Jiaqing. Similar pattern illustrated in the book ‘Chinese Whispers: Chinoiserie in Britain 1650-1930’ is dated c. 1830-1845.
Pair of Mason’s Ironstone bandana pattern lidded vases, c. 1870-1880. Each with iron red pattern number B3122 to the base.
Pair of early 19th century Mason’s ironstone square-form vases with Chinese style handles and cartouches with transfer printed designs imitating Chinese export porcelain. Rest of the vases decorated in pseudo tobacco leaf pattern set against a heavily gilded cobalt blue background. Not marked.
Antique Royal Worcester Porcelain Japanesque Brush Washer with Chilong Dragon. Very rare Royal Worcester Japanesque porcelain calligraphy brush washer or a small vase in Chinese style with figure of a chilong moulded in high relief against a plain background with floral motifs moulded in low relief all around. Green Royal Worcester date mark to the base with number 77 below and stamped M for year of production 1877. Additional red inscription “CN” next to the date mark. Catalogued as shape #573 (Harry Sandon, Royal Worcester Porcelain from 1862 to the Present, London, Barrie and Jenkins, 1975)
Slightly later version of the same ‘Japanesque’ design. Relief moulded peony scrolls are in this case highlighted in underglaze blue. Foot and rim decorated with black petal-shaped border and gold accents. Purple Royal Worcester date mark to the base with letter O for year of production 1889.
Antique Royal Worcester Japanesque Spill Vase With Relief Moulded Scenes. Very rare Royal Worcester quatrefoil shaped spill vase with relief moulded oriental scenes inspired by Japanese and Chinese carved calligraphy brush washers. Body is supported by two beautiful three-dimensional pine trees on each side of the vase. Fully gilded reticulated rim. A fantastic piece produced during the Aesthetic Movement of the late 19th century. Green date mark to the base dated 1884 and inscribed initials “BK”. Stamped 956 for catalogue shape #956.
Rare antique Royal Worcester ewer modelled after a Persian or Ottoman example. Marked with purple backstamp with letter Z for the year of production 1888, shape number 1191 and RdN 62252.
This is a more modern vase produced by Lladro between 1972-79 and made in the manner of Chinese prunus blossom decorated examples, complete with attached display stand copying carved wooden originals. Designed by Vincente Martinez.
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I would like to share with you some fascinating old photos of the Summer Palace in Beijing, made and distributed by Mei Li Photograhpic Studio during the late 1920s or 1930s. We’ve acquired two separate sets of these. First one is a set of four framed hand-tinted panoramic shots measuring approx. 30×10 cm. Second set features 23 smaller black and white photos with typewritten English explanations on the back. Hope you’ll enjoy these as much as we did!
Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests in The Temple of Heaven
Camel Back Bridge (Jade Belt Bridge)
Tower of Buddhist Incense (Foxiang Ge) overlooking Kunming Lake
Seventeen-Arch Bridge connecting the shore of the lake with Nanhu Island
Mei Li Photographic Studio 美麗照相舘 original label on the back of the frames. Use of the name ‘Peiping’ dates these somewhere between 1928-1937, Republic period.
Second set of photographs came in this brown paper envelope titled 萬壽山, SUMMER PALACE, All With English Explanations
Summer Palace – Bronze Cow and Seventeen Arch Bridge
Summer Palace – Camel Back Bridge
Forbidden City – Throne in Reception Hall
Forbidden City – Throne in Pao Ho Hall
Summer Palace – Empress Dowager’s Garden
Summer Palace – Empress Dowager’s Celebration Hall
See our latest auctions and new items added to our shop this month. Read the full list below.
Visit Asian Art Curator to bid on latest eBay auctions closing this week. Featured auctions are being added throughout the week so make sure to stay up to date! Our Resource Hubfeatures a complete list of Asian art resources that can be found on our website.
A fantastic miniature Japanese mixed metal vase by Nogawa Noboru dating to the late 19th century, Meiji period. Silver and gold inlaid decoration depicting pair of herons on one side and blossoming prunus branch on the other. Marked to the base with carved hiragana character の (“no”) and three vertical lines in the background for 川 (“kawa”, or “gawa” in compounds).
Wonderful Chinese Han dynasty pottery jar of cylindrical form, painted in black, orange and white pigments with stylized curvilinear cloud designs derived from lacquer objects popular during the late Zhou and early Han dynasties. Rare to find these preserved in such a good condition as the decoration on the surface is extremely delicate and rubs off easily.
Fantastic antique Chinese boxwood carving of the Daoist Goddess of Longevity and protector of women, Magu (麻姑, ‘hemp maid’). She is accompanied by a spotted deer and carries peaches and a basket in her hands. This is a popular Chinese motif known as ‘Magu Xian Shou’. Wonderful little carving with a lovely patina.
Antique Chinese green glazed pottery figure depicting a seated hound, most probably a Saluqi. This is believed to be one of the earliest domesticated breeds (dating back to the Sumerian empire, 7000-6000 BC) and represented in Chinese art since the Tang dynasty. Present example dates to c. Ming dynasty.
Rare pair of late 19th century Chinese (Cantonese) export porcelain vases with applied chimeras. Pattern is commonly referred to as ‘hundred scholars’ and is characteristic of Japanese Kutani porcelain. This type of decoration might have been a response of Chinese decorators to increased popularity of Japanese motifs during the craze of Japonisme in Europe in the second half of the 19th century.
Height: approx. 12.5 cm (slightly different heights)
Antique Indian bronze or similar copper alloy figure of a fierce Hindu deity Durga Mahishasuramardini – slayer of Mahishasura the buffalo demon. In good antique condition with significant ritual wear, marks and small losses as per photographs.
Fine antique Japanese Kutani porcelain incense burner with a pierced cover. Decorated all over in underglaze blue and featuring butterflies with peony scrolls. Stylized underglaze blue square 九谷 Kutani mark underneath. In excellent condition as per photographs.
Very pretty antique Japanese cobalt-ground Satsuma pottery bowl with shaped rim. Depicting an outdoor scene with ladies and children, set against a backdrop of Mt. Fuji and boats on a lake. Marked Kusube 楠部 to the base.
Charming pair of antique Japanese cloisonné incense burners with floral decoration. Both in great antique condition with some age-related surface wear and minor enamel loss inside where feet are attached.
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