My great aunt traveled to China 65 years ago and I inherited this vase. I’d like to know its value other than sentimentally.
10 in by 6 in
Hello, this item is a Chinese porcelain baluster-form vase with famille rose–style overglaze enamel decoration, produced in the 20th century and bearing an apocryphal six-character Qianlong reign mark in iron red on the base. Although the mark reads “Made in the Great Qing Dynasty, Qianlong period,” the overall paste, enamel palette, outline work, and decorative density clearly indicate later manufacture rather than an 18th century imperial workshop piece. The vase features stylized floral panels with peonies and birds, a key-fret border at the shoulder, and auspicious medallions, all typical of export and domestic decorative wares made in China from roughly the 1950s through the 1980s. The proportions, glossy glaze, and mechanically even painting further support modern production. At approximately 10 inches tall, this falls into the small decorative vase category rather than scholar or palace ware.
From a market perspective, 20th century Chinese porcelain vases with Qianlong apocryphal marks of this type typically sell between USD 150 and USD 400, depending on condition and visual appeal. Authentic Qianlong-period famille rose vases of similar form would command five-figure prices, but this example does not meet the material or stylistic criteria for Qing dynasty manufacture. Based on the visible condition and standard decorative quality, this vase carries a realistic current fair market value of approximately USD 200 to USD 300. This reflects recent secondary market results for comparable mid to late 20th century Chinese enamelled porcelain vases with spurious imperial marks.