Chinese reign marks

Modified: February 14, 2026 7:58 PM Created: September 17, 2025 3:27 PM Master Type: Notes Hide: No Starred: No Status: Unassigned

年乾 = Nianqian 製隆 = longing

Regarding RS86.4.7—Objects stamped with 年乾製隆 (Niánqián Zhìlóng) are in the “Qianlong” style, mostly produced during the reign of the longest living (+ second longest reigning, 1736-1795) emperor of China, Qianlong.

The Qianlong period is “seen as the height of porcelain production” and its porcelain is divided into three categories: “imperial,” “porcelain for the people,” and export. Imperial and “porcelain for the people” were marked with a seal on the bottom; export porcelain does not have a “reign mark.” The use of the Qianlong reign mark continued through to the 20th century despite not being true Qianlong porcelain, but the colors and styles of the marks usually differ than what was used during the 18th.

Simple pieces will be worth between $30-$60, while nicer pieces go for around $700-$1200, and more rare/special Qianlong porcelain can auction for around $20k, with some “imperial” pieces going for 16 to 25 million. (https://antique-marks.com/qianlong-porcelain-marks-on-vases-and-other-art-from-qianlong-period.html)

The National Palace Museum in China had an exhibit on Qianlong porcelain a few years ago: https://theme.npm.edu.tw/exh109/ArtisticStyle-Qianlong/en/page-3.html

Meanwhile 63.5 and 63.6 seem (?) to be Yongzheng porcelain or imitation, and RS86.4.19 [慎徳堂製] appears to be from the Daoguang period (1820-1850), but I haven’t had time to research them yet.

陶瓷碗 年乾製隆

陶瓷碗 丰乾製隆

陶瓷碗 玍乾製隆

年乾製隆 Nianquian Zhilong

丰乾製隆 Fengqian Zhilong

玍乾製隆 Dianquian Zhilong

丰乾 = Fungan

玍乾 = Diangan

丯乾