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The Gotheborg Web site and Discussion Board

When all this started more than 25 years ago, the original purpose of the Gotheborg.com web site was to use this newly invented Internet to connect collectors from all over the world, so we could help and talk to each other.

The purpose of our Discussion Board has remained to have fun and to pass on decades of practical knowledge on how to tell genuine pieces from fakes. This material knowledge is more complicated than the plain Asian Arts History, since it addresses the actual authenticity of specific items and not only if they are "in the style of". We do this by encouraging experienced collectors to clap together our various expert knowledge and thus forming a formidable knowledge resource while at the same time enjoying our own collections. In the meantime we can't help but increase the value of our own collections by getting to know more about what we have, and make better decisions. Yet it depends on the support of just a few dedicated collectors to keep all this online. Thank you for being one of them.

This Discussion Board was created from a variety of email lists and integrated into the Gotheborg.com website on April 23, 2003. It came about when I recognized the value of, and the effort so many experts devoted to explaining the intricate details and the hard-to-find information on antique Asian ceramics. I felt we could not allow all this unique knowledge, care, selfless help and explanations to just be flushed down into the never-ending stream of Internet chitchat, and to simply disappear. We needed to consolidate this wealth of information and provide it with a home where it would be protected from the shortsightedness of the Internet entrepreneurs, who acted as though nothing was significant and everything was disposable towards their own goals. But when it comes to a lifetime's experience from studying a really complex topic such as Asian Ceramics, it cannot be replaced. It is unique and important, and it deserves to be preserved and most of all, to be passed on to new generations of collectors.

On using the board and getting help: It's simple; Ask when you need, help when you can. To find specific information, we recommend that you first try our SEARCH link (top right on all pages) to find what is already here. Our archive is approaching 400,000 messages and images organized under 80 different topics covering China and Japan from Neolithic times to the 21st century.

On privacy: No user data is mined or shared, and no advertising is allowed. All work is voluntary however to stay online we depend on a modest membership fee. Click here to sign up or renew your Membership. The most economical membership is the annual one at $29 USD, breaking down to approximately $0.08 per day. Donations towards an optional listing as a Sponsor are much appreciated but not necessary.

The road to learning should be traveled in good company. Welcome!
Jan-Erik Nilsson

Topic Posts Pages Last Post Last Poster Hall of Supreme Harmony Gotheborg Forum Rules, Policies, Participation and Privacy The purpose of this Asian Ceramic Art Collectors Community and Forum is to help each other, teach beginners and pass on the hard to gain practical knowledge on how to authenticate genuine Asian antique ceramics. Summary: 1. Ask when you need, 2. Help when you can, 3. No commercial intent. 0 1 05-13-25  07:28 am   The Sportsman's Bar [ Quick list All today's posts, all topics ] Off Topic Trade News and Friendly Chit-chat [90 days archive] News and friendly chit-chat that doesn't fit anywhere else. Threads not added to for more than 90 days will be deleted automatically. 