Blue White Bottle Vase 18th Century Qing Dynasty Chien Lung

After the reign of Ch’ien Lung, China entered into a period of political and economic uncertainty with increasing foreign intervention and domestic upheaval. This turbulent period saw a gradual decline in the quality of Chinese porcelain produced.

Qing Dynasty Chien Lung Blue and White Bottle Vase 18th Century

In fact, the kilns at Ching-te-Chen were destroyed by the Tai Ping rebels in 1853 and were not rebuilt until 1864. Nevertheless, throughout the later Ch’ing period, Chinese blue-and-white continued to serve as the basic utilitarian ware for everyday use among the countries of Southeast Asia and substantial quantities were exported, some of which were specially decorated to suit the tastes of specific markets such as Thailand and Vietnam.

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Qing Dynasty Blue White Porcelain Food Container

Qing Dynasty Food Container

• Bamboo shaped handles of lid and down the sides.
• Later Ch’ing (Qing) 19th century.

These covered jars and food container were in everyday use in China and were also exported to the Overseas Chinese in Southeast Asia.

An ideal glaze was perfected in which all traces of the blue/greenish tinge had finally been removed during the Qing Period (1644-1912). This combined with the refined porcelain body produced a pure white jade-like finish in the undecorated parts and gave a crystalline depth and scintillating tone to the blue painting underneath.

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Qianlong vase sets record price of $69 million at auction

Its been happening so frequently that these headlines are almost starting to become old news. Still, it does make you want to go poking around in your grandmothers attic…

Apparently the  18th-century  Qianlong-era porcelain vase was discovered while cleaning out a modest London suburb home. Other then knowing it was acquired in the 193o’s, the anonymous family who owned it knows little else as to its origins. According to the auctioneer Bainbridges, the vase itself dates from the  Qianlong period (1740’s) and would have  most definitely been fired in the imperial kilns before finally residing in the Chinese Royal Palace. According to the Antiques Trade Gazette, Bainbridges is a small suburban auction house which normally deals with cheaper antiques, equipment and lawnmowers.  Not bad, considering they stand to reap a 13.8 million dollar buyers premium from the sale. Purchased by a Chinese bidder on behalf of an undisclosed buyer, the sale price was not only more than 40 times the pre-sale estimate, but it set a new record for a Chinese work of art. But wait – it gets better.  “About 30 years ago it was shown on a television show called Going For A Song where an expert appraised it at $1300 as a “very good copy.” Poor guy – I definitely would not want to be him right about now.Regardless of whatever price was paid, the real or fake, the vase really is absolutely stunning. Beautiful!



The downside? A tax bill totalling a few million.

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Retired chocolate factory worker discovers his blue and white vase is a rare 600 year old Ming dynasty moon flask worth millions!

Just a super quick update post since the folks at Chine Gallery in Hong Kong have been keeping me quite busy these days. Though with lots of cool things there to look into like this 18th century cinnabar lacquer box from Beijing can you blame me?

On to the latest “record price” headline, this one picked up from the BBC. Whats amazing is the guy walked in with the vase stuffed inside a cardboard box!!!

A blue and white Chinese Ming Dynasty vase that arrived at a Dorset auction house in a cardboard box is expected to sell for more than 1 million.

The 11.5in (29cm) vase is the largest ever recorded from a rare group of early Ming “moonflasks” from 1403-1424, Duke and Son auction house said.

The Dorchester-based firm said it was believed to be one of the most exciting works of art to come to light in years.

The seller, a retired Cadbury’s worker aged 79, does not wish to be named.
‘Spectacular find’

A Duke’s spokesperson said the man “lives modestly and has been interested in antiques for many years”.

Guy Schwinge, of Duke’s, said: “When my colleague initially showed me what had arrived in a cardboard box I could not believe my eyes.

“The vase is in perfect condition and it is amazing to think that it has survived unscathed for almost 600 years”.

Duke’s consultant for Chinese Works of Art is Anthony du Boulay, a scholar and author, who said the vase was “a spectacular find”.

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How To Buy An Authentic Oriental Vase

There are several methods you can utilize when purchasing an Oriental vase to be sure you are getting an authentic collectible piece. With so much counterfeiting of these products today, it can be quite difficult to determine whether the Oriental vase you want to buy is really genuine or not. Sometimes people spend great amounts of money buying what they thought were collectible items, only to discover their selections were fake. A beautiful authentic Chinese porcelain vase would make a wonderful addition to any home decor. Therefore, it is worth your while to shop smart and obtain the "real" deal.

One of the best ways to avoid getting ripped off when attempting to buy an authentic Oriental vase is to purchase only from a reliable source. You will have to research the options of reputable porcelain vase retailers in your area and choose accordingly. If you can get a referral from someone you trust on where you can purchase these items, you will have greater peace when you shop. You can also check several shops out carefully and compare merchandise before making any buys. When you visit a Chinese porcelain shop, look around at the type of merchandise he has to offer. If you note there is a large supply of the same type of porcelain vase it may indicate this merchandise is not genuine. You can ask questions from the seller concerning the piece you are interested in to get an indication of where it came from, etc. However, you should be aware that some inexperienced sellers actually cannot verify whether their merchandise is genuine or not. They may have been informed a porcelain vase was authentic when they purchased it, and they are merely passing that information on to you.

Another alternative would be to acquire the services of an expert in this area who can verify the authenticity of the merchandise you want to buy. Someone with ample experience in shopping for these products can help you identify genuine artifacts from fakes. If your heart is set on obtaining only authentic Oriental vase products and you are not experienced in this area, hiring an expert to assist you will help you find just what you want at the best price.

