This page is established in an attempt to put closer dates on Chinese Export porcelain from the mid 19th century up until the 1930's. All pieces and marks illustrated here are from porcelain specifically exported to the Straits Chinese population in South East Asia during this period. This section will be under constant revision from now on and for an indefinite period of time.
The work is being done in close cooperation between Jan-Erik Nilsson, gotbeorg.com and Mr. Simon Ng, City University of Hong Kong. All help are appreciated. If you recognize any of these marks from porcelain found anywhere else in the world or from archaeological excavations, which would admit us to date any of these marks kindly email us at straits.research@gotheborg.com.
| Marks with Chinese Dynastic Reign Names (Nianhao) |
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Click the pictures for enlargements of each piece and mark illustrated.
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| Mark of Tongzhi (1862-1874) period |
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16. Kamcheng. Top rim diameter 122 mm. Mark: Tongzhi Nian Zhi - "Tongzhi (1862-1874) Period Made".
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25. Hand Spittoon. Mark: Tongzhi Nian Zhi - "Tongzhi (1862-1874) Period Made".
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| Mark of Guangxu (1875-1908) period |
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13. Table Spittoon. Height 98 mm. Mark:
Guangxu Nian Zhi - "Guangxu Period Make".
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15. Table Spittoon. Height 125 mm. Mark: Da Qing Guangxu Nian Zhi - "Great Qing Guangxu Period Make". |
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32. Bowl. Diameter 13,6 cm, height 6,4 cm. Mark: Guangxu Nian Zao - "Great Qing Guangxu Period Make". Dateable to the last decades of the 19th centiry due to the similarity of the marks to a dated piece # 408 decorated and signed "Painted by Li Yan Qing in 1887". This artists seems to have been working specifically for Penang since the same hand has signed item # Str_29 below for "Mr. Tan".
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1194. Finger's bowl. Mark: Guangxu Nian Zhi - "Guangxu Period Make".
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| Mark of Xuantong (1909-12) |
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1. Spoon with yellow enameld decoration. The spoon is fired on three kiln supports. Pheasant with closed tail, the underside features three "Fu" bats. The mark says Xuantong Nian Zhi meaning "Xuantong (1909 -1912) Period Made" with the number "1" incorporated in the center of the mark.
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10. Plate with phoenix with three parted tail. The mark says Xuantong Nian Zhi meaning "Xuantong (1909 -1912) Period Made" with the number "1" incorporated in the center of the mark.
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2. Spoon with yellow enameld decoration. The spoon is fired on three kiln supports. Pheasant with closed tail, the underside features three "Fu" bats. The mark says Xuantong Nian Zhi meaning "Xuantong (1909 -1912) Period Made" with the number "0" incorporated in the center of the mark. | |
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12. Bowl. Xuantong Nian Zhi - "Xuantong (1909-1912) Period Make". |
| Mark of Republic (1912-49) Minguo |
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22. Cylindrical Teapot. Height to top rim 197 mm. Mark: Zhong Hua Min Guo Nian Zhi - "Republic of China Period (1912-49) Made". (Unusual six charcter mark). |
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26. Bowl. Rim diam. 67 mm. Mark: Zhong Hua Min Guo - "Republic of China (1912-49)". |
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19. Bowl with pierced lid. Top rim diameter 81 mm. Mark: Zhong Hua Min Guo - "Republic of China (1912-49)".
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| Company Marks |
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Click the pictures for enlargements of each piece and mark illustrated.
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| Guan Yao Nei Zao |
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1195. Kamcheng. Mark: Guan Yao Nei Zao - "Imperial Kiln/Ware Internal Make".
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| Jiangxi Guan Yao |
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4. Milk Jug with one of the few marks in underglaze blue there is, on wares decorated in the Straits color scheme. Mark says: Jiang Xi Guan Yao - "Jiangxi Official/Imperial Kiln/Ware".
