We’ve updated our website and added some great new resources for dealers, collectors and anyone else interested in Asian art. These include:
Chinese marks identification page with a simple guide on how to read and identify reign marks on antique Chinese porcelain, Terminology of Asian artpage with a glossary of frequently used terms and their meaning, and Japanese marks identification database that has been greatly expanded and now also includes links to examples of ceramics for each mark.
Asian Art Curator page has also been streamlined and now includes special group searches for misspelled eBay listings, as well as direct access to all the resources mentioned above.
We’ve added many new interesting objects to our eBay shop this month. See the list below for current auctions and new Buy It Now items.
Fantastic large Chinese covered cloisonné bowl decorated with auspicious symbols including eight Buddhist precious objects (Ashtamangala), Shou characters and bats on a blue ground with clouds. Interior of both bowl and cover fully enamelled with central floral design surrounded by foliate scrolls. Round openwork carved jade plaque at the top of the lid featuring Fenghuang (phoenix) bird.
Fine antique Japanese blue-ground silver wire cloisonne jardiniere / plant pot depicting various flowers and a flying bird. Very nicely done with beautiful details and colours all around.
Fine early 20th century Chinese black monochrome cloisonné brush washer with beautiful even fish-scale pattern all over with ruyi-head border along the outside of the rim and geometric central medallion with floral design on the inside. Inside of the foot enamelled blue with cloud pattern and apocryphal four-character Ming mark inside red square.
Charming late Ming Dynasty 17th century Swatow (Zhangzhou) ware blue and white plate. Large central medallion depicting three birds flying among clouds and framed by a typical fish scale pattern border with four smaller floral medallions.
Antique Chinese blue and white Kraak porcelain saucer dish. Without any label but wear to the glaze and remnants of sea creatures on the reverse indicate that this came from a shipwreck – same type of saucer was found in Ca Mau shipwreck dated c. 1725, Yongzheng period but it’s not clear whether this example belong to that particular shipwreck.
Fine 18th century Chinese export blue and white porcelain saucer with nicely painted river or lake landscape with two figures in boats between islands with trees and small huts. Framed by a typical diaper border along the rim. Really beautiful example!
Fine Tibetan personal seal with silver repoussé decoration featuring coiling dragon and stylised lotus flowers. Same lotus symbol is repeated on the iron base with remnants of pigment still visible in the grooves.
Fine Japanese Satsuma pottery dish decorated with beautifully hand-painted figural temple scene framed by a gilt geometric border. Marked Kinzan 錦山 to the base.
Fine Japanese Satsuma pottery bowl decorated with beautifully hand-painted figural scene on the inside and stunning floral decoration on the outside. Marked Choshuzan 長州山 to the base.
Rare Chinese porcelain snuff bottle painted en grisaille on iridescent black-enamel ground with a continuous scene of Han Yu riding on the horseback crossing a bridge, with his attendant following behind and holding a prunus branch. Base inscribed with four-character seal mark – possibly apocryphal Ming mark.
This page lists Chinese porcelain reign marks and seal marks of Qing and Ming Dynasty Emperors. Name of each Emperor is highlighted in red. Guide below explains how to read Chinese marks and meaning of the symbols surrounding the Emperor’s name. Additional antique and modern Chinese porcelain marks, as well as various pseudo-Chinese marks can be found at the bottom of this page.
Last update: June 2025
Chinese reign marks are read in columns, right to left and top to bottom. Mark on the left is written in traditional kaishu script while the mark on the right is written in stylized zhuanshu seal script. First two characters indentify the dynasty – in this case ‘Da Qing’ 大清 or Great Qing dynasty (blue). Next two characters (red) are the name of the emperor – in this case Qianlong 乾隆. Last two characters ‘Nian Zhi’ 年製 (green) simply mean made (during the reign of). Thus, we can read this reign mark as Made in the Great Qing Dynasty during the reign of the Emperor Qianlong.
