Help Translating mark on bowl

[onlinetv]

I have a very old bowl I got back in 1981 on a trip through China and Mongolia.

 

Nobody seems to be able to translate this. Can anyone help with translating the mark and what is on the wax seal?

 

There is also another "tag" on one of my plates and I cannot translate that. Please help?

 

Rick

[889]

If you want a mark translated, don't give us a tiny keyhole view. Show the item! It makes it far quicker to recognize the glaze, for example.

[889]

Alright. Sometimes we're gracious with newcomers. Besides, it's the New Year.

The mark is 樾峯 Yue Feng and the wax seal is an export-approval 鉴定 jian ding from 沪 Hu (Shanghai).

The slip reads 兰拌釉开框人物碗(光绪). That is, this is a bluish mixed glaze bowl from the Guang Xu period decorated with people inside open frames. Search 开框人物碗 on Google Images for examples.

But we still want to see the items.

[onlinetv]

I beg pardon for my transgression. I am not aware of the protocol, but have no problem complying. I did not think it proper to upload a lot of files.

 

I travelled for many years and many roads. Over 100 nations, many which no one can go anymore and some that no longer exist. I first tried to get to China in 1972 over the pass in Nepal, but was turned back - US citizens were quite unwanted. In 1981 China finally opened to American and I went overland from Moscow, Tashkent, Uzbekistan, Kazakstan, Alm Ata, Bratsk, Ulan Bator, and hopped the Moscow Peking express to get to Peking.

 

I am getting old and now selling some of the treasures I gathered.

 

Here are some pictures I took of this item. Would you like to see other ceramic examples I have? I have a beautiful one from Chinese Qing Dynasty Emperor Qianlong period of 9 spiraling 5 toed dragons. Maybe the Ivory pieces?

 

Rick

[onlinetv]

I replied with pictures but do not see the reply or pictures. Did I do something wrong or is there a delay to make sure replies are proper vs spam?

[imron]

or is there a delay to make sure replies are proper vs spam?

Yes.  All posts by new users are placed in a moderation queue and need to be approved before they become visible.  Once you have more than 5 posts this restriction is removed.

[889]

Thank you for posting the pictures.

And yes, we'd be glad to see the rest of your collection. In the 1980s it was still possible to buy interesting pieces at the 文物商店, state-owned antique stores, at reasonable prices. (But as you must know, so many things from all eras have been marked 乾隆年制 “Made in the Reign of Qianlong,” that it's impossible to place any confidence at all in the mark alone. And the staff at those official antique stores were not above occasional puffery.)

As you also probably know, sale of ivory is a very complicated issue because of the CITES restrictions.

[onlinetv]

I have to divide this into two posts as the pictures are rather detailed. This is the front.

 

I am no expert in detailing age, other than looking and wondering. But I am pretty good at telling quality. I am also a ceramista (I work with ceramics) and I can tell this piece is a wonder of fine craftmanship. To get the quality of artistry combined with a knowledge of how each color enamel melts to get this kind of fine art is rare.

 

I am getting very old and selling most of my treasures to ease my retirement. If it is in a box or stored I find it better to let it go to some people who would have them out and see them. I have too much stuff. I travelled for 20 years all over the world following the footsteps of Marco Polo and Rudyard Kipling, my childhood heros.

 

If you have any idea the value it would be greatly appreciated as I have put up a lot of things on Ebay and looking for other buyers.

[onlinetv]

Here are the bottom of that plate and a side view. They should be of pretty good quality.

 

It has about a 7 inch diameter.

[onlinetv]

This is one of the Ivory pieces.

 

I remember there are laws that are constantly changing about Ivory. I bought this at that government store in Shanghai and brought it back to the US. It stayed with me in New York City until I moved to Spain and took it with me there. It was bought in 1981 and I know this is old so I am not sure what problems will arise in trying to sell it. I no longer have the paperwork as after 10 years stuff gets tossed out as too old to be important. However, it still may be somewhere in my personal files. There are just so many things it is hard to find anything specific when you want it.

 

It is in it's own custom box and the box has some kind of label but I think it has noting much on it. It is about 8 inches tall with base. It has a wonderful vibration to it.

 

Rick

[onlinetv]

Do you like Buddhist paintings?

 

I think this is 19th century and I picked it up in Mongolia in 1981. I learned age is not everything when contemplating value.

An old item can be a fine piece of art. A new item can be a fine piece of art. An old item can be a mediocre piece of art as well as a new item can be. Value follows quality first and age second.