Page 275 - Chinese Porcelain Vol II, Galland

EGGSHELL. 373

mark is in the well-made characters we find on those
pieces,
while the and green enamel all seem to to the
paste point
of the mark. Here, outside, as in the case of
genuineness
Nos. 360, 361, the glaze is peculiar, in this instance showing
" "
a very slight pink reflet when held in certain angles to
the light. The decoration consists of the prunus, pseony, lotus,
and chrysanthemum springing from the base. Some of the
flowers are in iron red, but the are in and
larger opaque pink
white enamels as we find them in the
just following reigns.
The is sketched in which shows the
design sepia, through
enamel. The trunk of the in a sort of
green prunus is
aubergine, which reflects a metallic lustre in certain lights.
Inside, the only decoration is two rose peaches, with a
small iron-red bat among a patch of green foliage, the whole
forming a sort of circle about two inches in diameter at the
bottom.
There is no sign of re-decoration about these bowls, while
the mark, being in blue under the glaze, cannot have been added
at a later date. Of course, these bowls may have been in
stock at the Imperial factory when Kang-he died, and been
decorated in the next reign, but even that would seem to
the introduction of rose in the as it
place Kang-he period,
is not that would be left undecorated at the
likely they long
factory.
Eggshell.
No. 646. Bowl of very white eggshell porcelain, fitted with
a metal rim. Diameter, 9 inches ; height, 3 inches. No mark.
Decorated inside with a slightly raised pattern moulded in
the paste, the subject being a phoenix amidst a scroll-work of
fungus. In No. 647 the decoration is engraved, while in this
it is raised.
Why bowls like this one seem often to be fitted with a
metal rim, and those like No. 647 not, it is difficult to say ;
may
but it be that these are the earlier of the two kinds, and
were considered too delicate to
go unprotected.
No. 647. A bowl of fine creamy-coloured eggshell porcelain.
Diameter, 7^ inches ; height, 2f inches. No mark. To look
at, this appears to be a piece of plain porcelain, but when held
up to the light is found to be engraved under the glaze with