In the late Qing Dynasty and the Republic of China, due to the high value and cost of genuine enamel porcelain, many imitations flooded the market. As a result, it's essential to know how to distinguish real enamel porcelain from fakes. According to experts in Chinese porcelain museums, authentic enamel porcelain typically exhibits several distinctive features.
One of the most notable characteristics is the pigment used in enamel porcelain. The colors are more vivid and layered, with each design composed of multiple color materials. The surface has a smooth, glass-like finish that reflects light, creating a beautiful glossy appearance. The glaze often protrudes slightly above the surrounding area, giving a three-dimensional effect that can be felt when touched. Using a 10x magnifying glass, you can spot tiny gaps on individual flowers and leaves—this detail is invisible to the naked eye and is one of the key indicators of authenticity. In contrast, pastel porcelain lacks this raised texture.
The porcelain body itself is usually thin and well-proportioned, with precise craftsmanship. Most enamel pieces are small, such as daily-use ceramics, vases, or decorative figurines. Large items over one foot in size are rare. The base is typically pure white, without any green or yellow tinge, and the surface is smooth and clean, often described as "white and flawless."
Enamel colors are vibrant yet soft, rarely appearing as solid hues. Instead, they tend to be pastel-like, with multiple shades often used on a single piece. It's common to see seven or eight different colors, sometimes even more than ten.
The paintings and designs on enamel porcelain are usually intricate and highly detailed. For example, Kangxi-era enamel pieces were often painted with flowers but not birds, while Yongzheng-era enamel featured richer color schemes. During the Qianlong period, there was a blend of pastel and enamel styles, showing a transition in artistic techniques.
High-end custom enamel porcelain from the Kangxi period had strict regulations. Initially, writing names was forbidden, but after 40 years, the official mark "Kangxi Imperial System" appeared, written in four characters. There were three variations, differing mainly in the brushwork of the characters "Kang" and "Yu." In the Yongzheng era, two styles emerged: one imitating Song dynasty calligraphy and the other using syllabic scripts. These were known as "Yuzhen Nianzhi" and "Yongzheng Imperial System," respectively. By the Qianlong period, the official mark was simply a four-character frame, such as "Qianlong Nianzhi," with some variations recorded in historical documents.
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