
Chinese porcelain has captivated collectors and art enthusiasts for centuries, with prices at auction regularly reaching millions of pounds. Yet for many, identifying different decoration styles can seem daunting. Whether you’ve inherited a family heirloom or are starting your collection journey, understanding these eight classic decoration techniques is essential.
In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explore each major style – from the highly prized Doucai to the iconic Blue and White – helping you identify key characteristics and understand what makes certain pieces particularly valuable.
Our experts have decades of experience in Asian art and regularly assist collectors in identifying and valuing Chinese porcelain. While this guide provides a foundation for understanding decoration styles, every piece tells its own unique story.
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Doucai (豆彩) – “Contrasting” or “Clashing Colours”
Developed during the Ming Dynasty, Doucai represents the pinnacle of Chinese porcelain artistry. The technique involves painting delicate blue outlines under the glaze, followed by firing. The piece is then painted again with overglaze enamels in soft yellows, reds, and greens before a second firing. Think of it as similar to a sophisticated colouring book – the blue lines create the design, while the enamels fill in the spaces. The most valuable examples come from the Chenghua period (1465-1487), with genuine pieces fetching millions at auction.
How to identify:
- Look for clear blue outlines visible through the coloured enamels
- The design should have a distinct layered effect, with the blue lines appearing to sit beneath the surface
- Typically features delicate patterns of flowers, fruit, and Buddhist symbols
- Designs often have plenty of white space, giving an airy quality
- Colours are typically soft and refined rather than bold
- The porcelain body should be extremely fine and white

Famille Rose (粉彩) – “Pink Family” or “Yang Cai”
Emerging in the early 18th century during the Qing Dynasty, Famille Rose revolutionised Chinese porcelain decoration with its distinctive palette. The style’s signature feature is a soft pink enamel derived from colloidal gold, alongside an opaque white enamel that allowed for subtle shading effects previously impossible in Chinese ceramics. This innovation enabled artists to create more naturalistic designs with a three-dimensional quality. Imperial pieces from the Qianlong period (1736-1795) are particularly sought after, with the finest examples showing extraordinary attention to detail.
How to identify:
- Look for the characteristic pink colour, which appears in various shades from pale rose to deep ruby
- The presence of opaque white enamel used for highlighting and creating depth
- All decoration sits on top of the glaze (overglaze)
- Designs often feature elaborate floral patterns, court scenes, or figurative subjects
- The painting style shows gradual colour transitions and subtle shading
- Pieces typically have a more European influence in their design compared to earlier styles
- The enamels should appear slightly raised above the surface

Wucai (五彩) – “Five Colours”
Developed during the Ming Dynasty and reaching its peak during the Wanli period (1573-1620), Wucai represents one of China’s most vibrant porcelain styles. The name literally means “five colours”, though pieces often include more. The technique combines underglaze cobalt blue with overglaze enamels in bright red, green, yellow and aubergine. Wucai pieces showcase the growing confidence of Ming potters, who created bold, energetic designs that contrast sharply with the more restrained blue and white wares of the same period. Early Ming examples, particularly those from the Jiajing period (1522-1566), are highly prized by collectors.
How to identify:
- Look for the distinctive combination of underglaze blue and overglaze enamels
- Colours appear bold and vibrant, less subtle than Famille Rose
- The blue elements will appear slightly blurred under the glaze
- Designs often feature dragons, phoenix birds, and other imperial motifs
- The overglaze colours should sit visibly on top of the surface
- Red typically appears as iron-red rather than pink
- Pieces often have a more crowded, energetic design style
- The porcelain body should be fairly thick and sturdy

Famille Verte (绿彩) – “Green Family”
A style that dominated Chinese export porcelain during the Kangxi period (1662-1722), Famille Verte takes its name from the predominant use of vivid green enamels in various shades. The style represents a technical breakthrough in Chinese ceramics, with potters mastering the use of multiple firing temperatures to achieve different effects. Famille Verte pieces typically feature sophisticated narratives, often depicting scenes from Chinese literature, mythology, or daily life. The finest examples show extraordinary detail and technical skill, particularly in the rendering of landscapes and figures.
How to identify:
- Look for the dominant use of different shades of green enamel
- All decoration sits on top of the glaze (overglaze)
- Colours typically include iron-red, yellow, purple, and black alongside the greens
- The enamels appear thick and slightly raised from the surface
- Designs often feature intricate narrative scenes or elaborate borders
- The green colours should appear bright and translucent
- Pieces typically have a dense, detailed decoration style
- The white areas often show a slight bluish tinge characteristic of the period

