ALLEN'S AUTHENTICATION OF LATER CHINESE PORCELAIN . . . continues on from the earlier "Allen's Introduction to Later Chinese Porcelain" in a more detailed examination of aspects of dating, and provides even the novice collector or dealer with information, dating techniques, and illustrations, which would otherwise take years to learn. The focus of the work is primarily on the dating of porcelain made between the beginning of the Jiaqing reign in 1796 AD, and ending in the penultimate year of the 20th Century, 1999. As many of the porcelains made in this 200-year period were copies of earlier periods, there are also a number of illustrations of genuine porcelain and pottery pieces made in the late Ming and earlier Qing dynasties; i.e. prior to 1796 AD. Progressing chronologically through the late Qing dynasty reigns of Jiaqing through Xuantong, this book then examines the porcelain of the Republic period (1912 to 1949), and then the Mao period of the People's Republic of China, before concluding with a preliminary look at the dating of Chinese redwares, and details of the author's visit to Jingdezhen in 1998. With over 480 full colour illustrations of not only the items, but of their backs and undersides, close-ups of marks, footrims, and glazes, this is undoubtedly the most detailed English language text yet on the dating of Chinese porcelain of this period. The author's often blunt and provocative commentary will undoubtedly offend some quarters of the Asian art world, but collectors for generations to come will thank him for his advice on detecting the bane of every collector's life: the Chinese porcelain fake, intentionally made to deceive.
