Marks on Peoples Ware - minyao - from the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644)

On the whole the subject of marks on Chinese porcelain is a difficult one and the Mine Dynasty is not different in that respect. The one simplifying factor is that the number of marks are less then from the later period by the simple reason that the majority of marks have not yet been invented. What is imperial as in made specifically for the emperor or the court, or court related, or any Imperial property or relatives etc is very uncertain. One can be specific and say that nothing except was was particularly designed and ordered from the Forbidden City / Imperial Court in Beijing is Guan Yao, and nothing else. However in reality this is not as easy as it might sound. The Empire was large, the heaven was high and the Emperor far away, most of the time, meaning that a lot of things could and did happen that was not entirely after the book and when we now look at the extant examples of a time long gone by I feel that it is better that we look into our self and feel what we think is right and representative for the period we are interested in then approaching it the other way round, and try to squeeze pieces into a period where they might comfortable fit, just because of a mark. All marks listed on this page are listed as a best guess on period, meaning and translation. Corrections will be made as new information merits. For anyone interested in marks not listed here - to add or discuss - I recommend that you become a member of the Gotheborg Discussion Board where a wealth of information is available among a large community of interested collectors.

Jan-Erik Nilsson
gotheborg.com

Hongwu 1368-1398
	Hongwu 1368-1398

Yongle 1403-1424
>	Yongle 1403-1424

Xuande 1426-1435
	Xuande 1426-1435

Chenghua 1465-1487
	Chenghua 1465-1487

Hongzhi 1488-1505
	Hongzhi 1488-1505

Zhengde 1506-1521
	Zhengde 1506-1521

Jiajing 1522-1566
	Jiajing 1522-1566
	736. Fu Gui Jia Qi - 'Excellent Wares for the Wealthy Nobility' or 'Beautiful Vessel for the Rich and Honorable'. An auspicious inscription on folk wares, mostly seen on blue-and-white porcelain made in Jingdezhen in the Jiajing and Wanli reigns of the Ming dynasty and also seen on wares with gilt designs produced in the Jiajing reign. Chakra or, the flaming wheel-design on the inside. Estimated date C. 1600 according to some sources but probably Jiajing. Coll: Musée Antoine Lécuyer of Saint-Quentin (Aisne), France. Click here to see large picture
	1371. Fu Gui Jia Qi - 'Good and Valuable Ware for the Wealthy' or 'Beautiful Vessel for the Rich and Honorable'. An auspicious inscription on folk wares, mostly seen on blue-and-white porcelain made in Jingdezhen in the Jiajing and Wanli reigns of the Ming dynasty and also seen on wares with gilt designs produced in the Jiajing reign. Click here to see large picture

Longqing 1567-1572
	Longqing 1567-1572

Wanli 1573-1620
	Wanli 1573-1620

Tianqi 1621-1627
	Tianqi 1621-1627

Chongzhen 1628-1644
	Chongzhen 1628-1644

Web design and content © Jan-Erik Nilsson 2010

The marks section of Gotheborg.com was initially established in May 2000 thanks to a generous donation of approximately one hundred images of Japanese porcelain marks, by Karl-Hans Schneider from Euskirchen, Germany. This contribution provided a modest yet substantial beginning of the Marks Section. It was a kind gesture that I really appreciated.

Of the many later contributors, I would especially want to mention Albert Becker, Somerset, UK, who was the first to help with some translations and comments on the Japanese marks. His work was then greatly extended by Ms. Gloria S. Garaventa, after which Mr. John Avery looked into and corrected some of the dates. Most of the Satsuma marks were originally submitted by Ms. Michaela Russell, Brisbane, Australia. A section which was then greatly extended by Ian & Mary Heriot, a large amount of information from which still awaits publication.

A warm thank you also goes to John R. Skeens, Florida, U.S.A., and Toru Yoshikawa for the Kitagawa Togei section, and to Susan Eades for her help and encouragement towards the creation of the Moriyama section. For the last full overhaul of the Satsuma and Kutani sections, thank you to Howard Reed, Australia. The most recent larger contribution was made by Lisa M. Surowiec, New Jersey, USA.

In 2004 and from then on, my warm thank you goes to John Wocher and Howard Reed, whose knowledge and interest have sparked new life into this section and given reason for a new overhaul. Thank you again and thank you to all I have not mentioned here, for all help and interest in and contributions to our knowledge of 20th-century Japanese porcelain.

The Chinese marks section would not have been possible without the dedicated help of Mr. Simon Ng, City University of Hong Kong, whose translations and personal efforts in researching the origin and dates of the different marks have been an invaluable resource. It has since been greatly extended by several contributors such as Cordelia Bay, USA, Walt Brygier, USA, Bonnie Hoffmann, Harmen Lensink, 'Tony' Yalin Zhang, Beijing, 'ScottLoar', Shanghai, Mike Harty, and many more expert members of the Gotheborg Discussion Board.

A number of reference pieces have also been donated by Simon Ng, N K Koh, Singapore, Hans Mueller, USA, Hans Slager, Belgium, William Turnbull, Canada, and Tony Jalin Zhang, Beijing.

All images and text submitted by visitors and published anywhere on this site are and remain the copyrighted property of the submitter and appears here by permission of the owners which can be revoked at any time. All information on this site, that are not specifically referenced to peer reviewed sources, are the personal opinions given in good faith by me, my friends and fellow experts, based on photos and the owners' submitted descriptions. They are not to be used for any financial or commercial decisions, but for educational and personal interest only, and can and will be changed as further information merits.

For further studies, Encyclopedia Britannica is to be recommended in preference to Wikipedia, which, not being peer-reviewed, might contain misleading information.

Web design and content as it appears here © Jan-Erik Nilsson 1996-.