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| Jingdezhen Hui Shun Chang (Company) Made |
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23. Teapot with olive enameled background. Mark: Jing Zhen Hui Shun Chang - "Jingdezhen Hui Shun Chang (Company) Made".
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| Tong Xin Fa (Hao = Company) |
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3. Bowl w slightly rounded sides, with green and pink enamels. On the glazed base there are five ceramic kiln support marks. A feature normally expected only on Japanese porcelain. The mark says Tong Xin Fa Hao where "Tong Xin Fa" is a name and Hao means Company, Enterprise or Shop/s. This mark could thus be that of the ordering company. An interesting notion is that the first character "Tong" could also be referring to Sun Yat-Sen's United League (Tongmeng Hui) who recived much support from Singapore and Malaysia. Interestingly enough the United League was actually founded in Tokyo in 1905. If this notion is valid this would date this mark to slightly before 1910.
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| Tu Mao Xing (Company) Made |
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5. Milk Jug. Tu Mao Xing Zao - "Tu Mao Xing (Company) made".
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Zhan Fu Xing (Company) Made
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7. Fingers bowl. Mark: Zhan Fu Xing Zao - "Zhan Fu Xing (Company) made".
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8. Censer. Mark: Zhan Fu Xing Zao - "Zhan Fu Xing (Company) made". |
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21. Censer, large. Top rim diameter 235 mm, height 179 mm. Mark: Zhan Fu Xing Zao - "Zhan Fu Xing (Company) made". |
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9. Plate with phoenix. White w pink border. Mark: Zhan Fu Xing Zao - "Zhan Fu Xing (Company) made". |
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11. Table Spittoon. Mark: Zhan Fu Xing Zao - "Zhan Fu Xing (Company) made". |
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14. Joss stick holder. Height 246 mm. Mark: Zhan Fu Xing Zao - "Zhan Fu Xing (Company) made". |
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Hu Shun Chang (Company) Made
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20. Bowl with pierced lid. Top rim diameter 82 mm. Mark: Hu Shun Chang Zao - "Hu Shun Chang (Company) Made"
Base/mark enlargement
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Shu Yi Shun (Company) Made
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24. Coffee pot. Height to top rim 116 mm. Mark: Shu Yi Shun Zao - "Shu Yi Shun (Company) Made".
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| Zhou Shun Ding (Company) Made |
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27. Dish. Diam. 90 mm. Mark: Zhou Shun Ding Zao - "Zhou Shun Ding (Company) Made".
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| Privately Commissioned |
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These marks are those who for the time being appears to have been privately commissioned and marked by a personal name. Kindly click the pictures for enlargements of each piece and mark illustrated.
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6. Lidded Jar. Mark: Xie Bai Xue Shi - "(Made for) Madam Xie Bai Xue".
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29. Plate. Chen Jin Long Zhi
Made to / ordered by Chen Jin Long. The plate is known to have been commissioned for a Mr. Tan from Penang and has the characteristic motif associated with Penang pieces.
Comment on transcription of name; The first character is Chen in Mandarin, Chan in Cantonese and Tan in Singapore / Malaysia. |
| Recent Additions |
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Kindly click the pictures for enlargements of each piece and mark illustrated.
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30. Plate, from Singapore. Incorporated in the rim border decoration is the surname of the owners, Siow in Mandarin.
Base mark: Xin Guang Yuan Zhi - Xin Guang Yuan ( Company ) Made.
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31. Plate, from Malacca. Incorporated in the rim border decoration is the surname of the owners, Pan in Mandarin or Phua, in the Hokkein dialect.
Base mark: Jin Qing Zhen Cang - "Jin Qing ( personal name ) Precious Treasure". Jin Qing could be a brother or relative to Jin Long mentioned in base mark of #29.
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Kindly note that all preliminary information here is published by a unique grant by the owners, for the benefit of research. No material published here are to be cited, copied, taken from or linked to in any form at this stage of work. Photography, content and web design strictly © Jan-Erik Nilsson 2001.
Base/mark enlargement
Base/mark enlargement
