A reign mark is an inscription on Chinese porcelain and other works of art recording the name of the emperor during whose reign the piece was made. Typically written in four or six characters on the base, it gives the dynasty and the reign title, and is usually painted in underglaze blue, though enamel, incised and impressed marks are also found.
Reign marks became common on imperial porcelain from the early Ming Dynasty, notably in the Xuande and Chenghua reigns, and continued through the Qing Dynasty into the twentieth century. Marks may be written in regular script within a double circle or square, or in archaic seal script, which became popular from the Yongzheng and Qianlong periods. Collectors must approach reign marks with great caution. Chinese potters frequently placed the marks of earlier, admired reigns on later wares as a mark of respect, rather than to deceive, and these are known as apocryphal marks. Genuine marks of the period are judged by calligraphy, the colour and tone of the blue, the potting and glaze of the foot, and how well the mark matches the style of the piece. Expert advice is essential for valuable porcelain bearing imperial marks.
