Page 574 - Chinese Porcelain Vol II, Galland

KEA-KING.
482
bands at the shoulder, and band at the base in
fancy fancy
many-coloured enamels. The design on the neck is of a floral
scroll pattern. On the body the decoration, which is also
somewhat similar, consists of a floral scroll, amongst which are
phoanixes and fruit.
"
The whole effect is as well as
very graceful, striking.
to the 1796-1821."
They belong Kea-king period,
No. 865. A double rectangular vase, belonging to Mr.
Henry Willett. Height, 21 inches. No mark. Unglazed base,
gilt edges at top. Marbled band on the necks in brown, with
black This is a most decorative covered with
marking. piece
a blue-green enamel, such as we find on these enamelled
and ornamented with of and
specimens, sprays pink peach
white prunus blossoms, which spring from aubergine stems.
The whole effect is very charming and most artistic. Davis,
"
vol. 268: The most and felicitous time for
i., p. appropriate
marriage is considered to be in spring, and the first moon of the
Chinese new It is in this month
year (February) is preferred.
that the blossoms in China, and hence there are
peach-tree
constant allusions to it in connection with marriage. These
verses from the of Sir William Jones are the
elegant pen
of a literal translation which that
paraphrase indefatigable
scholar obtained of a in the Chinese ' Book of
passage
Odes '-
" '
Sweet child of
spring, the garden's queen,
Yon
peach-tree charms the roving sight ;
Its fragrant leaves, how richly green,
Its blossoms, how divinely bright
!
" '
So softly shines the beauteous bride,
By love and conscious virtue led,
O'er her new mansion to preside,
And "
placid joys around her spread.'
"
Professor Giles, in Chinese Literature," a
p. 235, gives
written on the annual visit to the
poem by Huang T'ing-chien,
tombs of ancestors, which commences
"
The peach and plum trees smile with flowers
This famous of
day spring."
Owing to the marbled band on the necks of this piece, we
will from
probably be not far out in considering it as dating