23625 1981 05-08-25  02:16 pm Guy Ayres Pinned pages - Links to our most informative pages On this Forum, we have more than 35,000 pages and 350 thousand+ posts and images under some 80 different topics, why some of our most informative pages might be difficult to find. When you find any really great and informative pages, please create a link here with an informative name to help others find it too. 27 16 02-27-24  11:51 pm Mary Baumeister Local Meetings Invitations to and reports from local chapter meetings 988 83 08-11-23  08:14 am Giel Louws Exhibitions and Museum Collections Visits at public exhibitions, for easy reference. Please feel free to add your pictures here 3444 290 05-03-25  06:22 pm Jan-Erik Nilsson Member's Collection Gallery The purpose of this topic is to showcase only known genuine and representative pieces in our members collection, to serve as a study and reference database. Welcome to create any topic you'd like to showcase. Give a brief description with measurement, period and any reference to public exhibitions or relevant literature. Two photos only of each piece. Front and back/base. Link to previous discussion authenticating the piece, if any. This topic will be edited and moderated to facilitate reading and focus. 161 21 04-29-24  02:24 pm Charles Payne Collection Stickers on Porcelain Collection, Exhibition, Museum and Auction Labels found on porcelain. 433 170 11-30-24  09:03 pm Jan-Erik Nilsson Price Records and Exceptional Tales Welcome to post any and all information on spectacular price records and antiques trade lore from today and days gone by. 1345 132 12-06-24  07:42 pm Jan-Erik Nilsson Simons Quest Put your fellow members on an educational trial. This topic are for objects whose authenticity (or lack thereof) are known, and where clues can be given gradually to stimulate discussion. 8089 316 06-02-23  11:57 am Louis Warner II Chinese Pottery and Porcelain If you are uncertain about where to post a new question, use the Board Search link (top right) to find a topic with similar pieces. Scroll down to the bottom of the page and hit "Post a New Question to the Discussion Board". Write as meaningful a title as you can to your question. Early Pottery Neolithic and later earthenware, "proto-porcelain" jars and figures, Zhou, Warring States and Han, Sui, Tang, Ming and Qing figures and architechtural pieces, Changsha wares. 12407 1083 05-07-25  12:43 pm Kevin Hawco Green glazed wares Yue yao, Zhejiang Celadon, Northern and the numerous Southern Song kilns, Thai, Korean and Japanese ceramics and any related Asian ceramics with mostly green/gray/brown monochrome glaze 16522 1508 05-09-25  05:51 pm Nomi Meivar White wares White round wares from Tang dynasty, Ding yao, Qingbai/Yingqing, white Jingdezhen porcelain from Ming, Qing and later, Fujian province, etc. 14975 1198 05-12-25  04:45 pm Nomi Meivar Crackled wares Song Guan or Ge or later imitations. Any porcelain with crackled glaze as an intentional decorative feature 2948 322 04-16-25  02:43 am Aaron Peacener Brown and Black wares Temmoku / Jian ware, Huangpu, Lushan, Cizhou and Jizhou. 10326 895 04-22-25  03:56 pm wil hugers Jun Jun family type of wares 3428 239 09-23-24  11:32 am Kevin Hawco Yixing / Buccaro / Zisha (Purple Clay) Typically brown or red stoneware teapots from clay mined near the city of Yixing in Jiangsu Province, China 3004 350 05-03-25  04:26 am walter perrie Yuan porcelain Primarily Yuan porcelain with underglaze red or underglaze blue and white decoration. Monochromes can be posted elsewhere. 2682 165 09-29-24  08:16 pm Aaron Gelner Ming period porcelain, all decorations Underglaze blue and white, copper red and white, polychromes, Wucai, Swatow (Zhangzhou) ware etc. 16976 1251 05-10-25  08:50 pm Walter O'Neill 'Kraak' style decoration If you are not sure if the decoration is Kraak, you can post under 'Ming', since that is usually what it is too. 1959 142 09-16-24  12:57 pm Magnus Brandén The Manila Galleon Trade (1565-1815) and its extension to Spain A special topic for trade ceramics from the Song, Yuan and Ming dynasties of China via Manila, capital of the Philiphines. From 1549 Manila was the only place where the Japanese and Chinese could openly trade. In 1571 Manila became part of New Spain (Mexico). The famed Manila galleons of Spain sailed between Acapulco and the Philippines bringing porcelain, silk, ivory, spices etc. from China to Mexico in exchange for New World silver. On returning, Asian wares went via the Spanish Philippines to Acapulco on Mexico’s west coast, then across Mexico to Spain, for more than 250 years. The Spanish Manila trade was the first worldwide trade network connecting Manila, Mexico City and Madrid into the world's first set of global cities. 