I was cleaning the vase today and noticed this sticker inside.

From what i can gather/understand this sticker was applied by the official  Beijing cultural relics bureau department during the 1960's and was gifted or sold soon after.

Or

It was removed (along with many items) from the forbidden city by the Kumintang, catalogued and later shipped to Taiwans NPM before the communists took control. Later during the 1960''/70's a number of pieces were gifted or sold.

The sticker, if genuine, gives excellant provenamce to imperial connection.

Mark

The technique of applying black lacquer to the base is also evident on this vase, but the piece you have is an exceptionally fine example of porcelain.

This technique was popular from the Tongzhi period to the early Guangxu period of the Qing dynasty. Craftsmen working in the popular kilns often studied and emulated the production methods of the imperial kilns. Porcelains produced by the popular kilns were essentially commodities, and only well-made pieces could gain market favor and yield higher profits. However, the drying process for lacquer was exceedingly complex. As a result, both the imperial and popular kilns ultimately abandoned this lacquer-application technique.

Was this phenomenon used by both folk and imperial kilns?

I assume by the end of the Guanyin period it was no longer used?

Mark 

Hi Tony, 

Thank you for for sharing your knowledge with us. 

It makes sense due to the turmoil at the time. I have seen a few imperial pieces from this period that frankly looked much lower quality than previous imperial reigns. 

Mark 

Both of the vases shown above are products of folk kilns.

Hello, I am concerned that I may not have explained this point clearly. I would like to emphasize that the presence of black lacquer on the footrim does not automatically indicate that a piece is imperial ware (guan yao). Folk kilns also produced wares with black lacquer applied to the footrim.

I am providing several photographs as examples—these are all folk-kiln products, yet their circular footrims also bear black lacquer.

I am worried that my earlier remarks might have misled some readers, so I want to clarify this point explicitly.

I’m in Europe and have been unable to access the website, so I’m only able to reply now. I’m sorry.

Hello, I am very pleased to share what I know on this topic.

First, we should identify what the black substance on the base actually is. The answer is Chinese natural lacquer (dàqī 大漆), not modern synthetic black paint. Once cured, this traditional lacquer naturally appears as a deep black layer.

Second, we need to understand when this practice of applying lacquer to the bases of porcelain vessels first emerged. The technique appears during the late Tongzhi period and the early Guangxu period of the Qing dynasty.

Finally, let us consider the historical reasons behind the introduction of this practice. From November 1855 to April 1856, Taiping forces captured and burned the Imperial Kiln Factory at Jingdezhen (which had produced porcelain exclusively for the court). Many craftsmen were killed or wounded; others fled and went into hiding. After the Taiping forces were suppressed, production resumed in the 7th year of the Tongzhi reign (1868). However, because a large portion of the skilled workforce had either been killed or scattered during the turmoil, the quality of the porcelain produced after the restoration was significantly inferior.

To conceal various flaws and shortcomings, the decision was made to apply natural lacquer to the footrims and bases. This technique of using lacquer to mask the bases is most commonly found on wares with yaobian glaze, faux Ge glaze, and faux Guan glaze.

Additionally, there is a theory circulating among some collectors in China claiming that the black lacquer was applied to prevent porcelain from scratching imperial furniture. I do not find this explanation convincing.

@tonysu2573,

Hi Tony, 

I tried to add something to my last post but I believe that the internet is in some type of issues atm. Apparently worldwide too. 

The vase originally had two stickers. One was removed during the auction process but still had it when it was originally photographed. The other is still there. 

I assume that these are old stock or inventory stickers from the 20th Century.

Mark