Identification of Authenticity: Chinese Ming and Qing Dynasty Porcelain (Complete Four Volumes) (Color Illustration Edition)

Author: Ye Peilan / Country: Mainland China
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-01-01
Features: Ceramics are an integral part of traditional Chinese culture. From the rustic and elegant ancient pottery to the exquisite and dazzling colored porcelain, the Chinese people have, through their wisdom, created a colorful journey of ceramic development, from simple to refined, leaving behind footprints of historical and cultural progress. Since modern times, among the Chinese cultural artifacts collected by museums and private collectors worldwide, ceramics have become the most representative and valuable category. The Ming and Qing dynasties were a glorious period in the history of Chinese ceramic development. During this time, in addition to traditional blue-and-white and white porcelain, colored porcelain also experienced unprecedented development. The diverse shapes, continuously innovative varieties, intricate and exquisite patterns, and superb craftsmanship of Ming and Qing ceramics made them not only a pursuit of collectors worldwide but also favorites at auctions. Since the late 1980s, the value of Ming and Qing imperial kiln porcelain has soared due to the enthusiasm of overseas buyers. Fine imperial kiln porcelain from the Ming Yongle, Xuande, and Chenghua reigns, as well as the Qing Kangxi, Yongzheng, and Qianlong reigns, are often sold at auction for hundreds of thousands or even millions of dollars, sparking a "collecting fever" for Chinese porcelain worldwide. The "collecting fever" for Ming and Qing ceramics has significantly elevated their status and price in the international market but has also led to a "revival of ancient styles" and "forgery craze" for these ceramics globally. The objects targeted for forgery are primarily the finest imperial and civilian kiln porcelain from the Ming and Qing dynasties. Some forgers fabricate shapes out of thin air, while others mimic or replicate original pieces, repaint old bodies with new glazes, or imitate old styles with new creations. There are even cases of piecing together fragments, grinding the bottoms, and adding or replacing colors. In the short term, the existence of such forgeries may only cause financial losses to porcelain enthusiasts worldwide. However, from a broader, more long-term perspective, it is an injury to traditional Chinese cultural art. Spotting fakes is easy, but identifying genuine pieces is difficult. Faced with a wide variety of forgeries, people can only uncover the false masks driven by profit by truly understanding the social culture, customs, and aesthetic styles of the Ming and Qing dynasties, thereby revealing their true identities.
Based on this, we have launched this illustrated edition of Authenticity and Forgery Identification of Ming and Qing Dynasty Chinese Porcelain. The book is organized around social background, typical wares, value assessment, shapes, body and glaze, painting, patterns, and inscriptions, covering three major categories: blue-and-white porcelain, colored-painted porcelain, and glaze-painted porcelain, providing a detailed introduction to the production of various types of Ming and Qing porcelain across different dynasties. To give readers a more intuitive understanding of Ming and Qing porcelain, the book also selects commonly forged shapes, comparing them with forgeries to help readers gain a clear of how these objects are imitated. The inclusion of "Authenticity Identification Tips" and tables closely related to the content enhances the book's focus, while additional topics such as recent auction trends for Ming and Qing porcelain, major shapes from each dynasty, and basic knowledge of ceramics help readers stay informed about the current market conditions of Ming and Qing porcelain in major auctions worldwide. The booming market for Chinese art investment is a result of economic revitalization brought about by reform and opening-up, as well as the urgent pursuit of spiritual life. The rise of Ming and Qing porcelain in the art market is inseparable from people's love for ancient Chinese culture, and this love is a driving force,...