Certified Chinese porcelain vase, Ming dynasty, 成化 (1447-1487) mark and period The mark of 4 characters in seal script pronounced CHEN GHUA NIAN ZHI, which means made during reign of Chenghua. The seal is incised in a deep black square area at the bottom, without glaze. Chenghua is the reign of a Chinese emperor during Ming dynasty. Height: 23.6 inches = 60 cm; Upper Diameter: 6 inches = 15.5 cm; Biggest Diameter: 10.8 inches = 27 cm; Biggest Circumference/Perimeter: 32.8 inches = 82 cm; Base diameter: 7.5 inches = 18.7 cm; Weight: 19 lb. = 8.5 kg; Condition: Very good for the age, genuine gentle crazing all over, several hairline stable cracks at the bottom (see the photos), which continue to the body of the vase for approximately 7 cm and then disappear. Possibly these cracks appeared during baking in the kiln. There is no glaze on the upper rim, which means that upper part of the vase was cut, presumably in 18th century, by European collector. High magnification photos (x50) are available on demand. Provenance: made in China in 1447-1487 at Jingdezhen kiln in Jiangxi province, at the same period has been decorated with colors in Beijing. Bought by Western European buyer in 18th-19th century. Later in 20th century moved to USA, sold from Estate sale, bought in antique store in Florida, USA. Market price: If this vase would not be cut at the top and there would not be a hairline crack at the bottom – the price may go up to $50,000,000 and higher. Because of these 2 problems – the market price is only $5,000,000 - $10,000,000 USD. This vase is still unbelievable beautiful and rare. https://alaintruong2014.wordpress.com/tag/mark-and-period-of-chenghua/ This vase is authenticated as genuine, made in the period of 成化 (1447-1487) by Dr. Qing Chang, PhD, who is a Research Curator of the Crow Collection of Asian Art, Dallas Arts District, TX, USA. http://crowcollection.org/curator-conversations/a-conversation-with-our-new-curator-dr-qing-chang/ Certificate of authenticity is available in English and Chinese. 瓷瓶 産地：中國 高60厘米，上部直徑15.5厘米，底部直徑18.7厘米，重8.5公斤成化年（1465～1487）製 明代（1368～1644） 粉彩釉瓷器 明代青花瓷的最佳産地是江西景德鎮窯。當一些青花瓷器被運送到北京後，就被重新製做成釉上粉彩瓷器，即用傳自歐洲的釉上粉彩技術在原青花瓷器上所繪的人物等繪畫上施以各種色彩。這件瓷瓶就是以這樣的技藝製做成的。在該瓷瓶的底部有“成化年製”標記，表明該瓶的製做年代是大明成化（1465～1487）年間，成化是明憲宗朱見深（1447～1487）的年號。這件瓷瓶的口沿部位曾被後期打磨，原釉已失，表明曾有人在口沿部位做過一些裝飾。在十八至十九世紀，當中國的瓷器被銷往歐洲後，許多歐洲收藏家喜歡對中國瓷器用黃金或白銀進行重新裝飾。將瓷瓶的口沿打磨以鑲金邊的做法就很普遍。這件瓷瓶口沿部位的後期裝飾已佚，但可幫助我們鑒定出它的真實性，即在十八或十九世紀之時，它就被銷往了歐洲，絕非現代赝品。 該瓷瓶的地紋是中國瓷器中慣用的冰裂紋。在冰裂紋上描繪龍與鳳，二者在中國文化中分別象征著帝、后的權力。另外，牡丹花是花中之王，象征著富貴。這些圖繪都可以滿足該瓷瓶擁有者對吉祥預兆的信仰。寫實性極強的工筆繪畫技法展示著設計者的高超技藝。 常青 美國達拉斯亞洲藝術博物館研究策展人