CuriSnapRecord what you can actually see: inscriptions, dimensions, construction and damage. Put an attributed maker or period in the unverified column, not in your starting assumptions.
CuriSnap · PHOTO RESEARCH
Read the details.Build a better object story.
Learn from real museum objects: inscriptions, repairs and the gap between a price tag and total cost.
REAL REFERENCE PHOTOGRAPHBowl with lily scrolls
Two bowls. The same reign mark. Different dates.
Would a Chenghua inscription send you straight to Chenghua prices? Compare these two documented museum objects first.
Bowl with lily scrolls
Notice the blue floral scroll, double line at the lip and foot. The museum catalogs this as a Chenghua-period bowl with a Chenghua mark. The inscription comes from the catalog, not this front-view photograph.
Cleveland Museum of Art · 1967.64 · CC0Bowl with Xiwangmu and attendants
The photo shows painted figures and a foot. Its catalog also records a Chenghua inscription, yet dates the bowl to the Kangxi period. A reign inscription and production period can differ.
Cleveland Museum of Art · 1964.218.1 · CC0Turn one assumption into three questions
1. What does the inscription say? Transcription. 2. Which cataloged objects share the form, decoration and technique? Comparison. 3. What independent evidence supports the date? Dating. The color difference is not a universal dating rule; these dates are museum attributions.
Why turn over an apparently complete piece?
Condition is more useful as a record of specific features than a single adjective. Photograph losses, cracks, joins and repair areas before deciding whether market records are comparable.
Metal staples on a plate underside
Metal staples cross joins on the right while a blue mark remains visible on the left. A crop of the mark would hide the repair. Record its location and corresponding face; a photo does not establish structural stability.
Rodolph R. de Salis / Hohum · CC BY-SA 3.0 · LicenseRim loss and visible joins
Large sections are missing from the rim and lines cross the body. Record missing material separately from cracks or joins rather than calling everything a small chip. Keep these differences explicit when comparing intact pieces.
Nico Inslegers / Raakvlak · CC BY-SA 4.0 · LicenseWhat does a useful condition note look like?
Example: “Multiple metal staples cross joins on the right underside. The matching face has not been photographed. Fills and overpainting have not been checked.” This separates what was observed from what remains unknown. Do not clean, dismantle or scrape the surface to test a guess.
A price tag is not the total you pay
Separate the sale price, buyer’s premium and shipping. Change the hypothetical numbers below. This is arithmetic, not an auction quote or object valuation.
Formula: hammer price × (1 + premium rate) + shipping. Tax, insurance and payment fees are excluded. Actual transactions follow the relevant seller’s terms.
Both bowls have Chenghua inscriptions. What follows?
What does each clue establish?
| Visible clue | Supports | Does not establish | Next check |
|---|---|---|---|
| An inscribed name | Text you can research | That the named person made it | Record the complete text, its position and the whole object |
| A similar search result | A possible comparison | The same age, material or value | Compare dimensions, construction, marks and damage |
| A high listing price | The seller’s asking price | A completed sale at that price | Find comparable completed sales; record date, currency and condition |
WORKED SCENARIO · NOT A VALUATION
What can one teapot-base photo tell you?
A base mark helps with a mark search. It leaves the shape, lid interior, spout, capacity and overall condition unseen. A useful next step is to transcribe the mark and identify which additional view could separate the candidates, rather than invent a price.
Use this checklist
- Add a complete side view showing shape and proportions.
- Photograph the mark straight-on, without glare.
- Record height, capacity and provenance; write “unknown” when unsure.
How do you avoid the wrong price comparison?
Identify the object before comparing market records. Do not compare a single item with a set, a repaired item with an intact one, or a look-alike with an attributed masterwork. If records are not sufficiently comparable, report the evidence gap rather than forcing a range.
V&A documents copied factory marks in ceramics. The comparison framework and photo sequence here are CuriSnap research suggestions, not authentication. V&A · An A–Z of Ceramics
Can photographs prove an antique is genuine?
No. Photos help narrow a research direction, but do not replace physical examination and provenance checks. For purchases, insurance or disputes, consult a specialist in the relevant category.
Which photos should you take?
Capture the details before starting research.
Whole object
Show the shape, decoration and proportions.
Marks and labels
Keep inscriptions sharp and show their position.
Wear and repairs
Include cracks, joints and visible repairs.
Use these observation methods on your own object
Prepare whole-object, mark and detail photos, then open the live identification tool. Reports require sign-in and credits; photo research is not physical authentication or formal appraisal.
Start photo identification →