Page 68 - Chinese Porcelain Vol II, Galland

294 KANG-HE.

Ch'iu was able to influence a number of fairies to come and set
all in order so that the
again, garden flourished, and water was
miraculously supplied for all its needs. (The above is the
but does not seem
explanation given, very satisfactory. I am,
however, assured that it is correct." E. M. L.)
Dr. Edkins writes that Chinese are to a
paintings large
extent traditional, and that they go on reproducing celebrated
old pictures long after the original has disappeared. This may
account for the motives sometimes to
perhaps seeming ill fit
the representations given, but the pictures, as a rule, as Mr.
"
Monkhouse at 107 of his book, are com-
says, p. admirably
with to the of the The ladies in
posed regard telling story."
the
this case, no doubt, represent fairies, and the Chinese,
knowing the picture, can at once give the motive.
The reader will notice that the characters in the mark are
not at equal distances, still in this case they seem to bear the
of the and were on
impress Imperial factory, undoubtedly put
when the was made and before it was decorated. The
piece
whole has a genuine look, but whether the mark dates from
before or after the prohibition of nien-hao in 1677 is a question
(see p. 298).
Famille Verte with Blue over the Glaze.
We have now reached the first piece on which we find the
blue over the a method of decoration that seems to have
glaze,
been introduced in this
pretty early reign.
No. 508 to Mr. G. R. Davies, who has sent
belongs kindly
"
the following description of it : A white-ground plate, lOi
inches in diameter. The is a seated on a bench
subject lady
nursing a baby, apparently in the open air, with a circular
balustrade and tree in flower with red blossoms in the back-
To the left is a with and trees, in
ground. picture landscape
black and surrounded a deep frame of blue, with
sepia, by
diaper design in black, round which, on the outside, is a
narrow band of and on the inside a narrow band of
aubergine,
the same colour and a broader one of On the
slightly yellow.
lower of the is a table on which is a
portion plate flower-pot
containing plants and flowers. The decoration is in famille
verte, and the drawing well executed, and the enamels brilliant
and in good preservation, that principally employed being