Celadon is one of the most quietly powerful and enduring ceramic traditions in the world. Revered in China for over a thousand years and later admired and reinterpreted by European makers, celadon bridges cultures, aesthetics, and centuries of craftsmanship. Today, collectors encounter celadon in very different forms — from ancient Chinese stoneware bowls to richly mounted French porcelain lamps — each with its own story, value, and appeal.
At Shackleton Fox, we are drawn to celadon table lamps, which showcase how this historic glaze evolved in the decorative arts. We currently have several examples in stock that highlight the variety and sophistication of the French market, including pieces with pâte-sur-pâte decoration and gilt bronze mounts.
This guide explores Chinese versus French celadon, what to look out for, key date ranges, values, and the marks and makers that matter.
Celadon refers to a family of ceramic glazes characterised by their soft green, blue-green, or olive tones, achieved through iron oxide fired in a reduction atmosphere. The result is a glaze that has long been compared to polished jade — a material deeply prized in Chinese culture.
The word celadon itself is European, originating in 17th-century France, but the technique is firmly rooted in China, where celadon wares were produced as early as the Han dynasty (206 BCE–220 CE).
Further reading:
https://www.britannica.com/art/celadon
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Celadon
Chinese celadon developed over many centuries, with several key periods of production:
Han Dynasty (206 BCE–220 CE): Early proto-celadon wares, often darker olive green.
Five Dynasties & Northern Song (10th–11th century): Refinement of glaze and form.
Southern Song Dynasty (1127–1279): Considered the golden age of celadon, particularly from the Longquan kilns.
Yuan to Ming Dynasties (13th–17th century): Continued production, including export wares.
Qing Dynasty and later: Celadon remains popular but often becomes more decorative.
Longquan celadon, produced in Zhejiang province, is the most celebrated of all. These wares are known for their thick, lustrous glaze and restrained forms.
Reference:
https://www.christies.com/features/Celadon-Ware-Collecting-Guide-9455-3.aspx
Traditional Chinese celadon pieces were often utilitarian or ritual in nature:
Bowls and dishes
Vases
Incense burners
Water droppers and scholar’s objects
Decoration tends to be subtle — carved, moulded, or incised beneath the glaze rather than painted on top.
Early Chinese celadon rarely carries factory marks. Instead, age is identified through:
Glaze pooling and colour variation
Kiln imperfections
Wear to the foot rim
Later export pieces may carry reign marks, though many are apocryphal (honorific rather than literal).
A useful overview of dating characteristics:
https://www.marklittler.com/how-to-identify-chinese-porcelain/
Chinese celadon values vary enormously depending on age, kiln, condition, and provenance.
Modern or decorative celadon: £50–£300
Qing dynasty / export celadon: £200–£1,200+
Song or Yuan Longquan celadon: £3,000–£50,000+
Exceptional museum-quality examples: £50,000+
Recent auction examples include:
Song/Yuan celadon bowls selling for £3,000–£8,000
Large or rare Longquan vases achieving £50,000+
Auction references:
https://www.bonhams.com/auctions/20580/
https://www.barnebys.co.uk/realised-prices/celadon_bowl.html
By the 17th century, Chinese celadon wares were arriving in Europe via trade routes and quickly became fashionable. French and European porcelain makers admired the colour and surface quality and began incorporating celadon glazes into their own work — not as direct copies, but as part of a distinctly European decorative language.
French celadon is most commonly seen in:
Porcelain vases
Decorative objects
Table lamps, often mounted in gilt bronze
These pieces typically date from the 19th to early 20th century, a period when porcelain and ormolu were central to French interior design.
One of the most important decorative techniques associated with French celadon is pâte-sur-pâte.
Pâte-sur-pâte (“paste on paste”) involves applying layers of liquid porcelain slip to create delicate raised relief designs — often classical figures, floral motifs, or mythological scenes. Once fired, the relief appears almost cameo-like against the celadon ground.
The technique was perfected in France in the mid-19th century, particularly at Sèvres, and remains highly collectible today.
Further reading:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pâte-sur-pâte
At Shackleton Fox, we currently have a pâte-sur-pâte celadon table lamp that beautifully illustrates this craftsmanship:
https://www.shackletonfox.com/product/pate-sur-pate-table-lamp/
French celadon pieces occupy a different market to ancient Chinese ceramics, appealing to collectors of decorative arts and interiors.
French celadon porcelain table lamps: £500–£1,500
Pâte-sur-pâte decorated lamps: £800–£2,500+
Important signed or high-quality pieces: £2,000–£10,000+
Comparable market examples can be found at:
Unlike early Chinese celadon, French porcelain often bears marks:
Sèvres factory marks and date letters
Paris or Limoges stamps
Artist or decorator signatures on pâte-sur-pâte pieces
Marks should always be assessed alongside quality, glaze, and decoration rather than relied upon in isolation.
Useful reference for European marks:
https://www.thefrenchporcelainsociety.com/
At Shackleton Fox, we actively seek out French celadon table lamps when we can find pieces of the right quality and character. Our current selection highlights the variety available within the French market, from classical gilt-mounted examples to more sculptural pâte-sur-pâte designs:
19th Century French Celadon Porcelain Table Lamp
https://www.shackletonfox.com/product/a-superb-19th-century-french-celadon-porcelain-table-lamp/
Pâte-sur-pâte Celadon Table Lamp
https://www.shackletonfox.com/product/pate-sur-pate-table-lamp/
Fine French Celadon Lamp with Gilt Bronze Mounts, Stamped Paris
https://www.shackletonfox.com/product/fine-french-celadon-table-lamp-with-gilt-bronze-mounts-stamped-paris/
These pieces demonstrate how celadon evolved from ancient Chinese kiln traditions into refined European decorative art — each interpretation offering something different for today’s collector.
