Chinese Planter

Q: Can you tell me anything about this fancy crockery? It’s 12 inches across the top and 10 inches high. It has many pastel flowers on the outside and orange fish on the inside. There is a Chinese mark on the bottom. I have a friend who can read Chinese but she said this is old Chinese and she can’t read it. Can you tell me the value of it?

A: This is a Chinese fishbowl planter. Goldfish or koi fish are a Chinese good luck symbol and are painted on the inside of many Chinese planters. They represent wealth and prosperity. Both old and new Chinese fishbowl planters can be found with a variety of decorations and in several sizes. They are often set on a low wood stand. Prices range from about $40 to a few hundred dollars. Some from the 1800s sell for even more.