Page 176 - Chinese Art, Vol II By Stephen W. Bushell

38 CHINESE ART.
The remaining examples of the wu ts'ai, or five-coloured decora-
tion in enamels of the period, can hardly be illustrated properly
without a full palette of colours. Fig. 44 is a magnificent vase with
prunus trees, flowers, and birds painted in enamel colours relieved
by a ground of lustrous black ; it has underneath the six character
mark of the reign of " Ch'eng Hua of the Great Ming," but there
seems no reason to claim for it an earlier date than that of K'ang
Hsi. Figs. 45, 46, illustrate an artistic four-sided vase with black
and apple-green grounds, of which two views are given tc show
the flowers of the four seasons {ssi'i chi hua), the chief motive of its
decoration, which are—the prunus of winter, the tree-peony of
spring, the lotus of summer, and the chrysanthemum of autumn.
Fig. 47 represents Kuan Yin, the " compassionate," with hand half
raised in the attitude of listening to the prayer of a devotee, painted
in soft enamel colours of the period. Figs. 48, 49, are two captivat-
ing wine-pots of the time moulded in the form of shou " longevity," >
"
and /« happiness," which are decorated with Taoist scenes and
floral bands executed in soft enamels, and have their handles and
spouts coloured to simulate basket-work. Fig. 50 is a striking speci-
men of the wonderful egg-shell lanterns, which rank among the most
difficult achievements of the potter's skill. It is of hexagonal
form, and is painted with birds and flowers in the most brilliant
enamels cf the famille verte, the sides being decorated with birds
and flowers framed in fli. ral brocade, the foot and neck with brocaded
grounds interrupted by foliated medallions containing butterflies.
Fig. 51 is a good illustration of a tall famille verte vase gorgeously
decorated with rich floral grounds strewn with butterflies, inclosing
a number of leaf-shaped and fruit-shaped panels, containing land-
scapes, mythical monsters, and floral sprays, including the typical
flowers of the four seasons. Fig. 52 is a rare specimen of raised
decoration executed in bold relief, filled in with rich enamel colour
and gold, representing the eight Taoist genii worshipping the god of
longevity, who is projected on the shoulder of the vase riding the