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I had seen a pair of tea bowls and saucers while visiting Boston in April, and am considering buying one or both. I have a collection of about 3 dozen pieces of 18th C. English, French, and Swiss porcelain and would like a Chinese piece to show how English porcelain copied Chinese.
I know nothing about Chinese porcelain and don't want to get ripped off, or end up with a fake.
The clear, bright blue and white tea bowls and saucers were listed as Kangxi, 1690 to 1700, and were quite striking with "ruffled" rims. I can't remember the marks...what should I look for or ask about when I call? Prices were $427.50 for each tea bowl and saucer.
I always buy my other 18th C. pieces from reputable, well-known shop owners either in the U.S, Canada or Britain, and have never had a problem with getting a fake.
I know it might be impossible to give me an opinion without seeing at least a photo or digital image, but any advise you could give would be appreciated. I was quite taken by these tea bowls and saucers, but know better than to buy something on impulse that I'm not sure about.
Thank you.
I would without seeing these teacups and saucers advice against them.
It is specifically the "ruffled" edge which makes me suspicious. This specific feature are utterly uncommon during the Kangxi period, so uncommon that there actually is reason to believe that the ones I can remember have seen was not of the period.
Most probably these have been made at the turn of the 19h century maybe even as late as into the 1950s. there is a well known class of porcelain imitating Kangxi which is very hard to spot except that the glaze is too glossy and they have the appearance of glass rather then porcelain. The blue is very clear and bright and the shapes are just a bit too elaborate.
I hope this helps at least some. Unfortunately I don't have any proper reference pieces to show, except just one set of fake Kangxi cups of the date I am referring to.
I hope this helps at least some anyway. Now, don't hold this against the antiques dealer you mentioned. These pieces are very hard to spot.
Thank you for your interest.
Best regards,
Jan-Erik Nilsson
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