Page 146 - Oriental Series Japan and China, Brinkly
P. 146
CHINA
careful to distinguish from the original Kuan-yao of
the Sung dynasty. At this time, also, the custom of
using marks to indicate the epoch of manufacture
came into general vogue. It will be remembered
that the custom originated three centuries previously,
in the reign of the Emperor Chin-tsong. Genuine
specimens of ware bearing the Ching-te or other Sung
marks are, of course, virtually unprocurable. The
marks are found, however, on imitations manufactured
at Ching-te-chen by comparatively modern potters.
The same is true of Ming year-marks. Collectors
should hold to the general rule that such marks are
untrustworthy. Many forgeries exist for one honest
mark. Thus, although various marks will henceforth
be mentioned in connection with blue-and-white
ware, the reader will understand that they are not
quoted as true indications. In blue-and-white porce-
lain the connoisseur has to look first to the nature and
quality of the pate ; next to the purity and brilliancy
of the blue decoration thirdly, to the manner in
;
which the design is executed, and fourthly to the
texture and colour of the glaze. Thus guided, he
can usually form an idea approximating more or less
closely to the truth, and is then enabled to decide
whether the year-mark may be taken as a final in-
dication. With respect to the four points here
enumerated, verbal descriptions cannot be wholly
satisfactory. Features permitting such explanation
will, however, be carefully noted in their proper
place.
The blue-and-white of the Hung-wu era (1368
1399) was still an inferior product. It is not men-
"
tioned at all in the History of Ching-te-chen
Keramics," unless the jars there spoken of as orna-
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