How to identify enameled porcelain

Yongzheng flowers and birds enameled vase

Yongzheng flowers and birds enameled bowl

Kangxi enameled bowl

In the Kangxi enameled porcelain on the appearance of cochineal red, is China's early use of the gold red, but also the earliest imported red material. Yongzheng six years (1728) before, all the enamel materials are dependent on imports. Due to the enameled ware Burning process is complex, elaborate materials, well-made, the cost is huge. Therefore, generally no large ware. Moreover, basically all remain in the palace. Therefore, the circulation of enameled porcelain in society, should be rare, few and far between. Collectors must not be lucky, especially can not pick up leakage mentality.

The following is to identify the relevant knowledge and essentials of enameled porcelain.

In the Kangxi dynasty, an important feature of enamel is that its tire is not made in this dynasty, the actual age of the Kangxi dynasty. The tires are slightly rough and not as delicate as those of the present dynasty. At that time, more unglazed on the outside of the object, applying yellow, blue, red, bean green, purple and other colors for the ground. Painted with enamel. Subjects to entwined branches of flowers, but never birds, flowers without birds, not to mention landscape figures. In the flowers will sometimes fill in some text, such as "longevity", "longevity" and other auspicious words. The characters are mainly in seal script. Because the color material is thicker, there is a sense of the pile of material raised, and under magnification can be seen on the color surface there are small ice cracks. Kangxi dynasty also painted enamel products on the Yixing zisha tire. Kangxi 40 years after the paragraph, paragraph with blue color material, or carmine red color material to write the regular script "Kangxi Imperial" four words pile material paragraph, plus both sides of the frame. There are also a few exceptions, with inscriptions in negative characters.

A few early Yongzheng still extend the Kangxi in the color on the ground painted, but the vast majority have switched to white glaze painted enamel. Therefore, white enamel painting enamel only since the Yongzheng. Color material also since the Yongzheng domestic material, changed the Kangxi only imported materials, color monotonous situation. In the painting of the Yongzheng dynasty also had a great breakthrough. Changed the Kangxi only paintings of flowers, flowers without birds monotonous pattern. In the subject matter of flowers and birds, bamboo and stone, landscape and other various styles have, and with poetry, poetry and painting into one. Yongzheng dynasty enamel porcelain has the following types of recognition: with blue material stacked convex seal paragraph there are two kinds of writing "Yongzheng year system" using imitation Song; writing "Yongzheng Imperial" using regular script. In addition, there are "Qing Yongzheng year system" 6 words, there are also two kinds: one with blue material; one with blue and white.

Qianlong dynasty enamel is a blend of the characteristics of the previous two dynasties, and the formation of the so-called "five-color enamel". Painting subject matter to further expand, in addition to the subjects of the previous two dynasties, and see more characters and fairy mountains and pavilions of the subject matter, and painting, decoration, more Western flavor. Unlike the loose painting method of Yongzheng, the Qianlong Dynasty was full of decorative piling up, complicated and full of pictures. Also developed a brocade flowers (i.e., with a fine needle on the porcelain tire painted with dark flowers, forming a brocade), so that the picture appears to be a two-layer effect. The mark is mainly a four-character blue seal mark on a white ground, Qianlong nian zhi (Qianlong Nian zhi), with a few ochre-colored marks as well. On some of the smaller wares, however, there is no border, and the blue material is used, with a few in red. There is also a turquoise green ground on the book "Qing dynasty Qianlong year system" 6 characters or "Qianlong year system" 4 characters.

