Ming Vase Dress

There are a few tell-tale signs you can look for to determine whether your Ming vase is real or fake. Authentic Ming vases will have a mark on the bottom to note what Emperor they were made for. There are several different markings so it helps to familiarize yourself with them. Also, Ming vases have very little iron in the clay. Iron turns reddish when the clay is fired if there is no glaze over it. Look inside the vase to see what color the unglazed clay is. Shop a collection of authentic Ming vases from some of the world’s top stores on 1stDibs.

To spot a fake Ming vase, first look at the unglazed paste at the bottom edge of the rim. There, you should see a reddish brown edge where the glaze stops. If not, it's possible the vase is not from the Ming dynasty. You can shop a collection of expertly vetted Ming vases from some of the top sellers on 1stDibs.

A Ming dynasty vase is going to be worth a lot. In 2021, a blue and white Chinese bowl was bought at a yard sale in Connecticut that turned out to be a rare Ming dynasty-era ceramic work. It is estimated to be valued at between $300,000 and $500,000. Shop a range of antique and vintage vases on 1stDibs.