152 14 05-19-24  08:10 am David Pinilla Garcia Chinese Imperial Porcelain Discussions related to Imperial porcelain as such, ordering, decoration, marks, use etc. 3340 167 12-09-24  08:54 pm Anders Medin Ming to Qing Transitional Period (1620-1683) A special topic for the discussions and shared information on the Central Harmony: Zhonghe Tang Group (1671-73) and also porcelain like Ko-Sometsuke and other wares made in-between the Ming and Qing dynasties. 19 2 12-03-24  06:30 am Nomi Meivar Early to mid Qing Blue and White Typically Transitional and Kangxi blue and white with common shapes and decoration, that are not Armorial nor Imperial 23025 1913 05-09-25  04:53 pm Giovanni Repetti Early to mid Qing porcelain - polychrome Early to mid Qing dynasty polychrome wares, such as wucai, doucai, susancai that are not of armorial or special design type, nor Imperial. 14622 1115 04-22-25  05:36 pm Eric Tipton Chinese Western Market Export Porcelain Special designs, Armorial porcelain, all pieces with shapes and decorations made to order or to fit foreign taste and customs. Decorations typically blue and white, Willow Pattern, Famille Rose, Famille verte (Kangxi wucai), Chinese Imari, Rose Medallion, etc. 19304 1735 05-08-25  05:46 pm Denis Allen "Clobb'd" porcelain Chinese export porcelain with secondary enamel decoration added in Europe 884 82 05-31-23  08:56 am Freek Pals Mid Qing to 21th century - Polychrome 19th and 20th century - Guangxu, Early Republic, Straits Chinese Porcelain, Fahua, fencai, the Eight Friends of Zhushan, Jiangxi Porcelain Co., Mao Zedong, etc. 27931 2616 05-13-25  04:55 am Tamara Cermakova Mid Qing to 21th century - Blue and White From "Kangxi revival" to modern wares. All pieces where underglaze blue is involved, also underglaze blue and red and high fired cobalt glaze. 5127 658 03-15-25  07:16 am Ursula Christen Porcelain plaques 1080 102 08-05-24  12:44 am Michaela Russell Dated porcelain Porcelain dated to a specific year by their inscriptions. 4362 314 07-27-24  01:50 pm John Harruff Michaela Russel's Republic Period Patterns & Marks Project Michaela's Republic Period Patterns & Marks Project 258 36 03-01-24  07:47 pm Jan-Erik Nilsson Tommy Eklof's Facial Features and Adornments Research Project Welcome to comment and add new photos to the database 941 43 10-25-23  06:09 pm Tom Reigel Cultural Revolution Period Porcelain 1965-75 Chinese cultural revolution porcelain inside and outside of China proper, including Macao and Hong Kong decorated porcelain of the period. 435 52 06-22-24  10:15 am Jan-Erik Nilsson Bleu de Hue Chinese porcelain for the Vietnamese market 239 44 05-24-24  04:41 pm NGAN Phan Figures or sculpted porcelain, Blanc-de-Chine or polychrome White or polychrome sculpted pottery or Porcelain - Chen Guozhi, Wang Bingrong, Li Yucheng and similar, white, Blanc-de-Chine (Dehua), Shiwan or other polychrome ceramic wares, decorative or altar figures 3326 401 02-16-25  10:42 pm Timothy J Chevral Monochromes Colored glazes such as Ox-blood, peach bloom, powder blue, tea dust, yellow, green, mirror black, Faux bronze, faux wood, etc. 9031 785 05-03-25  12:40 pm Charles Payne Snuff Bottles Special topic for Snuff Bottles regardless of material or decoration - porcelain, glass, lapiz lazuli, lacquer, bone etc. 2443 309 12-30-24  06:39 pm Tamara Cermakova Chinese Porcelain Marks Before posting any questions here, welcome to first visit our public gotheborg.com "Marks" section. There we already have about 1,500 Chinese and Japanese porcelain marks, collected by friends and members over the years. If you find anything wrong there, please share any corrections here, and I'll make the necessary updates. 4702 638 04-25-25  09:34 pm Eric Rosenberg Chinese Porcelain Motifs On particular stories and their illustrations that appear on porcelain, with documentation and pictures of variations that appear on porcelain from different periods. Topics on particular motifs, such as dragon depictions/variations. 