Late 19th-Century Chinese Famille Rose Charger
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GUEST:
I've acquired this piece from my mother. It was handed down to me from her after she had passed away.
APPRAISER:
Do you know where it's from or how old it is?
GUEST:
Actually, I do not.
APPRAISER:
Okay.
GUEST:
History goes back to my mom's third cousin, and her husband had purchased it in the Far East, I believe in the mid-'50s.
APPRAISER:
Okay.
GUEST:
So in a way I've actually stared at this bowl ever since I was...
APPRAISER:
A young man.
GUEST:
...about four years old. I believe it was on a fireplace mantel.
APPRAISER:
It's a very impressive porcelain charger. It's Chinese. This decoration on the ground is millefleur, which describes this heavy profusion of foliate sprigs on a scrolling ground. And often it's on a gold gilt background. Additionally, these famille verte or famille rose Chinese porcelain chargers have wonderful cartouches. In this instance, we see blackbirds with lotus sprigs. The central cartouche shows highly and well-enameled phoenix over a rockwork base. We have bamboo. Overall it's a highly and well enameled charger. On the back it has a Qianlong mark.
GUEST:
Yes, I saw that mark, and I was wondering, was it Ming Dynasty or something of that nature?
APPRAISER:
Right. It's not a Ming mark. It's a Qianlong mark.
GUEST:
Qianlong?
APPRAISER:
Qianlong, who was an emperor that reigned in the 18th century.
GUEST:
18th century?
APPRAISER:
Items from the Qianlong period are highly sought after. It's arguably the period of the best Chinese porcelains, the best Chinese bronzes and the best decorative arts. So the Qianlong mark is there. However, it's not an 18th-century piece. It's a late 19th, early 20th century piece.
GUEST:
Is it a reproduction? Is that what you're saying?
APPRAISER:
It's not a reproduction. The Qianlong mark is out of reverence and respect...
GUEST:
I understand.
APPRAISER:
...for the very high quality of artists and work during the 18th century. Do you have an idea of value?
GUEST:
I believe when my mother was alive she said, I think in 1989, 1990, it was in the $1,300 to $1,700 category.
APPRAISER:
Okay, that may have been a fair price then. The Chinese are buying well-enameled porcelains and high-quality decorative arts with more vigor than ever before. There's a booming middle class in China, and they wish to consume good quality decorative arts. Those that cannot afford 18th century and imperial pieces are buying good 19th century famille verte and famille rose porcelain works of art. I would place an auction estimate of $8,000 to $12,000.
GUEST:
You said how much?
APPRAISER:
At auction, between $8,000 and $12,000.
GUEST:
$8,000 to $12,000 in an auction, wow. And if it were from the 18th century?
APPRAISER:
(laughing) It's... Six figures. It's a lot of money.
GUEST:
Yeah, I can imagine. It's a huge sum of money.
Appraisal Details
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