Page 284 - Chinese Porcelain Vol II, Galland

3 8o YUNG-CHING.

general scheme, and the result is excellent. These Yung-
chiug wares have only to be known to be appreciated ; if they
have been somewhat overlooked in the past, their day is,
nevertheless, sure to come, and ere long the really fine famille
rose will probably be the most valued of all descriptions.
Black with Coloured
Arabesque.
No. 651. A conical vase, with base and narrow
spreading
short neck. 12 inches. No mark. Two lion-head
Height,
'
handles in biscuit, the mouths being looped up and bored
for the insertion of As seen at the base, this is
rings. piece
made of fine white and the reader will notice the
porcelain,
raised which are left white, forming three bands
rings cutting
the surface into four The two lower bands
compartments.
are decorated with the and the
key pattern, upper one, just
below the neck, with one row of curl work, all traced in black,
and covered with a blue which the
transparent glaze through
black shows. The whole scheme of is most
tracing colouring
subdued and to the the two lower
pleasing eye, compartments,
being covered with black, are relieved by the most delicate
arabesque work in very faint green, with the flowers in white,
and At bottom are
pale yellow, aubergine. they probably
" "
intended for above for the lotus, with a
paeonies, green inang
" "
on one side, and an on the other. In the
aubergine mang
third compartment, on the shoulder of the vase, the surface is
covered with black fish-roe work a
diaper showing through
thin of
coating greenish-yellow enamel, almost olive colour,
on which white and flowers with
appear aubergine green
foliage, the black tracing showing through the thin enamels
being the chief idea in the design. The neck is black, with
the usual leaf in dull the here also
pattern yellow, veining
being in black. The arrangement of the decoration could
not well be better, there is in the as in the
diversity pattern
but all blend and this vase is an excellent
colouring, admirably,
example of the careful technique and subdued colouring for
which the Yung-ching period is so celebrated.
This in several resembles Mr. Geo. R. Davies'
piece ways
celebrated black vase, Nos. 640, 641, and to
clearly belongs
about the same date. Both are decorated with arabesque
work in on black, the shoulders of each being covered
green