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I always enjoy a day picking around the South Florida area, and trip down a few days ago turned up some beautiful items!
$20 at one of the many quality thrift stores bought me this plaque - Lui Hai Chan, and his lucky three legged toad!
The plaque is inscribed, an added bonus! So, if anyone can ID the artist, date, and inscription, I would be grateful.
Now, as nice a find as this was, the real discovery came when I took the wood backing off. Inside was a Chinese playbill for an early 20th Chinese film.
The too if the bill, in English, it says, “ This Chinese Motion Picture was produced in China. It is now shown at the Chatham Theatre, 5 Chatham Square.”
Quick Google search uncovered that the Chatham Theatre was built in New York City and for the most part was closed down by the end of the 19th c.
However, it lies in the edge of China town, and around the 1930’s, it became a cinema for Chinese movies.
I had thought the plaque to be 1970-80’s, but given the paperwork and closer inspection, Republic period seems correct.
I’m looking forward to a translation of the calligraphy fur further confirmation.
Enjoy!
I believe the date reads Geng Zi, which puts the date to 1930.
@greeno107 Your find might put a end to some confusion on these plaques. Your plaque shows traits of 1980 plaques but maybe some of those are being missed dated. The evidence doesn’t lie the frame looks Republic. If you get a chance can you take closer pictures.
@lotusblack What are you looking to see more closely?
Texture of porcelain. If there is transparent glaze over the script? Are the waves a white enamel? Thanks
Hi @greeno107 and others,
Thank you for posting this porcelain plaque. It demonstrates the current market conditions perfectly!
This particular plaque is a brand-new example and definitely not from either the late guangxu period or more important the Republic period.
The frame is new. The newspaper cutting/extract is also new.
Carefully examine the enamels which are too bright, especially that pink! Notice the back is pure white. Indicates modern kiln and not wood fired.
The overall look is sloppy and dead looking. It's been painted in haste etc.
Unfortunately these are being produced in China in massive amounts. Some are very well painted.
I have in the past posted numerous fakes allegedly by masters known as the eight friends of zushan.
However all is not lost on this particular example. At $20 its still a nice buy.
Worth at auction about $200. A genuine one would be approximately about $3000 give or take.
I can assure readers who may think otherwise that this particular example is 100% fake.
Hopefully @shinigami will see this also as she and myself collect/research republican period porcelain.
Mark
I’m at a loss with porcelain plaques, have never handled one. But I’m sure Mark is right. The pink color seems a bit artificial and makes the thing look modern. From the 1920s on stronger colors were used but they always look tasteful. The piece of newspaper is quite clever.
Birgit
Hold your horses.
I have many porcelains from all parts of the world from earlier than 1930 that are as clean, if not cleaner than the back of this plaque.
Here’s the back with a white envelope on it….it’s not pure white.
Furthermore , I had somewhat intentionally posted photos that lack the resolution to see the enamel work up close because I was looking for a translation, not an age assessment.
As for the playbill, it’s is not from China, it’s from New York… no connection to the modern production of plaques.
The wood fame is definitely not modern, but as stated originally, I had thought possibly 1970-80’s.
It is constructed in traditional Chinese manner with no nails. The hardware is also Republic style, not cheap screw on type.
As for my source, I bought this from a very well known hospice hospital in an affluent community.
They only sell items from their deceased clients, and it’s a picker’s dream! Dealers go there every morning and wait outside every morning to get in because they have uncovered some amazing treasures, far more valuable than my plaque.
So, I’ll give you that vintage playbill could have been put into a modern frame to deceive, but who would have seen it?
I also get if you don’t much like the depiction of the toad sage, but it is rendered rather carefully.
I have had some Cultural Revolution plaques of beautiful women rendered in famille rose that this plaque reminded me of. Which is also why I thought 1970-80’s, but the other elements don’t line up.
Let’s wait for an identification of the artist, then compare the rendering before we dissect authenticity any further.
All the best!
@lotusblack Here are a few more pics that show the texture of the porcelain…..typical putting and wavy look as expected for Republic period.
And, a photo showing the iridescent sheen caused by the flux in green enamels, also typical Republic into the 19th c.
A friend translated the artist name - Ding Yingkai
Here’s another by this artist that went through auction… looks very similar, but as the sale price reflects, nothing extraordinary in value.
As already stated this plaque is not republican period by a long shot. It's a much later example.
Despite both the paper and the frame which both can and are being reproduced today in extraordinary quality for next to nothing!
The posting about the enamels and blah blah blah are all rubbish. You will never ever see a plaque with a backing like this. Period!
But you will see it on later PROC.
Just look at the quality of the work. It's hideous and made in haste. No republican artist would produce a piece like this and expect people to buy it. Of course it's different today. It's gas kiln fired. Which did not happen until well into the PROC.
Any dealer who knows his republican period plaques will concur and laugh at any suggestion it was period. Ask Peter. Ask any auction house of repute. No one will accept it as republican period.
Sorry to be blunt here. But I specialize in republican period porcelain plaques.
I would give you odds of 10,000 to 1.
BTW I did try and get a translation but still have not received a reply. I don't know, nor have I heard of this artist.
Mark
FYI a translation of said plaque from my friend Mitchel Chen.
I agree with Mark and Birgit. The depiction of the figure is toally flat. No plaque painter from the RP period would paint this scene like yours. The manufacture of such a porcelain plaque at that time was expensive. Nobody would waste so much materials for such quality. I handled many plaques from famous masters and other not so famous painters. Sorry, your plaque is not old and far from a nice painting.
Regards,
Xin
www.wyssemaria-art.com
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