Page 314 - Chinese Porcelain Vol II, Galland

388 YUNG-CHING.

Keen-limg period ; while the smaller stream, which we call Yung-
ching verte, seeuis almost to have died out before reaching the
or soon thereafter, and crops up only
Keen-lung period, very
now and in the later This
again reigns (see Nos. 884, 885).
Yung-ching verte is chiefly distinguishable by the thinness
of the pigments employed. The blues, often very delicate,
are under the The are of a blue shade, and
glaze. greens
in enamels over the blues,
applied transparent frequently
which further tends to give the blue appearance that runs
through all this class. The reds, from the opaque old iron
hue, drift into a bright orange or salmon transparent glaze,
which sometimes
just escapes being pink ; while there are
several new colours introduced, which it is difficult to find
names for. Among others there is transparent yellow that
the drawing in blue under the glaze shows through, with a
similar enamel in a sort of hue. These shades are
aubergine
varied
very ; but the main feature of the class seems to be the
drawing of the design in blue under the glaze, and then the
further decoration in enamels which the blue
transparent
shows
through.
Nos. 669, 670, 671, 672 are as this class,
given illustrating
and as two out of the three have Ming marks, we
specimens
may conclude that at the time of manufacture they were
considered as some ware that tradition stated had
imitating
existed during the previous dynasty ; in fact, it may be the
famille verte with blue under the while the rose
glaze,
verte is the continuation of the famille verte with blue
enamel.
No. 669. bottle. 16 inches. Mark,
Gourd-shaped Height,
Kea-tsing, 1522-1567. Base glazed and slightly recessed.
This is a very good example of Yung-ching verte, and the
decoration, as in the case of Nos. 342 and 343, illustrates
various games or amusements practised at certain times of the
year. On the top bulb we have boys with wind toys, followed
by others with narrow flags, same as in No. 343. On the
bottom bulb are
boys racing crabs, while the older people
seem to be at some game at a table. It will be noticed this
piece has a different Ming mark to No. 672, but as the colouring
we these
is the same, perhaps may conclude that in giving
ancient date marks, the Chinese intended to indicate more