Each six-character Chinese reign mark can also be written in its four-character form by simply omitting the first two characters – see Jiaqing mark below written simply as ‘Jia Qing Nian Zhi’ 嘉慶年製 – Made during the reign of the Emperor Jiaqing.
Chinese reign and seal marks on porcelain are usually hand-written in underglaze blue or over the surface of the glaze in iron red pigment. They can sometimes also be incised or stamped/carved in relief and glazed over. Later 19th and 20th century marks are sometimes printed using rubber stamp in either red or blue.
Six-character Qianlong seal mark is one of the most commonly copied marks on later Chinese porcelain. Later versions are sometimes easy to spot as shapes of the individual characters are often very different to those used during the Qianlong period itslef. Compare this mid-20th century version of the mark to the one illustrated above.
Marks on Chinese porcelain are often ‘apocryphal’ – later pieces are commonly marked with reign marks of earlier Emperors, either as a sign of respect or to mislead the buyer.
Use our identification service to find out whether your item is a genuine antique or just a reproduction.
If you need further assistance with identification of unknown Chinese porcelain and pottery markings, please contact us.
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List of Chinese Emperors – Ming Dynasty (1368-1644)
Chongzhen (1627-1644) Tianqi (1620-1627) Taichang (1620) Wanli (1572-1620) Longqing (1566-1572) Jiajing (1521-1566) Zhengde (1505-1521) Hongzhi (1487-1505) Chenghua (1464-1487) Yingzong of Ming (1457-1464) Jingtai (1449-1457) Yingzong of Ming (1435-1449) Xuande (1425-1435) Hongxi (1424-1425) Yongle (1402-1424) Jianwen (1398-1402) Hongwu (1368-1398)
Other Marks Found on Chinese Porcelain
Marks found on antique and modern Chinese porcelain are by no means restricted to seal marks and reign marks pictured above. There are many different types of Chinese markings, symbols and pictograms that can be found on on antique ceramics – in underglaze blue as well as in overglaze enamels. Modern Chinese porcelain also features a wide variety of factory marks and signatures that are often stamped over the glaze in red or blue enamels. Below is just a small selection of these marks. We will regularly update this list.
Underglaze blue square mark with character 雅 ‘Ya’ (elegance) inside. Found on a late Ming, c. Chongzhen period (1627-1644), rectangular ko-sometsuke dish.
Underglaze blue symbol of Artemisia leaf inside double circle typical for 17th century Kangxi period porcelain. Use of reign marks during this time was restricted as a result of the political situation. This mark comes from a large wucai decorated porcelain charger. Other symbols used during this time were individual depictions of precious Buddhist symbols (Astamangala), rabbits, lingzhi fungi, incense burners and others.
Typical underglaze blue character mark 玉 ‘Yu’ (jade) found on the base of a Kangxi period (1661-1722) miniature teapot decorated in popular ‘Long Eliza’ (Lange Lijsen) pattern.
Unusual flower symbol mark found on an 18th century Chinese imari-decorated export porcelain tea bowl. Symbol is done in overglaze iron red with gold in the middle. Flower with five round petals usually represents prunus blossom.
Unusual rectangular puce mark found on an 18th century blue and white export porcelain dish decorated with puce and gold overglaze enamels.
Underglaze blue rectangular Chinese shop mark inside single or double circles – often found on 18th and 19th century porcelain. These are either geometric patterns inside a square or more commonly stylized signatures that are very often impossible to decipher. This example is from a Chinese blue and white tea bowl with later European overglaze decoration.
Square underglaze blue shop mark on a 19th century celadon-ground Canton famille rose decorated dish.
Underglaze blue four-character Kangxi (1661-1722) reign mark 康熙年製, often found on Guangxu period (1875-1908) blue and white ‘Kangxi revival’ porcelain. Four-character form of the reign mark was rarely used during the Kangxi period itself.
