Beginner Tips/Guide - General Discussion Board

RE: Beginner Tips/Guide

johnshoe — Thu, 19 Jun 2025 02:04:08 +0000

Watch every single video Peter has made over the years. Read books and old auction catalogs if you can find them. Handle authentic pieces and fakes so you can study the differences. Ask questions here and post pieces for us to assess, especially before you buy them. Go to museums and auctions to view and handle pieces. Learn about the fundamentals and also keep a beginners mind and stay open to discovering new things. Welcome to the forum! John

RE: Beginner Tips/Guide

Ming1449 — Tue, 17 Jun 2025 20:56:11 +0000

@13resn

Hi Larsen - and as with others welcome, to this great forum! …

The only thing I can add to the excellent advice already given is that you may wish to consider joining a good Asian Art Society, if there are any near you…

They can be a great way to meet like minded people, and provide meetings, lectures, handling sessions and visits both within your own the country, and sometimes abroad, to museums, auctions houses, private collections and dealers …

Building a good library, as mentioned by several members, is a pre-requisite when starting to learn. Don’t just buy the newer ones, as some of the older publications are invaluable both for images and knowledge contained within …

Stuart

RE: Beginner Tips/Guide

Shinigami — Tue, 17 Jun 2025 11:19:52 +0000

@l3rsen For export porcelain I can recommend Ceramic Yahu, located in Berlin.

https://ebay.us/m/GffuJr

RE: Beginner Tips/Guide

Larsen — Tue, 17 Jun 2025 07:52:18 +0000

@william

I'm from Germany, but I think we have some good Museums and Auction Houses. I watched some Peter Combs Videos already and really liked them!

Hopefully I'm not gonna end up buying fakes but, like you said, first I need to invest in good Books and Knowlegde.

Thank you for the Tips

RE: Beginner Tips/Guide

William Huvar — Mon, 16 Jun 2025 23:36:57 +0000

If you are lucky, you have easy access to New York, London, Paris, Amsterdam, etc. for reputable dealers, museums and auction houses. If not, then it is a little harder to learn, but not impossible. Explore Export Wares since good examples can be found for two or three hundred dollars with careful shopping and the quality is good. Don’t scatter-shot purchase. Buying fakes will not teach you anything but how to buy more fakes. Peter Combs has a ton of Chinese porcelain videos on Utube. Buy books before buying porcelain. If you absolutely can’t wait to buy, follow Peter’s recommendations for porcelains being sold at auction.

RE: Beginner Tips/Guide

Larsen — Mon, 16 Jun 2025 18:48:37 +0000

@imperialfinegems

Thank you so much for mentionen this Mark. The Idea with the auction house is great and I'll look at the reference Material on this side.

Republic period looks interesting as well.

RE: Beginner Tips/Guide

Sharon P — Mon, 16 Jun 2025 18:40:39 +0000

Hello Larsen, welcome to the forum. Familiarize yourself with the Bidamount Reference Bookcase, there are some doctoral dissertations available on various aspects of the ceramics trade and superb books, guides and catalogues to keep you busy in your quest for knowledge. If you do become a collector, it is important to find a dealer that you trust. Read, read, read and look, look, look, hopefully some good museum nearby. Sharon

RE: Beginner Tips/Guide

Adams Asian Art — Mon, 16 Jun 2025 18:02:36 +0000

Hi Larsen,

I asked because in the beginning of collecting it's best to pick a style/period that appeals to you and study that period before moving on to another.

Once you have a clear understanding of the styles/period then it's very easy to move onto the next.

A number of beginners try to study all areas at the same time. This is impossible task and will lead to confusion.

We have a link here to great reference material. Its important to handle as much porcelain as you can. Obviously not from a museum, but you can from auction houses.

Its also a good idea to try to find a good mentor.

When I first started I began with Republic period 1912-1949.

Mark

RE: Beginner Tips/Guide

Larsen — Mon, 16 Jun 2025 17:26:26 +0000

@imperialfinegems

Hey Mark, I hope I understood it correctly if you mean what time period or style of porcelian and ceramic? I really like Plates or little jars. My Grandparents had some Ginger Jar's (New, not old ones).

I'm not the best in Time Periods and get them a little Mixed up, but after I watched some Videos the last days, the Kangxi Period.

What is your favourite Time Period or style in Porcelain and Ceramics?

RE: Beginner Tips/Guide

Adams Asian Art — Mon, 16 Jun 2025 15:50:22 +0000

@13rsn,

Hi Larsen,

What area appeals to you atm?