Demand for Canton china is there, but don’t expect record prices

With the phenomenal prices commanded at last week’s auction in Lamoine I have been asked by several people to write something about Canton china. The questions asked most frequently are, “Just what is Canton china?” and “Why is it so expensive?” I will try to answer both questions.

Canton porcelain was produced in the region of Canton, China from the latter part of the 18th century until the early 20th century. Large amounts were also exported during the 1920’s,and in recent years reproductions are once again being produced in China. Canton was designed and produced for export to the West. When compared to other Chinese porcelain the quality of clay, glaze and decoration on Canton is truly inferior. Many pieces were actually shipped to market in the West with runs in the glaze, shrink cracks in the clay and sloppy decoration.

Generally,the Canton name is applied to any pattern of blue on a white ground with scenes containing a bridge, willow trees with bunches of leaves, rain cloud border, a teahouse and mountains and boats in the background. The pattern was widely copied in England and Germany and later in America. Most of the copies are referred to as Willow Ware.

Canton china began to appear in this country during the years of the China trade. There are stories that it was so cheap and coarse that it was carried as ballast in ships hauling tea and silk. While it may be true that the china was heavy and comparatively crude, it was never designated as ballast even though it may have been carried in the bottom of the hold. Canton china represented a significant percentage of the dollar value of a ship’ cargo and while some pieces may have been damaged in shipping, it would not have been treated as ballast.

The classic blue and white china became a part of the scene in coastal New England towns and cities as shipments arrived from China. Canton dinnerwares and serving pieces were so plentiful and commonplace during the 19th century in New England that many households used it regularly, as our parents used Fiestaware at camp.

By the end of the 19th century the quality of Canton began to change. Pieces were, by law, marked “Made in China” and the color began to become lighter while the porcelain evolved into a finer and less-coarse ware. While some collectors prefer the later color and weight, true Canton lovers will always prefer heavier early pieces in the dark blue colors.

Many people have asked me why Canton is so popular right now. Actually, Canton has always been popular, especially in the Eastern United States. It is just that now it has become “hot” all over the country. In addition to being popular with casual collectors and homeowners, it is now sought after by important dealers and collectors.

In my grandmother’s day, Canton was still relatively cheap and plentiful and it was bought to be used in the home on an everyday basis. Today, the average hoeowner who likes the Canton blue and white probably will not be willing to spend thousands on a piece which may become damaged or broken in everyday use. So not only is Canton popular, as always, but those who like it are willing to spend lots of money for the pieces they want.

To answer the question about expense, it is important to understand the basic criteria of collecting in any field. The factors which drive price are condition, rarity of form, color and age. Any one of these factors could crate an expensive piece; a combination of all could result in a record price.

Condition is not always premier if a piece is old and rare in form…it becomes more important in later, more common types. The reason this particular sale of Canton was so significant was the fact that there were rare forms in excellent condition. The overall market for plates, platters, cups and saucers and other ordinary pieces of Canton is quite stable and predictable. When you start looking for forms in early Canton which are out of the ordinary, then it is hard to predict. The antiques market is somewhat like the stock market, with prices being driven by factors such as cost, value and — most important — psychology.

It is quite likely that the market for Canton china will cool down after a while. But it will always remain popular, because there is such a strong demand spread throughout all sectors of the market. But for now don’t expect to get a record price for that plate or platter that has been gathering dust for generations.

Robert Croul, the NEWS antiques columnist, lives in Newburgh.