The Story of the Ginger Jar

From Utilitarian Jar to Cherised Collectable

First designed as a utilitarian object in the Qin Dynasty (221 BCE-207 BCE) and designed to hold herbs and spices, the curved, porcelain jars we know as ginger jars were locally known as “guan” or jar.

While China had already been exporting porcelain for centuries – including stunning blue and white porcelain during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) – markets took off in the 16th century. The Chinese used the jars to store ginger, salt and other spices during shipping, and it was Europeans who first coined the name ‘ginger jar’.

Celebrated for their beauty and form, Chinese ginger jars quickly began to gain admirers in the West, even appearing in Dutch still life paintings from the mid 16th century. By the 18th century, Chinoiserie was in full swing, and a fascination with all things Asian saw Europeans fill their homes with silk, porcelain and lacquerware from China. The once utilitarian storage jars were now fashionable and highly coveted.

British and European makers such as Meissen, Wedgwood, Royal Doulton, Royal Crown Derby and William Moorcroft were also inspired by the humble ginger jar. While many have continued to pay homage to the delicate patterns of the originals, there are some distinctive variations – such as this striking Moorcroft Hazledene Flambé version from the early 20th century.

Pictured: A Chinese Blue & White Ginger Jar, c.1850

Common Styles, Recurring Symbolism 

Chinese ginger jars feature a rich array of patterns and colours, and they are typically categorised by both date and design. Common styles include blue and white porcelain, Famille Verte and Famille Rose porcelain, and Imari.

The earliest ginger jars are in blue and white; a style of porcelain UNESCO describes as one of the “four great porcelains” – alongside blue and white rice pattern porcelain, powder doped colour decorated porcelain and coloured glaze porcelain.

Blue and white ginger jars are the traditional style that drove export markets and they continued to be produced for centuries. While markings can be one way to determine age, makers sometimes reproduced markings from earlier designs, making dating tricky at times. During the 19th century for instance, Chinese ginger jars often featured Kangxi reign marks to honour the Kangxi emperor (1654-1722). One way to gauge age is to consider the weight of a jar, with those made before the 19th century much heavier than later designs.

Markings can also be symbolic, as Amelia Scott, our Head of Decorative Arts, explains: “Markings on Chinese porcelain can represent longevity, good fortune, fertility or eternal love, for instance. On the pictured jar, the central calligraphic motifs are auspicious, representing ‘double happiness’.”

Beyond blue and white, the Famille Verte (“green family”) and Famille Rose (“pink family”) porcelain ginger jars feature delicate floral, landscape or figural motifs in beautiful hues of green and pink. Originating in the 16th century, Famille Verte uses a five-colour process and is distinguished by translucent shades of mid and pale greens, with early designs sometimes exhibiting a beautiful, iridescent glaze. The pink tones of Famille Rose ginger jars, vases and bowls are more opaque, vibrant and equally striking.

China also produced Imari ginger jars from the 17th century onwards, a rich and patterned style in red, blue and gold tones that originated in Japan. There are also rarer varieties of ginger jars in red and orange colourings.

“One thing to note is that the jar and lid may sometimes be mismatched,” adds Amelia. “This may often be because original lids were broken and then replaced, however lids and jars may also have been made in different workshops before being combined.”

Pictured: A Chinese Blue & White Porcelain Ginger Jar, 18th/19th Century

A Coveted Collectors’ Item

The Chinese ginger jar is a sought after decorative item for the home, and early examples are highly collectable. Serious buyers seek out high quality items in good condition, in particular from the Kangxi period (1662-1722) or the early Qing dynasty (1644-1912).

Just last December, Sotheby’s sold a stunning pair of Blue and White ‘Hundred Antiques’ Ginger Jars and Covers from the Qing dynasty, Kangxi period for HKD 144,000 (A$28,535) from an estimate of 50,000 – 80,000 HKD.

In February 2022, Christies auctioned a pair of mid 17th century Chinese Export Procelain Ginger Jars and Covers that sold for US$30,000 from an estimate of US$4,000-6,000. And in November the same year, a buyer paid HKD 189,000 (approximately A$37,500) for a Blue and White ‘Landscape’ Ginger Jar from the Jarkangxi Period, far beyond the estimate of HKD 20,000-30,000.

Buyers are not always looking for blue and white porcelain. In January 2009, a collector paid US$22,500 from an estimate of US$10,000-15,000 for a gorgeous pair of Famille Verte Ginger Jars and Covers (pictured), featuring blue-edged panels interspersed with motifs of birds and blossoming trees.

Discovering Ginger Jars

While these are one end of the market, everyday buyers have plenty of opportunity to pick up beautiful Chinese ginger jars with very low estimates.

At Theodore Bruce Auctioneers & Valuers, we present new auctions every week of antiques, fine art and collectables. We often feature ginger jars in our Asian Decorative Arts auctions, single vendor Asian auctions or household contents collections.

To keep an eye out for ginger jars, please sign up to our newsletter via the link below, follow us on Instagram or keep an eye on Upcoming Auctions.

Pictured: A Large Chinese Familiar Rose Ginger Jar with Central Figural & Medalion Enamels, Qing Dynasty, 19th Century