2396 151 11-07-22  12:52 pm Ernie Sanders Modern Chinese Art Porcelain Works currently produced by individual artist. Jiangxi's Ceramic Research Inst., etc 243 50 10-23-23  05:16 pm Yin Hall Chinese Kilns, Clays, Glazes and Decorations Cross topic question that does not belong under any particular ware 1676 129 11-30-24  04:18 am Aaron Gelner Last resort - Help Needed - Chinese? Chinese pottery and porcelain last resort posting topic. If posted here your question will need to be moved. If you loose track of a post, use the Board Search to find it again. Remember to always write a meaningful title to your question so you can recognize it. 17679 1771 05-09-25  10:14 am wil hugers Japanese Pottery and Porcelain If you are uncertain about where to post a new question, use the Board Search link (top right) to find a topic with similar pieces. Scroll down to the bottom of the page and hit "Post a New Question to the Discussion Board". Write as meaningful a title as you can to your question. Japanese Section 'Off Topic' Friendly thoughts and chit-chat that doesn't fit anywhere else 1167 143 09-17-24  09:31 am Kevin Donnelly Last resort - Help Needed - Japanese? Japanese pottery and porcelain last resort posting topic. If posted here your question will need to be moved. If you loose track of a post, use the Board Search to find it again. Remember to always write a meaningful title to your question so you can recognize it. 2806 298 02-28-25  10:46 pm Jan-Erik Nilsson Polychrome Arita/Hisen 'Imari' Porcelain Kinrande (Blue Underglaze, Polychrome enamels and Gold). Akae (red dominating) or Iroe decorated with gilt decoration and other colors mostly for export. 13308 1222 03-24-25  06:18 pm Joakim Boman Japanese Meiji-19-20th century polychrome enamels All Meiji and later polychrome enamels, including all Meiji and later commercial kilns like Koransha, Fukagawa and Noritake. Also all wares labeled 'Made in Japan', 'Japan', 'Nippon' or with an 'M in wreath' etc. Also Dragonware and Moriage decoration. From the Meiji period (1868-1912) and later. 5707 651 05-08-25  09:25 pm Joseph Robert Putnak Geisha Girl Porcelain Japanese Porcelain with overglaze printed decoration of Japanese ladies in kimonos with printed outlines as defined by Elyce Litts, but extended also to porcelain where the decoration is similar but entirely hand painted. 357 52 04-20-25  12:11 am Jan-Erik Nilsson Blue and White Arita/Hisen Porcelain Sometsuke and Ko-Sometsuke. This is the dominating kiln area for Japanese porcelain of the 19th century and older, in particular to the West since so much of this was exported. Post Japanese Blue and White here when in doubt. 6305 645 05-03-25  02:02 pm Joakim Boman Other Japanese Blue and White Underglaze Blue and white decorated porcelain of unknown but Japanese origin. 1104 131 01-24-25  11:57 am Nomi Meivar Japanese Figures Human and animal figures could all be posted here regardless of kiln type or area. 900 120 08-08-24  04:09 pm Nomi Meivar Japanese Monochromes Awaji and similar wares with entirely or mostly monochrome glazes. Japanese Celadon 791 106 01-16-25  11:00 am Nomi Meivar Japanese blue and white transfer printed decoration Blue and white Japanese porcelain with stenciled, transfer printed or otherwise print supported decoration 837 96 04-30-23  10:04 am Richard Shakles Carrie Lamberts Japanese Cobalt Blue Ceramics and other polychrome transfer printed decoration project Cobalt Blue Ceramics and similar second half 20th century transfer printed decorations, including but not limited to Japan 499 132 05-25-24  09:51 am Nomi Meivar Japanese Porcelain Marks and Motifs Before posting any questions here kindly first browse the gotheborg.com 'Japanese Marks' section. 