The Journal

Contemporary underglaze-red Yuhuchun vase with a reproduced Qianlong-style mark
What a Reign Mark Means on Contemporary Chinese Porcelain
A practical reading of reproduced reign marks on contemporary Chinese porcelain, separating the inscription from production date and origin. Read more...
The “Guiguzi Descending the Mountain” Jar: Narrative, Woodblock Prints, and Yuan Blue-and-White
The “Guiguzi Descending the Mountain” Jar: Narrative, Woodblock Prints, and Yuan Blue-and-White
The “Guiguzi Descending the Mountain” jar stands among the best-known narrative vessels of Yuan blue-and-white porcelain. Its significance extends beyond its auction record and its intense, varied cobalt. More importantly,... Read more...
The Qianlong Carmine-Red Graviata Meiping
The Qianlong Carmine-Red Graviata Meiping
This type of Qianlong meiping represents one of the most technically elaborate forms of Qing court porcelain. It brings several demanding techniques together on a single curved surface—a ruby-toned enamel... Read more...
Decoding an Imperial Benchmark: The Qianlong Five-Dragon Meiping
Decoding an Imperial Benchmark: The Qianlong Five-Dragon Meiping
AzureBlanc Archive Edition, recreating the Qianlong-period blue-and-white meiping in a contemporary setting. In 2012, a Qianlong-period blue-and-white meiping featuring five dragons, clouds, and waves sold for over $15 million USD... Read more...
The Weight of a Celestial Sphere: The Qianlong Famille Rose Vase
The Weight of a Celestial Sphere: The Qianlong Famille Rose Vase
At the 2011 Sotheby’s Autumn Auctions in Hong Kong, a 51-centimeter Qianlong-era Famille Rose vase sold for over $11.5 million USD (90.26 million HKD). While the numbers make headlines, for... Read more...
Beyond Replicas: Museum-Informed Ceramics
Beyond Replicas: Museum-Informed Ceramics
Ancient ceramics are usually kept behind museum glass or locked in private archives. Predictably, the market is full of modern reproductions trying to offer a piece of that history. But... Read more...