| --------- Early REPUBLIC OF CHINA (1911-1940)
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| Background: In the twilight years of the Imperial Ch'ing dynasty & early years of the Republic of China (roughly 1890-1940 for our purposes here), very fine porcelain was made in the style of 17-18th c. While many of these bear the early Ming & Ch'ing marks, some of the best bore private marks such as shown in some examples here, and also kiln marks and even signatures of artists. Porcelain of the period bearing certain artists marks and private marks are well sought after in both China & Taiwan. Same for fine 1920s porcelain with distinctive Ch'ien L'ung & K'ang Shi marks. Alas these latter are being repro'd in China today. Also in this period, there was a movement to extend the traditional fine arts (literati art) to the sphere of high arts & crafts, of which porcelain was the most prominent. Accordingly many outstanding "artists" who painted porcelain were recognized & became quite well known. The fine porcelain of this period was of outstanding quality & variety, and the artistic expression was also of exceptional order. There are avid collectors of this period in Asia. There are even some very good books on the subject, including Gunhild Avitabile's "From the Dragon's Treasure" and Hong Kong Museum of Art's "Brush & Clay, Chinese Porcelain of the Early 20th Century". Scholarship of both of these books is excellent. The period from about 1900-1940 was politically & economically tumultuous in China. But it was also a period in which the arts flourished with few restraints. Fine porcelain from this period can be bought very reasonably. And except for everyday dinner services & export ware, nothing was made in huge quantities. Indeed many were unique, many commissioned to order for special occasions. I'll be listing a few interesting items from this distinctive era, some are for sale. Please keep tuned if you like the subject. And of course email is always welcome whether you agree or disagree, or if you have opinions on the subject. I'll post them subject to usual web discretions of courtesy & reasonable standards. |
To view items below, click on image please:
| |  Imperial Manchu-ko Commemorative Wine Cup. |  Signed Wang Chi Figural Vase. |  Longevity Shou Vase. |  Pair Gold Erotic Stems | |
I'll be adding to this list from time to time. Please look in once in a while.
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