Page 281 - Oriental Series Japan and China, Brinkly

PORCELAIN DECORATED

ing out the floral scrolls or arabesques for which
and by the
purpose the body colour is always used
thinness of the biscuit.

The use of Indian ink for decorating porcelain

above the glaze had its origin during the reign of
Chien-lung. Such a method requires little comment.

It is still largely practised, every variety of design
being thus produced on a white ground. Chien-lung

specimens are, however, easily distinguished by fine-
ness of pate and general excellence of technique.

The same style of decoration is applied to a light

green ground, with charming and artistic results.

Among the choicest and rarest glazes of Chinese

potters yellow stands near the head of the list. Fur-

ther reference will be made to it in the section on

monochromes. It is noticed here only as a body

colour for enamelled decoration. Its association with
blue under the glaze after the " reserved " fashion is

a conception already credited to the Ming keramists.
The same style was successfully continued at the

Kang-hsi and Chien-lung factories, the blue design

generally floral or arabesque being applied sous cou-

verte and the spaces between its parts covered with

yellow enamel. In addition to yellow and blue, a

third colour, light green enamel, was sometimes used

in decorating specimens of this class. Another favour-

ite and less uncommon type had green designs sur-

rounded by yellow glaze. This style also dates from

the Cheng-hwa era (1465-1478), for in the "Illus-
" of that
trated Catalogue of H'siang a miniature box

period is depicted having spiral scrolls in green on a

yellow ground. The box is shaped like a cash of the

time, and is said to have come out of the palace

where it had been used by one of the Court ladies

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