Page 258 - Oriental Series Japan and China, Brinkly

CHINA

liant than those of the Ming epoch. On the contrary,

owing to their more profuse employment, the latter

often convey an impression of greater richness and

solidity. Green was the dominant colour of the

Kang-hsi Veexrpteert"s.of Their porcelains constitute the
" Famille French collectors.
In combina-

tion with figure subjects there are usually found

landscapes with fantastic rocks and partially conven-

tionalized trees, in the colours of which nature is not

always consulted. The medallion fashion of decora-

tion, though already familiar, may be said to have

first come into large favour in this era. It constantly

occurs on the necks of vases or in other secondary

positions. The subjects within the medallions are,

for the most part, flowering shrubs, dragons, phoenixes,

or miniature landscapes. It must be admitted, how-

ever, that in the case of the larger Kang-hsi specimens,

wealth and brilliancy of decorative effect rather than

grace or vigor of artistic conception constituted a chief

merit. Only in some of the choicest pieces did the

potter apparently think of anything beyond a striking
Heensemble.
was generally stiff and conventional, re-

peating his figure subjects with persistence as stubborn

as that which marks his Occidental confrere's love of

the nude. From this criticism must be excepted the

little cups and bowls of egg-shell China for which

the Kang-hsi era was scarcely less famous than the

Cheng-hwa. On these exquisite specimens of keramic

skill groups of bending grasses, bunches of flowers,

blossoms and branches, and so forth are represented

with fidelity and grace. It is difficult to speak too

highly of this egg-shell ware. Its technique is perfect,

the purity and brilliancy of the enamels not being more

remarkable than the skill displayed in applying them.

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