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Hello,
Picked up this beautiful hand-painted sake bottle at an estate sale. The detail is stunning.
It measures 4.75"
I have searched every site for marks (including gotheborg) and have not been able to identify the mark.
I don't even know if it will show up correctly.
Would appreciate any assistance.
Many thanks.

Perhaps we can narrow this down?
Is this a Chinese mark on the flask?
Does it appear to be a more modern mark?

The mark is in fact Chinese, reading down and across from the top right as "Hongxian yu Zhi" (Made by Imperial Order, Hongxian Reign).

You'll note that the figure at right in a blue robe has a "brocade" roundel that extends unnaturally from the garment over his left shoulder and onto his chin and neck, with the previously painted sleeve and chin visible underneath. This seems to indicate the use of transfer decoration, which along with the perfect glaze, suggests the vase is a contemporary (late 20th to 21st century) piece, decorated at one of China's porcelain ornamentation factories. Despite the imperial mark, the painting falls short of the delicate quality of painting and pigments used during the short 1915-16 Hongxian reign and years immediately following. below is a photo link showing non-imperial Hongxian-mark porcelain vases dating to the Republic Period, probably no later than the 1920's. I believe you can appreciate the differences in artistic quality.

The best known of the porcelain ornamentation shops used to be in Hong Kong and Macao, but now they look to be spreading towards ubiquity in and around the Chinese Mainland, including the Shenzhen economic zone.

Best regards,

Bill H

Sometimes the image URL doesn't work for me, so here's the link to paste into your browser if needed.

https://1drv.ms/i/s!ApQyvqC1qsbxj0rXfTRoxsFZUrx-




URL Title :Hongxian Mark Vases

Thank you so very much, Bill. I learn so much from wandering through this forum. .... and from members like you.

Took a magnifying glass to the flask, and it is transferware. Is it possible to hand-paint tiny areas on transferware?

The "real deal" images you noted are stunning.
Thanks, again, I truly appreciate your knowledge and sharing.
All best,
Pat

In my opinion, Some Chinese porcelain ornamentation shops may routinely apply colored washes over the basic transfer pattern, but I've never seen the process in person. If you want to check out some tools of the trade, Google the term "Overjoy Porcelain Factory" and choose the gotheborg.com introduction and photos to that facility.

Best regards,

Bill H.

Thanks again. I appreciate this information and education.
All best,
Pat

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