Page 308 - Oriental Series Japan and China, Brinkly

CHINA

The porcelain dates from the Cheng-hiva era of the

Ming dynasty, and its manufacture was continued

until the end of the Kang-hsi period. It came from

the workshops at Ching-te-chen. No special inter-

est attaches to it. There is, however, another ware

classed by some connoisseurs as San-tsai-ki, but not
really belonging to that family, from which it differs

primarily in the nature of its pate not hard porce-

lain, but pottery or stone-ware and essentially in
the manner of applying the decoration, which covers

the whole surface, leaving no portion of the biscuit

exposed. In jars and vases of this faience large por-

tions of the surface are often pierced in reticulated

patterns with peonies, dragons, or lions suspended

among the reticulation, the intervening spaces having
diapers or scrolls in relief. The raised parts as well

as the designs suspended in the reticulation are enam-

elled in green, turquoise-blue, white, maroon, yel-
low, or purple, some one of which colours, generally

turquoise-blue or green, is employed to cover the rest

of the surface also. The enamels are opaque and

comparatively dull, and the technique is usually of

second-rate quality. The choicest specimens of this

ware are without reticulation, their decorative effect

Adepending entirely on contrast of rich colours.

frequent and highly artistic type has a bold scroll of

peonies in relief, in white or yellow enamel on a pur-

ple or turquoise-blue ground. Still more elaborate

examples have figures of mythical personages among

conventional clouds, with bands of diaper and scroll

pattern above and below green, yellow, white, and
;

purple enamels are employed for this raised decora-

tion, while the body colour is strong turquoise-blue

or peacock green. Such pieces are decorative and

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