Gotheborg.com is a private help and information page set in motion by the Swedish collector Jan-Erik Nilsson, inspired by his mentor Professor Bo Gyllensvärd (1916–2004), active in Sweden from the 1940s until his passing in 2004, and many others who selflessly have shared their knowledge and promoted scholarly interest in Asian Ceramic history and culture for its own sake.
Its purpose is to be an unbiased help and information page for collectors of Antique Chinese and Japanese porcelain and by this keeping alive a vast amount of tacit knowledge in this most difficult area of collecting.
The Public Gotheborg.com Main Site is managed solely by its owner, while the Discussion Board is run on a voluntary basis by and for its own members, while the technical costs are financed by a membership fee. The Discussion Board is commercially independent. No advertising is allowed. No user data is collected, used or secretly sold to anyone. The site is run on a single, dedicated and professionally maintained server of our own, located in Sweden.
It consists of a Public Part, and a members only Discussion Board (Forum).
It depends on what you're looking for:
Yes. Use the quick email consultation form at Antique Chinese and Japanese Porcelain Quick e-mail consultation page.
The best way to support the site is by becoming a member of the Discussion Board. As a member, you can post your own questions, take part in ongoing conversations, and use our dedicated search engine to research your pieces in depth. We offer several membership levels to suit different needs. The most popular option is our full-year unlimited membership for $29 USD - which, frankly, can pay for itself the moment you avoid your first fake with the help of our community. More info here at our Sponsors page.
The Gotheborg Discussion Board is a members-only forum where questions, answers, and images are permanently archived and searchable. Right now, the database includes around 400,000 images, posts, and replies across nearly 100 different topic areas. It's an incredibly valuable resource for anyone researching Chinese or East Asian ceramics, allowing you to learn from past discussions and contribute your own questions to the community.
Yes, at a fee you can send email questions directly to me via the Ask A Question page.
The short answer is: only through experience. An expert is only as good as the number of genuine pieces they've seen and studied. With enough exposure, you start to recognize when something feels “off”—whether in the materials, the technique, or the overall aesthetic. Genuine pieces reflect the technology, style, and spirit of their time. Fakes often miss that, especially since most are made just good enough to fool casual buyers or tourists. I don't claim to know everything, but I've spent decades studying Chinese porcelain. If I'm not sure about something, I'll say so—because real expertise also means knowing when to be cautious.
From an ethical standpoint, we've decided that to remain completely independent and unbiased, we must avoid all forms of commercial sponsorship or advertising. We understand this may seem unfair to many excellent and knowledgeable businesses and individuals in the field, but maintaining neutrality and trust is our highest priority.
If the material is yours, the copyright remains with you. However, by submitting anything to the Gotheborg.com website or Discussion Board, you are giving permission for it to be published, discussed, and possibly reused in connection with the site—including in archives, lists, or other related formats.
Please only submit content you own and are comfortable sharing publicly. If the pictures aren't yours, or if you're not okay with your item being examined in detail and your content potentially appearing in other contexts linked to the site, it's best not to submit it.
As the owner of the site, I must assume that by sending something in, you are granting me permission to use it—while your copyright remains fully yours.
The sole purpose of all information found on Gotheborg.com Discussion Board or web page are for entertainment or educational purposes only.
By accessing the information offered at the gotheborg.com Discussion Board or web page you expressly agree that any use of the Gotheborg.com Discussion Board or web page is at your own risk. Gotheborg.com expressly disclaim all warranties of any kind. Nor does Gotheborg.com make any warranty as to the results that may be obtained from the use of Gotheborg.com or as to the accuracy or reliability of any information obtained through the Gotheborg.com Discussion Board or web page. Any user must evaluate and bear the risk associated with the accuracy or lack thereof of any content published on the Gotheborg.com Discussion Board or web page.
You also agree that you will not upload or transmit any content to the Gotheborg.com Discussion Board or web page that infringes any copyright or other proprietary rights of any party.
By submitting content in any form you automatically grant or warrant that the owner of the content has expressly granted Gotheborg.com the royalty-free right and license to use, reproduce, modify, adapt, publish, translate, create derivative works from, distribute and display such content in whole or part worldwide and/or to incorporate it in other works in any form, media, or technology now known or later developed for the full term of any rights that may exist in such content.
Gotheborg.com is not responsible for any messages or their attachments intentionally or unintentionally violating any applicable local, state, national or international law, including but not limited to any regulations having the force of law.
E-mail me at