A special thank you to Bukowskis Auction for the permission to use their archive images
typography consultant Reine Hefvelin / Masarin
printing and binding - Artron, China
slipcase – isbn 978-91-984651-8-1
Seal of Qing dynasty
The New Way to Classify
Chinese Imperial Reign Marks
Handbook in identifying the Imperial Marks from Hongxian to Xuande
Written and researched by Christer Löfgren
BOOXENCOUNTERS
Stockholm, Sweden
table of contents (periods in reversed order__ – read in the second volume, page 8)
Marks from the Qing period
Hongxian 1915-1916 10
Xuantong 1908-1912 16
Guangxu 1875-1908 22
Tongzhi 1861-1875 42
Xianfeng 1850-1861 48
Daoguang 1820-1850 52
Jiaqing 1796-1820 68
Qianlong 1735-1796 76
Yongzheng 1723-1735 102
Kangxi 1661-1722 130
Marks from the Ming period
Wanli 1572-1620 162
Longqing 1567-1572 174
Jiajing 1522-1567 180
Zhengde 1505-1552 190
Hongzhi 1487-1505 198
Chenghua 1464-1487 202
Xuande 1425-1435 204
The way to identify the different marks
All the marks in this book are classified as “Mark and Period” by the experts around the world. The marks and related objects are collected in my database with over 5630 marks from Ming to Qing periods, including Hongxian. All evaluations and statistics around the marks are based on this data. The marks in this book are those that have more than 1% of objects in a period, the other marks with objects less than 1% are in volume 2.
The first step in the identification is to see markings with red lines. There are always three red lines, with some exception. These red lines point out the most important features for identifying the marks and are utilized for quick identification. Sometimes the red markings are not enough, but additional features are needed, these are below those marked with a black line. These show more subtle elements that can be helpful. It is essential to see these together with the other characteristics to enable the correct identification.
There are one additional means of identification, and it is the dotted lines that can be both red or black. These differ, showing the directions and the slope of the sign or characters themselves relative to each other.
Each line includes a numbered commentary with an explanation of what is essential to look at when identifying. Also, it is a numbering that indicates how important the figures are. Easiest is to start identification with number 1 and then move on until you become confident with which marks you have identified. Whether they are complicated or have significant differences, there are always three additional examples or more, aiding in detecting the small variations that exist in the marks.
On the other side, next to the “mark,” there is a comment field where we discuss unique characteristics and variations of the mark — also a description of how to distinguish between two similar marks. The eye is a fantastic tool when it comes to identification and
Imperial Signs & Marks by Christer Löfgren
understanding differences and patterns found in the characters. It is not an exact science, and you do not need to know what the figures mean. There are often natural, small variations, during the life of the calligrapher. There are also variations due to the small area that the calligrapher sometimes is left with to make make the signs. Essential – to look at how the characters are relative to each other, also how they distributed on the surface. Often there can be minimal differences between the marks, so it is good to go back and forth between them to learn to see the differences. In this part of the
Examples of a Wanli mark from the Ming period
1. Tag straight up
8. Both lines are the same length
3. The curved line goes far down
5. The dash stands out
4. The line curved inwards
2. The line bends inward
6. The tag is larger than the left one
7. Leaning up
9. Short curved line
A delicate gouache painting showing the daily life of family of the officials in the Qing Dynasty.
QING
from Hongxian in to the Kangxi
1916 » 1661
Comment – There are small variations probably due to lack of space in the design of the mark, but the main features in the examples below show that it is probably the same person who performed the calligraphy. The beveled corners are typical of Hongxian.
Some examples of the same Mark No 1 with different framing
of Hongxian Mark No 1
Examples
The character has parallel lines
No 1 represents 56% of Hongxian period, constitutes by 25 Marks.
Comment – There are two variants of the same mark. What is different is in comment 1 and 2; see below. In comment 1, the line is horizontal, and in comment 2, the line inclined by 45 degrees. Despite this difference, it is probably the same
Examples of Hongxian Mark No 2
洪憲皇帝
1. Typical
Mark No 2
2. The signs are located at the same height as in Mark No 1
No 2 represents 29% of Hongxian period, constitutes by 13 Marks.
Comment – There are some variants of Mark No. 3; see comment 1 and 2. It’s probably the same calligrapher that made the mark. The Mark usually has no frame.
of Hongxian Mark No 3
Examples
5. The dash stands out
Mark No 3
3.
4. The entire character is inclined upward
No 3 represents 15% of Hongxian period, constitutes by 6 Marks.
1. Tilt downwards
2. Often inclined inwardly
The line is bent
Comment – Mark 1 differs from Mark 2 in comment 1 and 2; see below.
Xuantong 1908-1912
Mark No 1
No 1 represents 75% of Xuantong period, constitutes by 33 Marks.
2. The line crosses the horizontal line
1. Small free standing tag
6. The line goes straight up
4. Long line without V-shape
5. Split far down
3. A round lump
7. Long straight line
Comment – The calligrapher who performed Mark No 2 in Xuantong is also the same that was active during the Guangxu period with the Mark Guangxu No. 2. Often, the calligrapher survives his emperor and begins to work for the new emperor in the next period.
of Xuantong Mark No 2
Guangxu Mark 2
Xuantong Mark 2
Examples
6. Slightly bent and pointing outwards
Xuantong 1908-1912
Mark No 2
1. The dash joins
5. The lines go almost together
2. The line is phase shifted downward on the curved line
7. The signs tilt slightly upwards
4. Small V-sign
3. Inward curved line
8. Little bend at the end of the dash
9. The lines go together
No 2 represents 14% of Xuantong period, constitutes by 6 Marks.
