These 2 antique Chinese chinoiserie blue and white porcelain tea cups features a dragon motif, showcasing traditional Chinese design elements. The intricately painted details and signature add to the cup's historical and cultural significance. Made in China and signed by the artist, this piece embodies craftsmanship and artistic expression from a bygone era. Perfect for collectors of Asian antiques or those interested in traditional Chinese art, this tea cup is a unique and elegant addition to any collection.
The mark on bottom is a six-character reign mark that reads "大清雍正年製" (Dà Qīng Yōngzhèng Nián Zhì), which translates to "Made in the Great Qing dynasty during the reign of the Emperor Yongzheng". This specific inscription identifies the piece as being associated with the Yongzheng Emperor, who ruled from 1723 to 1735.
Oriental Antiques UK
Oriental Antiques UK
+2
Reading the Mark
Reign marks on Chinese porcelain are typically read in columns from top to bottom and right to left:
Oriental Antiques UK
Oriental Antiques UK
+1
Characters Transcription Meaning
大清 (Right Column, Top) Dà Qīng "Great Qing" (The Dynasty)
雍正 (Middle/Right Bottom & Left Top) Yōngzhèng The name of the Emperor
年製 (Left Column, Bottom) Nián Zhì "Yearly made" or "made for"
Understanding Authenticity
While the mark points to the early 18th century, the presence of a mark does not guarantee a piece is a genuine period antique.
Christie’s
Christie’s
+1
Imperial vs. People's Ware: High-quality marks were commissioned for the imperial household (guanyao), while lower-quality, more hastily written marks often appeared on "the ware of the people" (minyao).
Apocryphal Marks: For centuries, Chinese artisans have copied marks from earlier prestigious reigns out of reverence for those periods.
Modern Reproductions: Many porcelain pieces found today are modern decorative reproductions with marks intended for aesthetic purposes rather than deception.
Christie’s
Christie’s
+3
Determining if a piece is truly "of the period" requires professional examination of the foot rim, porcelain body translucency, and the specific hand-painting style.