7 China Collecting Books That Elevate Your Expertise

Jan Foulke's decades of hands-on experience in doll collecting shine through in this focused guide to china dolls. She and Howard Foulke offer practical tips on buying, selling, and valuing china dolls that range from beginner to advanced levels. You’ll find strategies to save money and avoid common pitfalls, with chapters that break down the nuances of identifying authentic pieces and understanding market trends. Whether you’re just starting or refining your collection, the book lays out clear insights into this specialized hobby without unnecessary jargon.

After analyzing a broad range of scientific methods, Anthony J. Allen developed a detailed approach to authenticating ancient Chinese bronzes that goes beyond traditional visual assessments. You learn how to interpret metallurgical analysis, thermoluminescence, carbon-14 dating, and high-power microscopy results to verify authenticity. The book also guides you through understanding patination, corrosion, and inlaid inscriptions, which are crucial for distinguishing genuine pieces from forgeries. If you collect or study Chinese bronzes, this book equips you with both scientific and visual tools to deepen your expertise and avoid costly mistakes.

This tailored book delves deeply into the art and science of authenticating and collecting Chinese antiques, focusing precisely on your interests and background. It explores key aspects such as historical context, expert authentication techniques, and market evaluation methods. By weaving together traditional knowledge and contemporary insights, the content offers a nuanced understanding that matches your specific goals and experience level. This personalized guide would cover the complexities of identifying genuine pieces, understanding provenance, and navigating the evolving market with confidence. With a focus on your unique collecting journey, it ensures you build expertise grounded in both scholarly research and practical application.

Janet Gleeson's decades of expertise in art and antiques shaped this accessible guide, making complex pottery and porcelain collecting approachable for newcomers. You learn to differentiate between hard paste and soft paste porcelain, earthenware and stoneware, and gain insights into over 70 major ceramics factories across Europe, America, and Asia. The book also provides historical context and practical buying tips, helping you avoid common pitfalls when starting your collection. If you're eager to build a solid foundation in ceramics collecting, this book offers clear explanations without overwhelming jargon, though seasoned collectors might find it more of a refresher.

What started as Regina Krahl's deep engagement with the British Museum's Chinese ceramics collection became a detailed exploration of the Sir Percival David Collection's finest pieces. You gain insight into imperial-quality ceramics, including rare Ru and Guan wares, alongside the iconic David vases whose 1351 inscriptions serve as key references for dating blue and white porcelain. The book’s 50 highlighted examples, richly illustrated with exclusive color photographs, make it a focused study that clarifies important features and historical context. If you're passionate about Chinese ceramics or serious about building expertise in this field, this book offers a clear window into some of the most significant artifacts outside Asia, though it’s tailored more for those with a keen interest rather than casual collectors.

Stéphane Castelluccio draws on his deep expertise in art history and luxury commerce to explore the evolving market for East Asian porcelain in Paris from Louis XIV's reign through the eighteenth century. You learn how tastes shifted from blue-and-white Chinese porcelains displayed in dense arrangements to more refined presentations of Japanese polychrome ware alongside other decorative arts. The book offers detailed inventories, sales catalogs, and never-before-published treatises that reveal what pieces were prized, their prices, and ownership patterns. This is especially insightful if you want to understand the cultural and economic context behind collecting Chinese and Japanese porcelain in pre-revolutionary France. You’ll find richly illustrated examples from major museum collections that bring these historical narratives to life.

This personalized book explores the journey to mastering China collecting in a focused 90-day plan tailored to your interests and experience. It examines key areas such as authentic identification, historical context, and valuation methods to build your expertise step by step. By aligning expert knowledge with your specific collecting goals, it guides you through understanding porcelain types, deciphering marks, and recognizing genuine antiques. The tailored content ensures you concentrate on what matters most to you, turning complex topics into manageable learning milestones. This approach reveals the rich artistry and history behind Chinese collectibles while developing your skills in a methodical yet engaging way.

Zoe Swan’s practical approach addresses a common challenge among teacup collectors: keeping track of an expanding collection. This logbook guides you through systematically cataloging up to 50 tea sets, prompting detailed entries like country of origin, estimated age, purchase details, and display location. It’s more than a diary; it’s a structured tool that helps preserve the history and value of each piece, making it easier to manage and appreciate your collection over time. If you’re someone who enjoys collecting antique teacups but finds it hard to remember specifics or organize your items, this book offers a straightforward system to keep your hobby enjoyable and orderly.

What happens when decades of hands-on experience with ancient Chinese antiques meets the challenge of widespread forgeries? Anthony J. Allen distills his expertise into this second edition, guiding you through the maze of authenticating antique Chinese porcelain from the Ming dynasty onward. You gain concrete skills like reading reign marks, spotting deceptive apocryphal marks, and identifying telltale flaws of counterfeit pieces—skills rarely shared with such clarity. Whether you're a novice collector hesitant about entering this complex market or a museum curator seeking deeper insights, this book equips you with a discerning eye, illuminated by full-color examples and practical authentication techniques.