Very unusual iron red four-character seal mark found on a 19th century porcelain snuff bottle. It appears to be apocryphal Ming dynasty mark that reads 大明年製 ‘Da Ming Nian Zhi’.
Incised apocryphal Chenghua (1464-1487) seal mark 成化年製 inside a brown square. Commonly found on late Qing dynasty and Republic period (19th-20th century) crackle glazed examples often referred to as ‘Nanking ware’. Usually decorated either in underglaze blue or with overglaze famille rose or famille verte type enamels.
Jurentang – 居仁堂製 ‘Jurentang Zhi ‘ – this square iron red mark translates as ‘Hall of Dwelling in Benevolence’ which was the abode of the first president of Chinese Republic, Yuan Shikai (1859-1916). This early Republic period mark can sometimes also be found on later 20th century PRoC porcelain examples (usually not as neat as period examples and slightly irregular).
Rao Yongtai – impressed oval mark that reads 景镇 饶永泰 廠造 – Jingzhen (short for Jingdezhen), Rao Yongtai, factory made. Found on Republic Period porcelain (1912-1949).
He Chaozong – impressed double gourd mark and a rectangular seal ‘何朝宗印’ of this 17th century Master potter, often found on later 20th century Dehua (Blanc de Chine) figurines of Guanyin and other spiritual figures.
Hand-painted iron red rectangular four-character Qianlong mark 乾隆年製 ‘Qianlong Nian Zhi’ found on famille rose porcelain dating to the early PRoC period, mid-20th century.
Blue rectangular four-character Qianlong seal mark 乾隆年製 ‘Qianlong Nian Zhi’ (apocryphal). Found on a 20th century Chinese Canton enamel (enamel on copper) bitong brush pot.
Modern Chinese porcelain mark on famille rose decorated plate that reads 江西 程玉記 出品 ‘Jiangxi Cheng Yu Ji Chu Pin’ (Jiangxi, product of Cheng Yu Ji). Thera are many different variations of this type of stamped red circular marks known on later 20th century porcelain with different names in the middle row.
Stamped red Chinese mark on vintage porcelain that reads 中国景德镇 ‘Zhongguo Jingdezhen’ (China, Jingdezhen), MADE IN CHINA and with Jingdezhen factory number 08 at the bottom. Again, there are many variations of this mark with different factory numbers or letters.
Another version of later 20th century stamped red porcelain mark that reads 中國製造 ‘Zhongguo Zhi Zao’ MADE IN CHINA
Iron red stamped mark in seal script that reads 中國景德镇製 ‘Zhongguo Jingdezhen Zhi’ (Made in Jingdezhen, China). Found on later 20th century Chinese porcelain.
Shortened version of the mark above. Stamped iron red mark with gold background. Reads 景德镇製 ‘Jingdezhen Zhi’ (Made in Jingdezhen). Found on 20th century vintage Chinese porcelain.
Pseudo Chinese Porcelain Marks on Clobberware and European Chinoiserie Ceramics
You might sometimes come across nonsensical Chinese looking marks on Chinese porcelain that has been overdecorated (‘clobbered’) in Europe, as well as on some European porcelain and ceramics made in Chinese style. Here’s just a few examples of what these mock Chinese marks look like – they are usually done over the glaze in iron red enamel but can sometimes also be done in underglaze blue such as on some examples of Mason’s ironstone.
Iron red pseudo-Chinese square mark on the base of an 18th century Chinese blue and white porcelain dish clobbered in Europe.
Iron red pseudo-Chinese square mark on the base of a large Chinese blue and white export porcelain bowl clobbered in Europe.
Underglaze blue six-character pseudo-Chinese seal mark on a 19th century Mason’s ironstone vase in ‘bandana’ pattern featuring foo lions.
Iron red pseudo-Chinese square mark on the base of a 19th century Staffordshire dish in the manner of Miles or C. J. Mason.
Iron red pseudo-Chinese square mark on a clobbered 18th century Chinese fluted blue and white porcelain tea bowl.
