Page 271 - Oriental Series Japan and China, Brinkly

PORCELAIN DECORATED

the colour of which is transmitted through the trans-
lucid pate, producing an indescribably soft and deli-
cate effect like that seen in the enamel of a sea-shell.

The upper surface is sparsely or profusely decorated

with finely executed designs in coloured enamels. In
some specimens, highly prized by Chinese connois-
seurs, this enamel decoration is absent : in its place
are found designs incised in the biscuit and showing

faintly through the glaze. The enamels used in

decorating these ruby-backs and rose-backs are not
always of the Famille Rose type. Frequently the bril-
liant, vitreous colours of the Famille Verte are em-

ployed, and in such cases the designs are not confined

to floral subjects ; figures and landscapes also make

their appearance. These latter porcelains belong to
the Rose Family chiefly in respect of the enamel
covering of their under surface.

Another very beautiful variety of the Rose Family
is distinguished by the distribution of the decoration

in medallions. In these pieces the inner surface is
either white or has floral designs in blue sous couverte.

On the outer surface medallions containing floral or

figure subjects, landscapes, birds and so forth, are

divided by a yellow, ruby, pink, green, or red ground,
which is chagrined and enriched by floral scrolls

engraved in the paste. Such ware is well known to
Western collectors. It includes the much prized
" Medallion bowls," made for imperial use, perhaps

the most elaborately decorated examples of Chinese

porcelain. The porcelain itself is not so thin and

does not belong to so high a technical grade as that
of the ruby-backs and rose-backs. It is characteris-

tic of an era when the keramist depended on wealth

of decoration rather than on quality of paste and

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