Blue and White (青花) – “Qing Hua”
The most recognisable and enduring style of Chinese porcelain, Blue and White ware has been produced continuously since the Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368). The technique uses cobalt blue pigment painted directly onto the unfired porcelain body, which is then covered with a clear glaze and fired at high temperatures. The style reached its artistic peak during the Ming Dynasty, particularly in the Yongle (1403-1424) and Xuande (1426-1435) periods. Though generally more affordable than other decorative styles, exceptional early pieces can fetch astronomical prices at auction.
How to identify:
- Look for the characteristic cobalt blue decoration under a clear glaze
- The blue should show variations in tone, from deep navy to pale grey-blue
- All decoration appears slightly blurred due to the glaze covering
- Designs often feature lotus flowers, dragons, and landscapes
- Earlier pieces tend to have a more greyish or “heavier” blue
- Later pieces usually show a brighter, more vivid blue
- The porcelain body should be pure white when held to light
- Genuine antique pieces will have slight imperfections in the painting

Famille Jaune (黄彩) – “Yellow Family”
A lesser-known but distinctive member of the ‘Famille’ categorisation, Famille Jaune emerged during the Qing Dynasty. Characterised by its dominant use of yellow enamels, this style often carried imperial associations as yellow was traditionally reserved for the emperor. Though less common than other decorative techniques, Famille Jaune pieces showcase the technical mastery of Qing potters in achieving a rich, consistent yellow ground. These pieces frequently feature sophisticated designs that contrast dramatically with their yellow backgrounds.
How to identify:
- Look for the predominant use of yellow enamel as a ground colour
- Decoration typically appears in other colours against the yellow background
- All decoration sits on top of the glaze (overglaze)
- Imperial pieces often feature dragons and other royal motifs
- The yellow should appear rich and even across the surface
- Designs frequently incorporate green, red, and aubergine enamels
- The yellow ground can range from pale egg-yolk to deep mustard
- Genuine pieces will show slight variations in the yellow tone

Blanc de Chine (德化白) – “White from Dehua”
Originating from the kilns of Dehua in Fujian Province, Blanc de Chine represents a distinct tradition in Chinese ceramics that focuses on form rather than colour. These pure white porcelain pieces, produced since the Ming Dynasty, are renowned for their milk-white appearance and subtle decoration. Unlike other Chinese porcelain styles, Blanc de Chine’s beauty lies in its simplicity, often featuring delicate carved or moulded designs rather than painted decoration. The ware was highly prized in Europe, particularly during the 17th and 18th centuries, influencing early European porcelain production.
How to identify:
- Look for the characteristic creamy or milk-white colour
- The glaze should have a subtle lustre, almost ivory-like
- Decoration is typically moulded, carved, or incised rather than painted
- Common subjects include Guanyin figures, scholars, and Buddhist lions
- The porcelain body should be very fine and translucent when held to light
- Pieces often have a slightly ivory or pale cream tint rather than stark white
- Surface should feel smooth and silky to the touch
- Quality pieces will show crisp detail in the moulded elements

Celadon (青瓷) – “Qing Ci”
Dating back to the Han Dynasty (206 BCE-220 CE), Celadon represents one of China’s earliest and most influential glazing techniques. The style is characterised by its distinctive jade-green to blue-green glazes, achieved through a chemical reaction during firing in a reduction atmosphere. Longquan Celadons from the Southern Song Dynasty (1127-1279) are particularly prized for their thick, translucent glazes and subtle crackle patterns. While generally more affordable than painted wares, exceptional early pieces or those with Imperial provenance can command extraordinary prices.
How to identify:
- Look for the distinctive green glaze ranging from pale jade to deep olive
- The glaze should appear thick and slightly translucent
- Surface may show intentional crackling (known as crackle glaze)
- Decoration is typically carved or incised under the glaze
- The glaze often pools in recessed areas, creating darker tones
- Better pieces have a smooth, almost oily feel to the surface
- Colours can vary from piece to piece due to firing conditions
- Early pieces often have an unglazed ring at the base where they sat in the kiln