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How to tell if my Chinese porcelain is antique or valuable

Experience is Key

The way one tells if an Asian piece of porcelain is antique, is through experience. Often people say: "Well, how do you know it's 18th century, or how do you know it's contemporary and made in last 20 years?" The best answer, the answer Robert offers and others in his industry offer, is experience. Robert from PKR Antiques has handled thousands of these objects in every context. So that is how we know. We have touched, felt, looked at and ran our...

Why PKR Antiques specialise in Asian antiques

A near two-decade long journey

Robert initially started specialising in general antiques and traditional European decorative arts in 2002. As that market diminished in popularity and desirability, he noticed that in line with the general market, the demand for Chinese works of art and antiques was on the rise. He noticed a parallel between the decline of traditional European decorative arts and the ascent of Chinese works of art. Hence, Robert transitioned in around 2006 from traditional European antiques and decorative arts,...

Chinese cloisonné – a question of gilding and wirework

Chinese enamelware or cloisonné (a French word- for the process of thin wire dividing cells of color worked to depict design) is a prized technique to collectors. Objects of worship to utilitarian items were produced in China from the 14th century - arriving from the Near East. Enamelware is one of the rare examples of the world outside the Middle Kingdom influencing its handy crafts on such a mass scale. Please feel free to contact PKR Antiques at 5614203943 or info@pkrantiques.com to...

Chinese porcelain – value in the details

Chinese domestic and export market porcelain is often viewed as one of the foremost examples of hand built decorative arts. Chinese porcelain, its material quality and clarity and decorative execution have been of inspiration to Europe and the new world for centuries. The magic and allure of Chinese celadon and pre Qing (17-20th century) porcelain was introduced to Europe via the Silk Road and Islamic trade during the 16th century. The very fine and smooth porcelain Kaolin clay was a revelation to the...

India – A Tradition of Gods and Avatars

The South East Asia and Indian tradition of worship has for many many millennium been tolerant and adaptive. The Hindu religion, arguably the oldest and now third largest religion, has been quoted as having 330 million God’s, however the core foundation is based on the triple deity of supreme divinity. Brahma (the creator) Vishnu (the preserver) and shiva (the destroyer) are known as the Trimurti. Each deity is depicted in the pantheon as avatars, associated with the primary source of the deity...

Chinese white marble scholars weight

Chinese white marble scholars weight

Photographed is a Chinese white marble weight carved in the form of a mythical beast, recumbent lion. Dating from the mid to late Ming period 14-16th Century. The Chinese scholars use of paper was relatively wide spread by the 8th century. Printing presses were producing money and paper mills were producing sheets of paper in large quantities by the 12th century. The above weight was possibly carved to secure one end of a horizontal scroll or to secure a pile. It’s additionally possible that...

Age is not a indicator of value

Often when a client calls or emails, they are excited at the assumed or possible age of an object. The object may have a previous Apprasial or family folklore-dating the object to several hundred years old or the venerable “Ming Dynasty”. However, it must be remember that even during the 16 & 17th century people of limited means bought mass produced objects of limited material value. This is especially true for devotional objects from China made during the late Ming dynasty, late 16th-...

19th Century Chinese Stringed Instrument

Chinese Stringed Instrument

19th Century Chinese Stringed Instrument Appraisal On PBS Antiques Roadshow


Antique Chinese Artwork

Chinese Artwork

In recent centuries due to the mass reproduction of original Chinese artwork, to ensure authenticity of  Asian artwork it is imperative to have an objective appraiser see your items in person for a thorough appraisal. Robert Waterhouse of PKR antiques suggests taht the age of the artwork does not determine the price of the item. As with any evaluation the rarity of the piece and more importantly the demand for the item will increase an items worth. In particular...

Buddhist Art

Today, Buddhist Art is one of the strongest and most competitively sort after areas of collecting among Asian Antiques. Fine Buddhist Art has been and continues to be produced from India, Nepal, Tibet, Japan, China, and the greater South East Asia area. Those objects produced in Nepal, Tibet and Chinese are most sort after. With a preference towards gilding objects of devotion or fine paintings of Buddhist subjects.

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