Hi. I know nothing about Chinese porcelain. I bought this (now) lamp at an auction for $25, assuming that was a safe amount of money to spend on something I know nothing about, and I needed an old-looking lamp for our antique furniture. I like the 4 people scenes and the colors in it. I disassembled the lamp to get good photos of the (former) vase before I reassembled it and put on a new lamp shade. With all the flaws in it and the poor quality (and the cheap price), I am assuming it's a fake and I should just enjoy it as a lamp (grateful I am not the one who ruined it). There is a dime-sized flaw not in these photos that looks like the shiny glaze was scraped off, showing a rough, dark orange (clay?) spot. I'm also curious about the white glaze drips on the inside near the top rim. If you can shed any light on this vase/lamp, please educate me. Thank you so very much.
Photobucket appears to be down, and I cannot access my 7 photos of the lamp. As a test, I will send one photo and hopefully it will be able to be viewed as large as others' photos in other messages. Where is an IT person when you need one??
Trying another photo of the top of the vase/lamp.
Hi Carol, these photos are to small to tell, if you could take close up picture of the peoples faces and a close up of the bottom and a close up of the top rim, that would be great for determining age, thanks.
Hi Stan. Thank you for trying to help me. I'm having a @#)$(&#)(*&@# time trying to get my beautiful close-up photos to load on this forum because apparently I am clueless on Chinese porcelain AND modern technology! :)
There are 4 scenes on the lamp that appear to be an adult woman with 3 or 4 boy children -- doing sports? playing outdoors? (One scene shows a kid holding up a flag or two.) It has a bumpy (almost bubbly in spots) glaze, and in some spots the glaze has an iridescent, shiny look (similar to how mother-of-pearl looks in certain light). There are some orange splats of color in the scenes (the color isn't smooth underneath, in other words), and there are some spots of a dark grey color.
I will attempt some more photos. THANKS AGAIN!
Photo of the bottom...
Close-up of faces.....
Photo of the top rim & inside.....
Stan, do you think that this is possibly Japanese? The red scale decoration is a bit unusual for Chinese. There was a period when some Japanese kiln created polychrome decorations with Chinese motifs, but I have seen mainy plates.
Due to the glazed neck and painting style I would think it is 20th century, if Chinese. Not sure if the brownish discoloration is artificial, but normally it becomes that way only if something has been excavated after being in the soil for hundreds of years. That would be out of the question. The iridescence of the ladies clothing is another thing. As other parts do not show it, it could be artificial age faking. What do you think? I would need a hands-on inspection to make sure either way.
Your right Peter, about the red scale decoration, it looks like a Japanese pattern but the figures look more Chinese than Japanese, could it be Japanese export? or like you said a modern Chinese vase that is made to look old, Im leaning more to a Chinese made vase made to look old, the bottom looks strange and also the white glaze dripping in the inside of the vase.
I'm posting a few more photos. (Doing one per note -- surely there is a better way?)
Another view of the top area.
May have learned something------trying to post more photos into same note. Thank you so much for your patience and kindness.
Last 2 photos.
The shape of the neck makes it something of a later time if Chinese. This is not a traditional shape.
Like some fake antiques it assembles several incongruent features. Like the red scale decoration seen above, people in a painting style that should be 18th century, an outward bent neck which is almost impossible in the 18th or 19th centuries. Iridescence, which usually would take a hundred years to develop naturally, if it were a fencai decoration. But, the colors give the impression of a wucai decoration. Brownish color covering all on the exterior and inside; this looks like sediment from the soil, but there is too much of it, in my view.
Therefore, I tend to think it is a 20th century Chinese product trying to look antique.
All of the above is based on the assumption that it is of Chinese origin. If it were one of the items made in Japan with Chinese motifs, in the first half of the 20th century, then the question would be why the iridescence?
Thank you for your advice! Here is a last photo that shows one more odd thing about this vase/lamp: there appears to be a horizontal line (seam?) near the top third section. It is more obvious when the light is turned on. I then found this photo of the interior which shows it a bit on the right side.
If you have read about the fact that most items like jars, vases, etc. were made in two parts (or more, depending on size), then you might think this could be the seam were the parts were fit together. Actually, when doing a hands-on inspection we look for this, but mainly with earlier items.
The seam became less conspicuous later in the Qing dynasty as it by then was removed before firing. Towards the end of the Qing dynasty and later in the 20th century, most items were thrown on the wheel in one piece.
So, if that line should represent the seam, I have serious doubts. We know that some fake antiques have now added an artificial seam line, even if they were thrown in one piece. Further, I do not think there should be an incision even if it were authentic. The line where the upper and lower parts were fit together does not look this way, usually, if it is visible.
There are just too many questions with this item, for my taste.
BTW Carol, your photo's look great, thanks.
Thank you, Stan & Peter. I appreciate your expert opinion on my little lamp. I've learned a lot (and your website is very helpful). It's a risky business to buy something you know nothing about, but thankfully there are people like you in the world willing to share your knowledge with the rest of us!