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Antique European ceramics inspired by Chinese and Japanese porcelain

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
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.
Antique French Porcelain Plate in Japanese Kakiemon Style. Gabriel Fourmaintraux
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.
Fine French Limoges Chantilly Decorated Japanese Kakiemon Style Porcelain Plate
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.
Fine French CHARLES AHRENFELDT Limoges Plate in Chinese Famille Verte Style
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. 1882-1889
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.
Jardiniere with mask handles and famille rose style decoration by Samson, Edmé et Cie, Paris
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.
Antique English Coalport Imari Style Money Tree Plate Impressed Mark c.1815-1825
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.
Rare Antique 19th c. Staffordshire Clobbered Chinoiserie Ironstone Dish
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.
Antique English Clobbered Ironstone Plate with Dragon and Butterfly Decoration. In the manner of Miles or C. J. Mason, c. 1820
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.
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
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)
Antique Royal Worcester Japanesque Brush Washer with Chilong Dragon
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
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.
Rare Vintage Lladro Chinese Style Porcelain Vase by Vincente Martinez 1972-79
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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Identification of Asian Antiques. Translation of Chinese and Japanese Porcelain Marks