Page 617 - Chinese Porcelain Vol II, Galland

TUNG-CHE. 497

flatter in
shape, and here we have them almost like shields,
only slighty concave, the curve being nearly the same from
the centre to the
edge.
No. 893 is another of these flat dishes, blue and white.
Diameter, 14f inches ; height, If inch. Mark, Taou-kwang,
in four characters. The here is a
subject peacock among
paeonies, while at the back there are three groups of entwined
and the three friends
bamboo, pine, prunus (see p. 103).
We find that, as in this case, the Chinese almost
invariably
draw a particular flower with a particular bird. We have
seen how common the cock and pseony is ; but this flower
can also claim to the and the
lay phoenix, peacock (as here),
pheasant. The lotus has the mandarin duck ; the willow,
swallows. Quails and partridges are generally represented
with millet ; while the stork and pine, as emblems of longevity,
naturally go together.

HEEN-FUNG, 1851-1862.

DURING this the low-water mark in the ceramic art of
reign
China may be said to have been reached in the destruction of
King-te-chin by the Tai-pings, and but little, if any, fine
was made this
porcelain during period.

TUNG-CHE, 1862-1875.
THE rebellion a more state of
Tai-ping ended, peaceful
affairs set in, and, with the down of the the
settling country,
manufacture of once more to receive attention.
porcelain began
Mr. mentions decorations in as
Hippisley sepia exhibiting
considerable artistic merit, and refers to a ware with a pale
ornamented with flowers and butterflies in
turquoise ground,
black and white, as favour with about the
finding foreigners
end of this The is too modern to
reign. period, however,
receive much attention at the hands of collectors, and it is
doubtful if the is such as to warrant its ever coming
quality
into favour.