Hello Felix,

This item is a piece of Chinese porcelain, potentially classified as Ge ware or Guan ware, recovered from a house clearance in Portugal. The porcelain features a double crackled ivory/yellowish glaze with a slight blue tinge, characteristic of high-quality pieces from historical Chinese pottery traditions. The client suggests it could date back to the Song Dynasty, known for its exquisite ceramic works.

Ge ware and Guan ware are celebrated for their intricate crackled glaze patterns, which are achieved through a meticulous firing process. The double crackled glaze, visible in the images, is a hallmark of Ge ware, while Guan ware is renowned for its refined craftsmanship and often carries a bluish or greenish tinge in the glaze. Both types of ware are highly prized by collectors for their beauty and historical significance.

The porcelain item in question shows significant signs of aging, with the glaze displaying a natural aging process, further suggesting its historical authenticity. The crackle pattern is consistent and evenly distributed, which is a good indicator of genuine old pieces. The presence of a seal mark, pressed before firing, is a typical feature of high-quality Chinese ceramics, often indicating the kiln or workshop of origin. The seal mark itself, though not deciphered here, adds to the historical value of the piece.

The firing marks on the bottom, where the piece was supported by stilts, indicate it was fired upside down. This firing technique was commonly used to ensure even glaze distribution and to avoid marks on the more visible surfaces of the ceramic.

Given the described characteristics and the images, this porcelain item appears to be a well-preserved example of Ge or Guan ware, likely dating from the Song Dynasty (960–1279 AD) or later periods that emulated these styles.