A beautiful Oriental vase can add class and distinction to your home setting. It can be elegantly displayed in a living room or dining room setting as a centerpiece to your decor. These vases come in a wide range of sizes and shapes with all manner of exquisitely painted designs. It helps to take your time when you are shopping for an Oriental vase and thoroughly inspect the product you want to buy for chips, cracks, faded paint, etc. These are sure tell signs of a counterfeit product. The quality of your product should also be taken into consideration, as a very delicate piece will be more susceptible to cracking or breaking.

Another stunning decorative piece that can add class to your home decor is an attractively designed blue vase. The Modern Blue Volcano blue vase design from Brazil, for example, is a very elegant piece that would complement a contemporary home decor setting. You can find any number of fashionable blue vase designs online at reasonable prices to enhance any area of your home.

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Antique Vases

Finely worked for display

Antique vases are probably one of the few decorative ceramics that are equally appreciated and popular, both in the east and west.

Due to traditional and cultural differences this can be said of few other items. certain ceramic items are clearly more preferred by collectors in the west than by Chinese. On the other hand, items that the Chinese consider important may not receive the same attention in western countries.

Antique plates, dishes and chargers, for example, find a much greater interest in the west than in China itself. These plates are put in cabinets, displayed on stands or hung on the wall with specially devised hangers. Traditionally these were not considered for display in China.


For a Chinese it was almost unthinkable to use a plate for decoration. Plates were purely utilitarian and not for decoration! Although antique plates and dishes are now collected too, this is mostly due to western collecting trends.

Apart from the decorative vases typical Chinese items like teapots, writing paraphernalia like brush washers, water droppers, etc., that specifically are a part of Chinese culture are more appreciated. These find less interest in the west, however.


Assumedly, those who collect them today in the west often are generally interested in anything related to Chinese culture, not only antique porcelain.


Decoration Of Timeless Beauty
Vases were made in China in all sizes, but the smaller ones are generally much smaller than any European vase. Some easily can fit into a pocket. One can only wonder why these tiny things were made so small? Nevertheless, many still have been finely decorated and are now popular as vitrine objects.

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Common Myths about Snuff Bottles

While the popularity of snuff, also known as smokeless tobacco, has died down in most countries, these bottles are still loved and used by thousands of people around the world. In this article we are going to discuss the most common myths surrounding snuff bottles and the history behind them.

There is only one sort of snuff bottle - the British kind. False.
While the whole process of snuff and snuffle bottles might have started in Britain, it didn't end there. Middle-class and upper class gentleman in China started using smokeless tobacco regularly in the Qing Dynasty. It was during this time that the Chinese Snuff bottles became extremely popular. Chinese artisans took the desing to the next level of made these seemingly everyday objects into sublime works of art. It is due to the Chinese and their beautiful craftsmanship and it is because of them that bottles that were once used for snuff are still extremely popular.

You can only use snuff bottles for snuff. False.
While this might have been true during the hey-days of snuff users, it is no longer the truth. There are a lot of people who use these attractives bottles for carrying perfume, certain smaller objects or even as a flower holder. It really depends on what your imagination is limited to. If you love the unique look about a snuff bottle but don't use snuff, don't be discouraged. You can start a collection of snuff bottles. These collections are often prized by their owners and if done correctly, can be a very good investment.

You can only buy quality snuff bottles in China. False.
It is true that the best quality bottles are made in China. However, it is not true that you can only purchase them in China. There are certain stores and people in the United States who specialize in sourcing the highest quality bottles on the market. Due to the fact that they're importing them in larger quantities, you'll know you're getting a great price. The prices are extremely reasonable, though they do depend on the person you want to purchase these bottles from.

While these myths are the most common ones when it comes to snuff bottles from China they are not the only ones. These bottles are popular for a reason and can be found in the United States if you find a valued and professional importer of Chinese products.

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Chinese Snuff Bottle

We've all heard about the snuff bottle (especially the British sort) but the more elusive Chinese snuff bottle is not as well known. In Chinese history these bottles are considered unique because of their curious, expensive and artistic nature.

The bottles were designed to carry snuff, a type of smokeless tobacco, which became popular during the Qing Dynasty. The smokeless tobacco was often used by middle and upper class gentlemen in the 19th century. They thought it was a preventative against any dyspepsia or colds. Interestingly enough, offering a guest a pinch of snuff while in your home was also seen as an act of friendship. The host would be accepting the guest into their home as a friend and as a fellow gentleman.

Due to the fact that these snuff bottles were used by upper class gentleman, they were designed in a very specific and expensive way. Unusual materials were used to create a Chinese snuff bottle. A few of the materials used were glass, porcelain, coral and even precious stones. The more elaborate the material, the more pleased the owners were.

When a Chinese snuff bottle was made from precious stones, these bottles bottles were carved with certain textures to accentuate the natural beauty of the precious stones. If the bottle was made from either glass or porcelain then they were painted on. The paintings were generally done in a traditional Chinese watercolor style.

In modern times, however, the art and created of a Chinese Snuff Bottle has changed dramatically. While the shape and the style of the snuff bottles are still the same, they are usually made of glass. As the Chinese craftsman have become more imaginative they have also started using a technique called "inside reverse painting". This technique has only been mastered by a few people in the world and is extremely pain-stacking.

The artist will put a small brush through the neck of the bottle to paint it from the inside out. The paints used are a basic Chinese water color but mixed with acid. The acid is used to help the watercolors adhere to the glass bottles. The acid also helps the colors from fading. This means that when you purchase a bottle for snuff that you're getting a life-time product that will retain it's beauty.

A Chinese snuff bottle is an exceptional piece of work of art and is a wonderful addition to any collection of oriental art.

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