3280 504 05-07-25  08:51 pm Michael Kesseler Japanese Studio Pottery and Contemporary Porcelain 1604 234 12-09-23  01:58 am Tom Reigel Sumida, Banko, Hagi, Mashiko, etc. and other difficult to identify Japanese Pottery and Stoneware 2319 328 01-23-25  03:30 pm Joseph Robert Putnak Hirado 1389 129 12-06-24  02:16 pm Jan-Erik Nilsson Kakiemon Kakiemon and Kakiemon style enamel decoration 1494 105 05-12-25  07:14 am Joakim Boman Kutani For more information on Kutani, kindly also refer to Georges Bouvier's Kutani Collectors web-site. 8914 1011 03-28-25  07:18 pm Timothy Roberts Nabeshima Nabeshima and 'Nabeshima style' 736 70 05-01-25  10:29 pm David Wood Satsuma and Satsuma-Like Original Satsuma earthenware but also 'Satsuma marked' items and 'Satsuma looking' pices 8797 974 04-09-25  10:11 pm Orvis Hollevoet Seto Formerly Owari and Nagoya, renamed to Aichi Prefecture 1872. Largest ceramic center i Japan 1425 146 04-09-25  07:16 am Michael Kesseler General pottery and porcelain questions Mystery Pieces 3835 413 04-18-25  10:39 pm Mindi Beth Moyer Known methods of faking Method and technology in making pottery and porcelain fakes 1015 92 11-06-24  06:34 pm Nomi Meivar Discussions on Shapes The shape of a piece is probably the most important clue to the identification of an item with regard to its authenticity and period. This category is for the discussion on the uniqueness (not just the shape of course) of a particular kind of ware that has been produced throughout a significant period of time in the history of Chinese ceramics like meiping; yuhuchun jar; ginger jar, Gu etc. 725 51 04-30-25  10:50 am Jan-Erik Nilsson Base and foot rim archive Add foot rims / bases of similar age to the same thread. Start new thread if you want to cover a new type that is not represented. 297 71 02-26-23  04:48 pm Nomi Meivar Asia outside China and Japan Korea, Vietnam, Thai, Indonesia, etc. 2848 314 04-17-25  04:03 am Paul J. Doucette Western wares with Oriental design Edmée Samson of Paris, Delft, Bristol, Bow, Derby, Staffordshire, Caughley, etc. to Bernard Leach 1429 175 10-12-24  02:29 pm Paulo Fernandes Wares from the Middle east/Asia minor 353 41 12-07-23  01:28 pm Joseph Robert Putnak Shards and archaeology For help to archaeologists and others on unspecified shard finds 517 53 11-13-24  07:02 am Richard Shakles Gold, Silver, Metal, Cloisonné, Lacquer, Ivory, Wood, Glass, Jade, Textiles and Paintings, etc. Textiles, Rugs, Prints, Silk, Paper, Paintings and Calligraphy Textile art as in clothes, Chinese and Tibetan rugs but also anything related to silk and paper as in calligraphy and paintings 8012 973 01-28-25  01:47 pm Yin Hall Lacquer Chinese and Japanese lacquer, Lac Burgauté, cinnabar or lacquer related items that seems to fit here. 1659 242 04-08-25  05:17 pm Bob Williams Non-ceramic pieces such as Wood, Glass, Ivory, Bone, Soft and hard stones, etc. Most any non-ceramic wares and sculptures that does not fit anywhere else, being they Chinese or Japanese 10795 1164 02-24-25  07:09 pm Nomi Meivar Chinese Metal, Pewter, Tin, Bronze, Gold, Silver, Cloisonné and "Canton enamels" etc. All Chinese or Tibetan gold, silver or metal pieces with or without enamels and those not identified 7699 921 03-25-25  11:35 am Birgit Steinbach Japanese Metal, Pewter, Tin, Bronze, Gold, Silver, Cloisonné and other enamels Japanese metal wares inclusive of swords, armor and dress parts, coper, brass, iron, silver and gold, with and without enamels. Also Totai Shippo Cloisonné enamels, in which a ceramic, earthenware or porcelain body is utilized 2746 338 12-23-24  12:00 pm Nomi Meivar General Help and Suggestions Restoration and conservation DISCLAIMER: Any handling at all of an antique item may permanently destroy it, as well as all values related to it such as its financial or historical value. Several of the chemicals and processes described here could be extremely harmful and should not be tried by non-professionals. Please be advised that any actual use of the information found here are solely on the individuals own risk and responsibility. By accessing the messages under this topic you are acknowledging that this disclaimer is read and understood. 