Another 18th century Chinese clobbered tea bowl, this time with both original underglaze blue maker’s mark and pseudo-Chinese iron red mark painted over it in Europe.
This one is extremely rare – iron red pseudo-Japanese Kutani 九谷 mark on a 19th century Chinese porcelain dish decorated in Japanese style. You are unlikely to come across examples like this but it’s worth mentioning that they do exist!
If you need further assistance with identification of unknown Japanese porcelain and pottery markings, please contact us.
This month we are launching our new Asian Art Curator page where we will feature selected Asian art auctions currently on eBay, as well as other resources for eBay buyers including saved searches and recommended sellers. We hope that our curator’s corner will help dealers and collectors navigate through this very busy marketplace. Let us know your thoughts and suggestions!
We are also happy to announce our participation in this year’s Asia Week Paris in collaboration with Catawiki. Auctions will be published 8 July.
See the list below for current eBay auctions and a selection of recently sold Catawiki items.
Specially selected Asian art auctions currently listed on eBay. Useful eBay searches. Recommended eBay sellers. List of current Asian Art Auctions on Catawiki.
Wonderful Qianlong period porcelain dish with grisaille and gilt decorated central scene featuring eight geese, framed by cavetto with nicely preserved floral sprays in blue enamels and with gilt border running along the rim. For similar example decorated with goldfish see collection of The Metropolitan Museum in New York – object 79.2.721.
Diameter: 23 cm
eBay auction closing 5 July 2022
Recent Catawiki Auctions – make sure to follow our seller profile and social media to receive updates with our new listings
One of our unique objects will be featured in special Exclusive Chinese Art – Printemps Asiatique auction during this year’s Asia Week Paris. Mark your calendar!
Beautiful rare original Japanese woodblock print by Toyohara Kunichika – Pampas Grass (Obana): Actor Ichikawa Kuzô III as Hakamadare no Yasusuke, from the series Thirty-six Selected Flowers and Grasses (Sanjûrokkasô no uchi), 1865. In good antique condition with only minor signs of aging as per photographs.
Fantastic Chinese porcelain brush rest in the form of a reclining horse among rolling waves. In excellent condition with only some minor original firing flaws and iron oxide marks. Height: 6 cm; length: 9 cm.
Beautiful and rare original ink rubbing of Yangzhi Guanyin 楊枝觀音 taken from a stone stele dating to the Wanli Period, Ming Dynasty and based on a painting by Tang Dynasty mater Yan Liben. Very nice example mounted on a silk hanging scroll. Dimensions: scroll measures 183×63 cm, area of the rubbing is 116×52 cm
Fine Japanese sukashi tsuba of quatrefoil form depicting intertwined flowers or branches with buds and further embellished with gold. Unsigned. In very good condition with some age-related marks and minor wear to gilt decoration as per photographs. Dimensions: 6.9×6.2 cm
Lovely pair of large Chinese original paintings on silk depicting maidens and immortals emerging from the mountain fog. Nicely framed and glazed. Dimensions: each frame measures 57×19 cm; each artwork measures 43×10 cm.
Beautifully shaped Japanese black lacquered box finely decorated with subtle gilded floral motifs and insects. Domed lid features partially gilded design with flowers, butterflies and miniature framed scene. Complete set of removable compartments inside. Originally intended for storing playing cards but would make a great jewellery or trinket box. Comes with its original detachable and fully lacquered stand. Very elegant example of Japanese lacquerware.
Stunning antique Japanese scholar’s object made out of solid burr wood with beautiful surface texture and dark patina. Originally designed to hold smoking implements of traditional ‘Tabako bon’ set: hi’ire – container for lit charcoal and haifuki – tall container or a piece of bamboo for used tobacco ash. Could be also used for calligraphy brush pots or as a display stand for other scholar’s objects. Apocryphal Chinese four-character ‘Da Qing Qian Long’ mark carved to the base.
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