Page 127 - Chinese porcelains collected by Mr. and Mrs. Charles P. Taft, Cincinnati, Ohio, by John Getz
P. 127
CHINESE PORCELAINS
low it is unquestionably of the true class. Fine pieces are curiously
modeled and always very trcinsparent, with a glaze inclined to be
crackled.
A certain characteristic of the true "Lang-yao" is the correct line
finished at the base, showing the white foundation color, glazed and
without any signs of grinding off ; the same remark applies to the upper
rim, which is usually distinguished by a clean glaze, in either an ivory
tint or a crackled celadon that is clearly defined at the edge.
To produce this color the glaze has to be melted to a perfect fluidity.^
Potters usually cannot prevent it from mnning down so that the neck is
often thin and streaked, and the overrunning glaze at the foot is often
in the form of drops, or even large masses, that must be broken off
in removing the object from the kiln; then it is necessary to grind
the foot dovm evenly, which is never the case in the line objects under
consideration here.
It should also be stated that the tme pieces of " Lang-yao," or " sang
de boeuf," are usually glazed on the interior as well as underneath the foot
in a greenish tint, like a light celadon, or a crackled rice-colored glaze on
the interior or undemeath may be also noted. The most remarkable pieces
will be found to have possibly a dash of red along with this glazing.
APPLE-CREEN
Among the green variety, in solid colors, the so-called "apple-green," a
translucent glaze with a brown crackle, is of the rarest. The body or
paste is usually of the same texture as the " Lu-lang-yao," and therefore
it has been assumed by authorities that this color was produced at the same
time, and also under the direction of Lang-ting-so ; especially as this color
is enumerated among glazes in the records of King-te-chen. Vide No.
34.
' has often been stated that these reds are formed different conclusions after their trials,
It and it has been suggested that the oxide of gold
is necessary to produce such a color.
produced from copper alone ; but potters who
have experimented with this color have usually
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