Chinese? Japanese? I'm all confused!!!!

[JojoMeme85]

Hi Guys,

I am ever so confused.. (Doesn't take much Really.. )
I bought these 2 lovely plates from an antique shop and I believed they were Chinese. However, I have recently sent a few pictures to a well know auction house who say they are Japanese. I have done my own research regarding Japanese antique plates but can’t find anything similar to my plates..
I personally thought they were Famille Rose, they are well painted with no chips or cracks ect..
I could be totally wrong as I am new to all this but I dated them to early Qing Dynasty due to the tiny holes in the back that were made in the kiln..
So if you please, I would love to know your opinions on them and where in the world you think they may come from..
Thank you in advance

[Ipcress]

Japanese. Certainly worth keeping.
Nice Manchurian Cranes in the centre.

[mart]

Very little wear or age on back,, think these are mid century at best !!  Still nice plates !!  And yes,, Japanese !!

[bigwull]

Japanese. Certainly worth keeping.
Nice Manchurian Cranes in the centre.

Don,t mention them damn burds tae me...

[mart]

Well,, the other is a goose,, do you like them better ??

[bigwull]

Oh,yeah...at least you can eat them....

[greenacres]

They might be copies of Imari.

[Ipcress]

I think the influences are more Kakiemon but i don't think they are ' copies '.

[JojoMeme85]

Hey,,
Thanks for all the information..
I don't think there copies they really are beautiful plates and they don't look modern, when you look at the back they do look like they have some age too them.. I know that may not come accross in the photo's and they are so light and delicate not like modern porcelain.
 I was sold them as genuine antiques from an antique shop, are they allowed to do that if they are copies??
Also how can you tell a Chinese plate from a Japanese plate?? (Just trying to learn a thing or two from the experts

[Ipcress]

It all depends on the period. You can have Japanese copies / reproductions of Chinese plates and the blues are slightly lighter or the plate is octagonal when it should be circular.

It's tricky when they aren't marked and sometimes impossible to tell.

" light and delicate " confirms my opinion that they're early mid 20th. A bit too recent at the moment but in another decade...

The most common Oriental antiques you'll find are the " light and delicate " Japanese coffee sets that were exported in their hundreds of thousands. " Egg shell " is a commonly used term for them and they often have a lithophane of a female head in the base.