Page 11 - Chinese Porcelain Vol II, Galland

PREFACE.

IN the present instance an effort has been made to place the
illustrations, as far as seems possible, in chronological order,
so as to and a view of the various
try give comprehensive
wares and of decoration in at different
styles vogue periods,
but the attempt must, of necessity, be somewhat a crude one.
involves a less methodical of
This, consequently, system
arrangement than that employed in the first volume, where
the illustrations are into classes ; but the
grouped present plan
has its as well as its drawbacks, and, with the
advantages
particular object in view, it is hoped the former will be found
to the latter, while, with the aid of the index, readers
outweigh
should be able to find their way about.
For the convenience of reference the numbering of the
pages and illustrations follow on those of Vol. I. Regrettably
it is difficult to avoid a work of this kind assuming, more or
less, the nature of a catalogue.
to sell for a few it is to
Unfortunately, shillings, impossible
the in their true colours ; nor are all the illus-
present pieces
trations what they might be even in black and white, for,
although photography best preserves the touch of the Chinese
artist, which is apt to be lost or distorted in hand-made copies,
still it is not always as successful as could be desired. This is
owing, in many cases, to a high vitrescence of surface, and in
others to the colours not all lending themselves equally well
to the process ; while many people very naturally object to