'Mark and Period' (M+P) is an old collector's reference that originally was only referring to Imperial porcelain that was identified with the correct mark of its real period. Thus the porcelain should not only be Imperial, of Imperial standard, by Imperial design, and ordered by the Emperor, but should also be correctly marked as such. Later days collectors have by and by softened up that label a bit but I still think we should still be aware of its origin.
To be noted, all Imperial porcelain is not marked. All marked pieces are not Imperial. Not all Imperial porcelain is made and fired at the Imperial kiln. Not all porcelain made and fired at the Imperial kiln is Imperial.
Kiln is here used as an approximation of the Chinese word yao meaning ware and Guanyao, meaning Imperial wares. Etc.
Mark and Period (M+P):
Any ceramic piece that has the correct nianhao (reign mark) for the period during which it was made is considered "Mark and Period" (often abbreviated as M+P). This means that the piece was produced in the same era as the reign mark indicates, but it does not necessarily imply any specific connection to the imperial court.
Imperial Mark and Period:
For a piece to be considered "Imperial Mark and Period," it must have been designed and ordered specifically for the imperial court. These pieces are exceptionally rare and are distinguished by their superior quality. One way to identify an imperial piece is by examining its measurements down to the last decimal. Pieces created for the imperial court had to adhere to exact measurements to ensure uniformity. Even a slight deviation in size, such as a diameter of 16.2 cm versus the expected 16.7 cm, can indicate that the piece is not imperial. This stringent adherence to precise measurements is a lesser-known but crucial factor in authenticating imperial ceramics.
Key Distinctions:
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