I would be interested in your opinion of this mark on a plate. I can find no information in the books that I have.The plate has a grey tint to it, which I believe indicates Chinese origin.The other side has a hunting scene on it.

One of "Eight Buddhist Emblems"

The mark is a "conch shell". The shell is one of the Eight Emblems of Buddhism and occurs on Chinese porcelain as base marks and within the decoration. It is ultimately of Indian origin.

These marks came into use by the later part of the so called Transitional period after that the northern China had been conquered by the Manchus but before and for a few decades after, the southern part of China had become under Manchu (Qing dynasty) rule. i.e. 1683 and for a few more decades.

During the Kangxi period (1662-1722) these marks came to be quite common. Whether your mark is on a Kangxi period plate or not, is not possibly to tell from the picture supplied.

Please see my section on MARKS for more information.

Jan-Erik Nilsson

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