Strictly speaking, the firing of enameled porcelain, ending in the late Qianlong dynasty. But in the Republic of China period appeared a number of imitation firing enameled porcelain. This batch of imitation porcelain, the most popular is the imitation of the Kangxi, Yongqian court painter Lang Shining's painting style. Imitate his Western realistic style and perspective method of painting figures and birds and animals. These porcelain products are generally higher level of craftsmanship. Most of the thin tire porcelain, painting work fine, color and lustre, the current collection of hand and collection to send auction selection, one Wu two, Wu Lu, two eight, Lu Jiu zero wu. Ms. Wu? Dedicated to the folk collection out of the channel construction of high artistic style (of course, here is not only imitation enamel porcelain, but also includes other five color and pastel porcelain). Identify the Republic of China imitations, can start from its tire glaze and color to identify. This period of imitations, most of the porcelain tire glaze with the late Qing Republic of China period of obvious characteristics. That is, the surface of the tire is not smooth and uniform, loose tire. Glaze thin color white. Republic of China and the Qing dynasty enameled porcelain, the color used is also different. Except for a few, most of them are using pastel materials. Both similar to the Kang Yongqian pastel color material, but also colored thick "heavy work pastel" material, or light reddish-red pastel material. According to these differences, carefully identify, or can distinguish right from wrong.

Modern imitations of the Republic of China to be worse than a grade. Rough workmanship, painting rigid, lack of spirit. Many imitations with grout molding, light weight; while the Republic of China is made with billet, heavier weight.

In summary, to identify enameled porcelain, some people have summarized the following seven aspects of the examination method. I thought, this method can be referred to:

First, the view of its porcelain tires. Enameled porcelain tires are delicate and thin, with materials, repair tire rules are exquisite, intact.

Second, view its shape. Enameled porcelain is mostly bowls, bottles, snuff bottles and other daily small porcelain pieces, and some small pieces of animals. Most of the small pieces of porcelain, over a foot rare.

Third, the bottom of the glaze. Kangxi dynasty is full of color, strong color. Yongqian after the gradual increase in white, enameled porcelain bottom glaze is pure white glaze, not green or yellow. The glaze is clean and flawless.

Fourth, view its color. Enameled porcelain colors are bright and soft, never use pure color tone, mostly pastel type of lotus root color, up to ten kinds. Glaze never clam light appears.

Fifth, the view of its color characteristics. Each pattern is made of a variety of color blending. Smooth surface, glassy and shiny. Color material protrudes from the bottom glaze about 1mm or so, under magnification there are very small open flake pattern.

Six, the view of its painting and decoration. Enameled porcelain more brush painting. Almost no painting in writing. Decoration in the Kangxi is multi-colored ground, flowers and no birds. Color mixing is worse than the Yongqian. Yongzheng dynasty enameled porcelain is the most mature. Qianlong dynasty is not as rigorous as the Yongzheng, and the emergence of enamel and pastel compatible works.

Seven, the view of recognition. Enameled porcelain has a strict system of recognition, specific above has been described. Where found different from the above system, are not authentic.

The following is the difference between five-color, pastel and enamel:

First, five-color: in addition to the green color glass color, the rest of the colors are a touch of flat paint, the surface appears rough.

Second, pastel: there is a powdery texture, but also with rendering, three-dimensional. But pastel rendering can not do all the pastel, which the alum red color must be five colors. If you find the alum red color powder or glass, this thing must be burned with modern technology. Because to achieve the glass or powder, firing temperature is high, but after reaching 800-900 ℃, alum red color will appear flow, will destroy the color of the picture. Therefore, in the pastel wares before the Republic of China, the alum-red enamel was used with five colors. Compared with enamel, pastel has powder texture, three-dimensional sense, smooth surface, but no glassy texture. Especially in green color, yellow color easy to see clam light appears.

Third, enamel: glaze with oil and glassy texture, similar to imported opaque red and green glass. Three-dimensional sense, but no powdery texture. Painter with rendering method. Because the lead oxide process is not used, therefore, there is absolutely no clamshell light.

Finally, said the appreciation of enamel porcelain should pay attention to the problem: enamel used glaze material and traditional Chinese glaze material is different, which contains arsenic (i.e., arsenic). There have been reports that in the reproduction, arsenic toxic fumes will volatilize, in the field even if the personnel wearing a mask, will also lead to the phenomenon of nosebleeds due to poison. Therefore, it is recommended that: First, when playing and enjoying, it is best to wear gloves; Second, close viewing, to avoid deep breathing; Third, do not place the enameled porcelain in private spaces, bedrooms and restaurants and other places.