Preliminary identification
Photo reference
5 uploaded photos
Overview
A charming provincial blue and white porcelain tea bowl featuring stylized floral and insect motifs painted in underglaze cobalt blue. The interior features a central medallion with a stylized conch shell or floral design, while the exterior base is decorated with a radiating petal band above a gritty, unglazed foot rim.
Story
During the late 16th century, Chinese kilns hummed with energy to supply a global craze for blue and white porcelain. This bowl, with its rapid, spirited brushwork, was made for daily life and regional trade, carrying the artistic soul of Ming-era folk potters.
Maker / Origin
Crafted by anonymous folk potters in the Jingdezhen region, the ceramic capital of the world. Unlike the rigid, highly controlled imperial wares, these provincial craftsmen worked with incredible speed and freedom, resulting in highly expressive, impressionistic brushwork that modern collectors find deeply artistic.
Condition & Value
The bowl shows signs of age and historical use, including small chips along the rim (one with a yellowish old repair or residue), minor glaze pitting, and typical kiln grit adhered to the unglazed foot.
Full Research
Sold comps, value drivers, and venue guidance pulled from recent auction results.
Build on this identification
Layer in sold comps, value drivers, and venue guidance.
Comparable demand stays strongest where maker, originality, and venue confidence line up. Broader examples still trade, but the range tightens quickly when provenance, condition, or selling lane fit is missing.
Best Venue
Specialty auction or a focused dealer with buyers already in this lane.
Signed example with light edge wear and original frame.
Comparable format with stronger provenance and cleaner surface.
Smaller related piece with visible craquelure and trimmed margins.
Period match with softer condition and weaker subject matter.
Close market lane comp with similar material and presentation.