Chinese pottery maker fools Japanese antique connoisseur with imitation

China Plus Published: 2018-01-21 16:06:47
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A screenshot from a Japanese show compares a genuine Yohen Tenmoku teacup (left) to an imitation by Chinese pottery maker Li Xinhong. [Photo: japan.people.com.cn]

A screenshot from a Japanese show compares a genuine Yohen Tenmoku teacup (left) to an imitation by Chinese pottery maker Li Xinhong. [Photo: japan.people.com.cn]

A teacup deemed to be worth 1.4 million yuan (about 220,000 US dollars) by an antique identification show in Japan has turned out to be an imitation from a Chinese pottery maker, the overseas online edition of People's Daily reported citing Taiwan-based Chinatimes.com. 

The Japanese show identified the item as a Yohen Tenmoku teacup which is known for its rainbow-colored spots on a dark glaze. 

Another Japanese show named Bititto reported later that 61-year-old Chinese pottery maker Li Xinhong confirmed she had made the teacup during her apprenticeship and sold it for 80 yuan. 

Li was able to identify her pottery through the signature she left on the bottom of the teacup. 

The Japanese man who brought the teacup to the show claimed his grandfather bought it sometime during Japan's Meiji Era (1868-1912). 

The man said he didn't mind that the teacup was an imitation because it carries sentimental importance for him. 

Yohen Tenmoku teacups were made using a technique that originated from China's Fujian Province during the 12th to 13th century. The technique has since been lost, and only three such teacups have been discovered. They are currently housed in museums in Tokyo, Osaka, and Kyoto respectively. 

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