Page 104 - Chinese Porcelain Vol II, Galland

KANG-HE.
306
not on enamel, but and throws a
porcelain, very bright,
warm shade over the whole decoration; gilt is sparingly
introduced here and there. The designs are marked off by
black lines. Top and bottom the subject is carried right
out at the back where the hills are
round, helped by scenery
seen towering above red mist or clouds lit up by a gilt sun.
The convex band in the centre is divided into four, the two
spaces filled with flowers being smaller than the two with
Pieces of this class, where the enamels are on
figures. put
so thick that stand in relief, are very effective, and
they up
them to the finer work on the
many people prefer displayed
later of this the
productions reign, where, although drawing
and general workmanship is better, the colours are necessarily
less bold, not bossed as much as in this of
being up style
decoration.
On the top part of this vase (in No. 538) we have Kiang
Keh running with his mother on his back, while in No. 537
"
the are seen in A scholar and
brigands pursuit (see p. 29),
public servant of the Ts'i dynasty (A.D. 490), distinguished by
his and filial devotion. In
learning, uprightness, early youth,
during the disturbances of that troublesome age, he rescued
his mother from a band of her
brigands by carrying many
miles upon his back. Himself taken prisoner on one occasion
by the forces of the kingdom of Wei, he refused to abjure his
and was allowed to return to his own Court with
allegiance,
"
untarnished honour
(Mayers, p. 80).
On the bottom of the vase the motive is the lost
part
general asking the way (see No. 537). In the middle part
in No. 537 we have a a flower to an
youth presenting aged
gentleman, and in No. 538 a fowl. This latter may refer to
Yii an official, who died
Ch'eng-lung (1617-1684), upright
"
poor. He did not allow his family to live in his yamen, and
the officials who took an of his effects found a
inventory only
few cotton and a little rice and salt. In times of
quilts
he lived on bran which he shared with his
scarcity porridge,
subordinates ; and on one occasion he is said to have punished
his son for to him a fowl. He was canonized"
daring buy
(" Chinese Biographical Dictionary," p. 952). If this is really
the motive, then it shows that current events, as well as ancient
history, were called into service in decorating porcelain, and,