Identification
Photo reference
3 uploaded photos
Overview
A charming, miniature yellow-ground (Famille Jaune) porcelain jar featuring a hand-painted five-clawed dragon chasing the flaming pearl. The pierced lid is designed in the shape of a traditional Chinese cash coin, allowing air to circulate inside.
Story
This piece dates to the late Cultural Revolution or early Deng Xiaoping era (c. 1970s), a period when Chinese porcelain production in Jingdezhen began ramping up export wares. The 'Famille Jaune' (yellow ground) palette and five-clawed dragon motif are traditional imperial designs adapted for commercial export. While the specific studio is unknown, it represents typical mid-century Chinese export craftsmanship.
Maker / Origin
Unattributed
Condition & Value
Based on the provided context, the item appears to be in good vintage condition. The pierced lid, designed like a traditional Chinese cash coin, is present, which is crucial for the completeness of a cricket cage.
Full Research
Sold comps, value drivers, and venue guidance pulled from recent auction results.
The secondary market for mid-to-late 20th-century Chinese decorative porcelain is saturated and generally trades as accessible decorative art rather than high-end antiques. Buyers are typically collectors of miniature ceramics, insect cages, or general Asian decorative arts. Pieces from the 1970s move steadily but at modest price points on platforms like eBay and Etsy, driven by visual appeal rather than historical significance.
▲ Complete with original pierced cash-coin lid, essential for cricket cages.
▲ Vibrant Famille Jaune (yellow ground) palette with traditional dragon motif offers strong decorative appeal.
▲ Verified marketplace asking prices for similar vintage examples establish a retail ceiling near $65.
▼ Unverified base mark — absence of a 'Jingdezhen Zhi' or similar period mark limits collector interest to purely decorative buyers.
▼ Auction comps for similar unbranded cages show a firm floor around $20, indicating limited wholesale demand.
Best Venue
List on a broad online marketplace like eBay or Etsy to reach collectors of Asian decorative arts and miniatures. Price at $50-$60 with 'best offer' enabled to capture retail-minded buyers, expecting to settle closer to $30-$40. Ensure clear, well-lit photos of the pierced lid and any base marks are included in the listing to maximize buyer confidence.
Upside Potential
If a clear, earlier Republic-period or specific notable studio mark is identified on the base, the value could push past the $65 retail ceiling into the $100+ range. Otherwise, the current range accurately reflects its status as a mid-century decorative export.
Also found — market-range context
Surfaced during research but not used to anchor the valuation — wrong form, species, era, or no published price. Shown so the market range around this item is visible.