Mark and period
Mark and period means precisely that; the piece was made in the period of the mark. This doesn't presume it is an Imperial piece. Reign marks illustrated in most books are usually from Imperial pieces. There were numerous calligraphers working at the Imperial kiln. In the Yongzheng reign alone we have been able to discern at least 11 different people wrote the marks. Some of the same people worked through as many as three consecutive reign periods. It's possible to recognize one particular calligrapher's writing style from Tongzhi through Xuantong and even into the early years of the Republic. This is also true of others who appear on late Qianlong wares into the Daoguang period. Most dishes, bowls, and plates we generally refer to as Imperial (with dragons and/or phoenix) followed prescribed designs and color combinations and were repeated throughout the dynasty and dependent on their colors designated a particular rank it was intended to be used by. These were made for formal court functions and usually are what is referred to when we speak generically of "Imperial" wares. There are of course pieces made for decorative purposes or in some cases gifts or for temple (ritual) use, and those will be of the highest standards and the marks will correspond to those seen on the formal and ritual vessels used by the emperor and the court. "Official" ware is probably more appropriate terminology. Private kiln pieces rarely have marks written as well and are usually easy to differentiate from Official wares. Anything that is not guanyao is minyao which includes items made at the various "private" and "provincial" kilns either for domestic or export purposes for anyone not a member of the court.
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