Page 62 - Oriental Series Japan and China, Brinkly

CHINA

of softness and richness greatly prized by Chinese

virtuosi.

In the " Illustrated "

Catalogue of H'siang, trans-

lated by Dr. Bushell, three specimens of Ju-yao

are depicted and described. "They are celadons, hav-
ing " tint.
a glaze of bluish-green The shapes and

decoration are copied from ancient bronzes, designs

incised and in relief scroll pattern, spirals, and

so forth being employed to relieve the uniformity

of the surface. To produce the peculiar delicate-

green of this ware, the potters are said to have pow-

dered red calcedony and added it to the glazing

material. Experience had evidently taught them

that this highly siliceous mineral turns white under

the action of heat. It is seen from H'siang's pictures

that the potters of the 'Ju-yao exercised admirable

expertness in modelling, moulding, and graving.

Chinese keramists have always been remarkable for

such work. The great test of skill at the Juchou

factory was the quality of the celadon glaze. Its deli-

cate greenish blue colour, lustre, and softness com-

bined with solidity belong to a very high range of

achievement. The best specimens are said to have

been without crackle, but H'siang's catalogue does not

support that dictum.
In the early days of its manufacture certain pieces

of yu-yao were stoved in an inverted position, and in
order to hide their unglazed rims slender rings of
copper or silver were fitted to them. This device,

originally dictated by the presence of a defect, subse-
quently came to be regarded as a distinctive mark,
and continued to be employed long after its real pur-

pose had ceased to exist. Allusion is made to the

practice in the Tao-lu but the translator, not unnatur-
y

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