Page 203 - Chinese Art, Vol II By Stephen W. Bushell

PORCELAIN. 43

Modern Period, from 1796.
This is a period of decadence and hardly demands detailed de-
scription, but two examples in the nmseum of the work of the
imperial potteries of some interest from their associations may be
illustrated here. The first, Fig. 66, gives a saucer-dish and wine-
cup from a dinner-service specially made for a Prince of Western
Turned, who married a daughter of the Chinese Emperor Tao Kuang
(1821-50), being marked underneath in the Mongolian script
"Baragon Tumed," and decorated in colours and gilding with the
seven paraphernalia of a " chakravarttt " or universal sovereign,
and with bands of shou characters alternating with Buddhist
symbols. The second. Fig. 67, is a bowl, painted outside in enamel
colours with the eighteen Arhats, or Lohan, of early Buddhist
story (Vol. I., 98, 115), and inscribed below with the six-character
"
mark Ta Ch'ing Hsien Feng nien chih. Made in the reign of Hsien
Feng (1851-60) of the Great Ch'ing (dynasty)." This last service
is said to have been specially made for the use of the consort of
the reigning emperor, who was destined to become so famous
after his death. She now rules China as the empress dowager
;
two of her peculiar ceramic marks will be found among the porce-
lain marks and seals attached to this chapter.
A few porcelain snuff bottles of various dates are here illustrated
by text-cuts to show some of their varied forms and methods of
decoration. Fig. 68 is blue, the outer casing carved in open-work
with nine hons sporting with brocaded balls ; Fig. 6g is white,
worked in relief with the group of eighteen arhats Fig. 70 is cu-
;
cumber green of truid' type ; Fig. 71 is painted in underglaze red
and blue ; Fig. 72 with crabs in rehef is painted in enamel colours ;
Fig 73 is also decorated in colours with floral scrolls, bitter gourds,
and butterflies. Fig 74, thickly coated with a yellow crackled glaze,
to simulate glass, is marked underneath with the characters Ku
Yiieh Hsiian [see page 64) ; the stopper in which the small ivory
spoon inside the bottle is mounted, is made of coral and turquoise
;
this is used, of course, to ladle out the snuff.
8941. X