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i spent a long time trying to identify the mark and the name of the design, it translated as pure white hidden design, the pattern on each side is different, both dragons, but not in the same place, the mark i believe is Xuanhe (1120) and while trying to identify i saw that the second character mark was unusual, and i read its only on imperial porcelain,
So i was thinking they cant be from 1120, and they also cant be imperial,
but they are really well done, you can see the middle of the bowl from the inside and outside in the photos one side is the 6 char mark, the other is dragon
Any info would be greatly appreciated

Hello,
i forgot to mention i had to hold it up to a light to get the patten through, and that the patten is different on both sides, the best example is the middle, like i have shown in the 2nd and 3rd photos from the first group and from this group

As you've already surmised, the patterns on your bowls are called "Anhua" (暗花), "Hidden decoration" or "Secret Decoration", and the mark is "Da Song Xuan He Yu Zhi" (大宋宣和御製), "Made my Imperial Order, Xuanhe Reign of the Great Song Dynasty" (1120 AD).

I gather the mark is apocryphal, inasmuch as my best reference, the New York Metropolitan Museum's "A Handbook of Chinese Ceramics" by Suzanne G. Valenstein, doesn't mention anhua decoration except in the context of the Ming and Qing Dynasties, beginning with the Ming Yongle Reign (1403-1424). The Song Yonghe reign seems to have gained a reputation apparently based in literature and arts from the period (at least that's what I gather from a brief look of internet sources). I found some nicely packaged joss sticks being sold online under the Yonghe brand name, which seems to indicate it has an auspicious connotation these days.

I also turned up an in-depth discussion of anhua decoration in an old forum thread (see link below). In the post-Qing era, apart from probable issues of such patterns during the Republic Period, there are mentions of these porcelains being made during the late 20th century too. I'd guess that your bowls may be from the latter time, but perhaps someone having a better appreciation of this particular type of porcelain can offer a better perspective.

Best regards,

Bill H.

URL Title :Anhua Decorated Porcelain

Big thank you very much Bill, i saw that thread while looking so i thought i would post this, same kind of thing, but different, the thing that always got me, is how they managed to get the pattern different on each side, like the example of the mark and dragon, but if its late 20th i guess it could be computer assisted or something, i was thinking of making them into lamp shades for bedisde table lamps but i was told they might have value, so i started to look into it, again really big thanks great help :)
and if there late, i get some nice lamp shades! they really do look stunning in light, the photos dont do it justice.
i have a couple more items they i came across i will post them in a new thread, all the best,
Xbet

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