Frà John Edward Critien, Vittoriosa
Chinese vases likely from 18th century
I refer to the article Palace's Chinese Vases Valued At €28m (November 30).
The journalist and the curator, Bernadine Scicluna, should be informed that more is known about the three pairs of Chinese vases at the Palace than they think.
An accurate description of them is given in the catalogue entitled Antique Chinese Ceramics from the Magistral Palace of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta (Rome) and Maltese Collections, which they are invited to consult.
This catalogue was published in conjunction with an exhibition of the same name held at Fort St Angelo in July last year.
On that occasion the mentioned vases were exhibited by kind permission of President Eddie Fenech Adami and Heritage Malta, to whom I am grateful.
I totally disagree with the 17th century dating attributed to the large pair depicting scenes from a traditional Chinese love story and confirm that c.1735 (give or take 15 years) is more likely, as mentioned in the catalogue. As for the valuation given, I also feel that one should not venture such prices as €28 million for the pair when a more realistic and appropriate valuation would be in the region of €300,000 for both vases. This for the sake of accuracy.
Editor's note
The China Cultural Centre has clarified (December 1) that the figure mentioned in the article was in fact based on much earlier vases from an official kiln of the imperial court.
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M. Costa
Dec 2nd 2009, 18:52
Actually, the 17th century spans from 1 January 1601 to 31 December 1700. The celebration of the beginning of the 3rd millennium on 1 January 2000 was wrong mathematically but made sense commercially because of the magic number 2000.
D.Calleja
Dec 2nd 2009, 15:35
@ M.Blackburn
Fo ryour information the 17th century means the period between1600 to 1699!
You really put your foot in it there! If you're no expert leave it up to the experts.
joseph grech
Dec 2nd 2009, 15:34
@M.Blackburn.
Come, come Mr or Ms Blackburn, 1735 is the 18th century ! Perhaps now you can see where Fra John's disagreement lies. (Just in case you may think that this is the 20th century that we are in, we are actually in the 21st)
Judging by your gaffe with regards to describing the century, I would tend to go with to Fra John's opinion on the value of the vases...rather than yours.
I. Cilia
Dec 2nd 2009, 15:31
@M. Blackburn
just by way of correction...
17th century actually refers to the time period between 1601 - 1700
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/17th_century
now here you have a situation of at least a 100 years difference.. so i guess this adds more substance to the argument of Fra Critien and thus reduces your argument somewhat..
I have no idea of how much these vases cost but frankly i see that Fra Cretien is more of an authority than you are... at least he knows the distinction between centuries..
No offence meant of course but if you want to argue with a certain haughtiness, the least you can do is get the basic terms correct
C.Formosa
Dec 2nd 2009, 15:29
Mr/Ms Blackburn,
No offence, but the 17th century does not encompass 1700-1799.
You're just a hundred years off, Profs.
(sorry, could'nt help it)
Solution; Lets haul them up to the Antiques Roadshow,I'm sure that Lars Tharp or David Battie would solve our missing millions mystery ; )
M.Blackburn
Dec 2nd 2009, 14:30
@ Frà John Edward Critien
Quote :- ''I totally disagree with the 17th century dating attributed to the large pair depicting scenes from a traditional Chinese love story and confirm that c.1735 (give or take 15 years) is more likely, as mentioned in the catalogue. ''
Fra, 17 th Century would encompass the whole hundred years from 1700 - 1799 so I cannot see what you are disagreeing on.
also you state that these vases are only worth €300,000 for both vases. No offence, but when did you become an expert in chinese vases? Prof. Qin, from the School of Archaeology and Museology at the Beijing University stated that SIMILAR rare artefacts as the two vases, that form a set, are known to have been sold for about €14 million a vase in auction.
Who put the €300,000 price tag on the vases? another Profs?
laurence schembri
Dec 2nd 2009, 13:29
Some forty years ago in London, a chinese vase (rather large) for it was being used as an umbrella holder, was discovered accidentally by a Sotheby employee, in an auction it fetched 350.000 pound sterling, in todays money will be close to a million. Most of the time it all depends on the bidders.