Page 283 - Oriental Series Japan and China, Brinkly

PORCELAIN DECORATED

facture. The decorative design is usually dragons.

They figure upon almost all choice porcelains of the
Ming dynasty, especially on those destined for impe-

rial use. Similar ware was produced with success

down to the close of the eighteenth century.

Yellow designs with blue environment have already

been noted as a Ming invention. Later epochs pro-

duced few specimens of this kind. Much commoner

are pieces having mazarin blue grounds with rich

enamelled decoration of the Rose Family type. On
these the Chinese potter expended much care and

was justified by the result. Ware of this nature

scarcely deserves to be classed separately from that
having enamelled decoration on a souffle blue ground,
though the two differ more in reality than in descrip-
tion. Fine pieces of mazarin 'blue with enamel dec-

oration were produced as late as the Chia-tsing era

(17961821) or even during the early years of Taou-

kwang's reign (1821-1851). It maybe taken as a

rule, however, that the younger the specimen the
coarser its pate and the less brilliant its glaze and

colour.

Green was seldom chosen by Chinese potters as a
ground for enamel decoration. Delicate celadon glazes
from the Kang-hsi or Chien-lung factories, have bril-
liant red dragons or lizards coiled round the vase.
These are rare, and deservedly prized. Belonging to

the same era, but more common, are celadons having

red peaches or pomegranates suspended in the glaze.

Others again, not the least beautiful of the three, show
flecks or spots of golden brown floating in their vel-
vet-like glaze. Entirely distinct from this unique

celadon colour is thin grass-green with metallic irides-
cence. This is found sometimes as a body-colour

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