The Chinese bowl your great-grandmother left you could be worth a small fortune if it turns out to be a rare antique. And the person who can help you find out will be in town soon.

Owners of antique blue-and-white and Straits Chinese porcelain will get the chance to have their ceramics authenticated when an expert from China¡¯s Jingdezhen Ceramic Institute visits Kuala Lumpur on Oct 3 and Oct 4.

Prof Cao Jian Wen, who is the institute¡¯s Art History Department dean, has been invited by the Southeast Asian Ceramic Society, West Malaysia Chapter (SEACS), to give a workshop on identifying antique ceramics at Lot M2, Central Market in Kuala Lumpur.

"The raw materials used in the different periods of ceramic making in Jingdezhen and the motifs, colours and glazes all tell a story, said Cao in an e-mail interview.

The uniqueness of certain ceramics, such as those made for the imperial court, will conform to certain principles that may not be known to the average ceramic maker.

"Like-wise, ceramics made for export such as Kraak porcelain of the late Ming era or Straits Chinese porcelain made between 1862 and 1974, and from 1875-1908 had to meet certain qualities for the markets concerned,¡¯¡¯ said Cao.

"Important discoveries in ceramic technology, gave rise to porcelain refinement. Thus, collectors will find distinct characteristics when comparing porcelain from one dynasty to another.

"For example, during the Ming Dynasty at the time of Emperor Xuande¡¯s reign (1425-35), underglaze-blue decoration became more superior when manganese was added to cobalt to give a crisper design.

"By the reign of the Wanli Emperor (1572-1620), huge amounts of porcelain were exported to Europe. By then, the technique of mixing equal amounts of kaolin (china clay) and porcelain stone (or "pottery stone") produced not only of great strength but also enhanced the whiteness of the body. This is a highly desirable characteristic particularly when blue-and-white ware grew in popularity."

Keen eyesight, a steady hand and an unerring skill is required in decorating the ceramics.

In his 20 years of research on ancient ceramics, Cao specialised in Jingdezhen ceramic art history and the authentication of ancient ceramics. He has also researched on Kraak porcelain as well as Straits Chinese porcelain or Nyonya Ware found in Malaysia. The professor is the chief supervisor for students majoring in the authentication of Chinese ceramics at the institute.

On Oct 3, in conjunction with the 32nd annual general meeting of the society, Cao will give a slide presentation on his research on Jingdezhen ceramics and the link with Straits Chinese porcelain. There is documentary evidence to show that such ceramics were indeed made in Jingdezhen.

He will also conduct a workshop on Oct 4 to teach collectors how to identify genuine antiques from fakes. Apparently, Jingdezhen is also the leading centre for producing high-end fakes in China.

Cao, who has gone on many archaeological digs in China, was instrumental in setting up his institute¡¯s ceramic museum, which document the 1,000 years history of Jingdezhen ceramics.

Filipino collector Larry Gotuaco will also present his research on blue-and-white ceramics found in the Philippines.

Gotuaco quipped that he was "at the right place and at the right time" when he started collecting Chinese ceramics in the 80s and 90s.

"Discoveries were being made on land and from shipwrecks in Philippine waters," said the veteran insurance broker and risk management consultant."

Gotuaco is also a collector of fossils, namely, petrified wood and dinosaur. In fact, his private fossils collection is currently on display at the Ayala Museum in Manila till Nov 30.