Page 562 - Chinese Porcelain Vol II, Galland

KEEN-LUNG.
478

at small cost as in gathering together specimens of
very
while as time
higher-priced grades, goes on, such a collection
would increase in interest, and from many points of view be
of value.
great
"This flowers in a
simply represents persons gathering
garden."
No. 854. A fluted saucer with waved Dia-
slightly edge.
meter, 5 inches ; height, 1^ inch. No mark. The decoration
is marked off in the network diaper being in rose, and
sepia,
four of the reserves filled with very rough landscapes in iron
red. In the centre a rope dancer and two attendants, the
in shades of iron red, with and
colouring being chiefly green
blue transparent enamels. Father Gerbillon, in the account
of his third visit to Western in 1691, in the suite of
Tartary
the a of an entertainment
Emperor Kang-he, gives description
held by the Emperor. "I returned before they had done
wine. In the mean time sent for
serving they rope-dancers,
who performed several feats of activity upon a bamboo held
up by men about 5 or 6 feet from the ground. I saw nothing
extraordinary, excepting from one who mounted to the top of
a tall bamboo set upright, on the point of which he performed
with great activity, bending his body backwards and raising
it a thousand
up again ways ; and, what was most difficult,
he stood upon the end of the bamboo on one hand, with his
feet The
upwards. rope-dancers having finished their exercise,
were in and much those
puppets brought played, resembling
of The
Europe. poor Kalkas, who had never seen the like
before, were so surprised that most of them never thought of
None but the Grand Lama his for
eating. preserved gravity,
he not refrained from but took little notice
only eating, very
of the pastime ; and, as if he had judged such amusements
unworthy of his profession, great part of the time looked
downward, and with a serious air. Some time after the
Emperor, seeing nobody eat any longer, ordered the tables to
be cleared, and returned to his tent."
No. 855. A saucer similar in and size to the above.
shape
The decoration is marked off in and the colours em-
sepia,
ployed are the same as in the last. This seems to be a social
scene a gentleman in winter costume, with lady, boy, and
female attendant. The across the river is in iron
landscape