Page 13 - Chinese Porcelain Vol II, Galland

PREFACE. xxxi

illustrations from his own charming collection, but has also
obtained of some of the many
photographs interesting
specimens in that of his friend Mr. Richard Bennett, and to
both these gentlemen the writer would now beg to return his
most thanks. to be one
hearty Mr. Davies is acknowledged
of the best judges of Chinese Porcelain, for, added to a natural
faculty for discriminating in such matters, he possesses an
experience extending over a long series of years, during which
he has made a of this both at home and
special study subject
in China. His remarks, therefore, on the various from
pieces
his own and Mr. Bennett's collection, are a most valuable
contribution to this work, and one that the reader cannot fail
to The Davies and Bennett collections be
appreciate. may
said to be classic in been formed almost
style, having entirely
of intended for home use in China and in
pieces imported
great part direct from that country, while nothing but the
finest quality is admitted into either. They are exceptionally
strong in self-coloured pieces, which unfortunately cannot
receive the notice deserve in this volume, as without
they
coloured illustrations it would be useless to attempt any
description thereof.
To Dr. Edkins, of the writer is indebted for an
Shanghai,
article on Chinese drawing, from which the reader will find
here and there in the And
quotations given following pages.
to Mr. C. F. Bell, of the Ashmolean Museum, Oxford, for
help
with to some of the decorations the
regard employed by
Chinese.
Where the of the motive is in
explanation merely given
inverted commas without stated, the
any authority being
information has been obtained from China by Miss E. M. Lee,
of The Church of England Zenana Mission, who kindly sent
the to Foochow, her corner in the
photographs particular
"
vineyard," where they were submitted to one of the Chinese
literati, and the clue thus obtained could generally be
followed up in Mayers' or Professor Giles' works. If the