1756 157 09-30-24  02:13 pm Rainer Geschke Books - trade, review and suggestions Titles and recommendations of books and book sellers on Chinese Porcelain - add your favorites here. A wise collector should always buy two books per any one item. / JE 2338 471 02-14-25  02:18 pm Kevin Hawco Link suggestions Valuable references on the Internet, to be included in the permanent LINKs file. 640 233 04-05-25  10:35 pm David Wood Words of Wisdom Fun, important, clever and unsolicited Advice to the Beginner Collector and New Members. And some board related issues that might have ended here by mistake. 795 78 02-26-24  12:13 am Jan-Erik Nilsson FAQ - How to Post and Participate - More instructions link below FAQ on practical issues. See also the " Help/Instructions" link at the bottom of all pages. 209 19 04-21-22  09:07 pm Giovanni Repetti COLLECTOR'S CORNER A few words in remembrance and gratitude In this endeavor in creating and maintaining this Discussion Board and Website, my goal was to continue the tradition of scholarly generosity set by my mentor, Prof. em. Dr. Bo Gyllensvaerd, who served as the Director of the Museum of Far Eastern Antiquities in Stockholm from 1959 to 1981, and as Curator of the Carl Kempe Collection at Ekolsund, as well as the Gustaf VI Adolf Asian Collection from 1955 to 1973. I would also like to extend my heartfelt thanks to all the friends and collectors who have supported me when I needed help. This includes those who are still here today, actively assisting our members; and our absent friends who remain present in our minds and thoughts through their insightful and sharp observations in their past posts on this Board. Disclaimer on Service Provided Gotheborg.com expressly disclaims all warranties as to the validity, benefits or usefulness of any information, methods and materials you might obtain information regarding, or through any text, pictures, messages, links to or from, any person, organization or company listed or not listed, implied or otherwise found, met with or referred to on or through the gotheborg.com discussion board, related web page or links. Any handling at all of any items may permanently harm or destroy them; let alone any use of chemicals. Any materials and methods can be harmful and dangerous towards any items as well as humans and other living beings. Use outmost care when handling anything of value and always consult with professionals when in doubt. Please be advised that any actual use of the information found here are solely on your own risk and responsibility. You are explicitly asked to use your own good judgment before coming to any conclusions on your own and in all instances consult with professionals that can study any object under discussion in person before making any financial or other decisions. By accessing the information offered here you acknowledge that this disclaimer is read and understood and that you expressly agree that any use of this Discussion Board and related web pages or links is at your own risk. User Copyright 1. Whatever you write, submit or upload to this site remains your copyrighted property, but by submitting pictures and texts to Gotheborg.com you automatically grant the Gotheborg.com Discussion Board and web page a permission to display, store and publish this material at the Gotheborg.com Discussion Board and related web page, or in any derivate form that might occur. 2. Any published works can be cited and excerpt on this site by the same rules that regulate any academic work and papers and should be properly referenced. 3. Due to our cooperation with Georges Bouvier and his specialist's site on Japanese Kutani porcelain, your permission towards this site to store, display and publish pictures and information is extended also to Georges Bouvier and www.gbouvier.com. The same goes for Tommy Eklof's Facial Features and Adornments research project as well as Michaela Russels, Republic Period Patterns and Marks Project, and associated separate web pages. 4. If you believe that someone improperly has submitted any copyrighted material belonging to you, to the Gotheborg.com Discussion Board and web page, please contact me to grant this permission by yourself with proper credits given, or to have the material removed. Gotheborg.com Copyright © Jan-Erik Nilsson 1998-2024