Page 35 - Chinese Porcelain Vol II, Galland

MING. 279

seems pretty clear that it was not received in quantity and
generally known much before the middle of the seventeenth
century.

CHING-TIH, 1506-1522.
THE Warham bowl may belong to this, an earlier, or to the
; we have to us in
following period nothing guide deciding,
unless the silver mounting is "hall-marked," so as to give
some more exact date than the twenty-eight years' margin
that we seem at to have to be content with as to its
present
coming into the possession of New College. According to
Chinese writers, during this period, through the good offices
of the governor of the inland province of Yun-nan, a superior
blue, known to the Chinese as "Mohammedan," was obtained,
but cost twice its weight in gold, this once more brought
blue and white porcelain into favour. It is also stated that
during this reign a better red was produced than at any earlier
from a silicate of The
date, probably copper. yellow glaze
referred to in the last reign seems still to have been in favour,
and to have been used over made on the
appears designs paste.

KEA-TSING, 1522-1567.

ACCORDING to Chinese writers, this period is chiefly noted
for its blue and white, while cups made in imitation of white
jade are said to have been lighter in colour than any before
produced.
No. 489. A bottle. 8 inches. Glazed
gourd-shaped Height,
base, with the Kea-tsing mark in two blue rings, seemingly a
genuine example of the blue and white of this reign ; but at
the it has been
a later date, probably during Kang-he period,
redecorated, red flowers being added to the original blue under
the while the white has been covered with a
glaze, porcelain
As we
transparent yellow glaze. go on we shall come across
many examples of old pieces redecorated in modern colours.
The reader has here the opportunity of making acquaintance
VOL. H. B 2