Page 172 - Chinese porcelains collected by Mr. and Mrs. Charles P. Taft, Cincinnati, Ohio, by John Getz

A CATALOGUE OF CHINESE PORCELAINS

No. 46

Seven-bordered Egg-shell Plate, so-called "rose back": ai.e., light and
solid rose souffle ("rouge d'or") enameling on the outer band, and its
face richly painted in soft-toned colors of the "famille rose" variety and
Yung-cheng palette.

The decoration consists of so many borders, in varying widths and forms, minutely

drawn, and framing the central picture-panel, that is in the shape of a foliated leaf, and

presents a lady of high rank, in rich attire, who is seated ; near her are two small children
whom she is watching or directing in their eimusement: one holds a lotus flower (a favorite

Chinese symbol, which also indicates the season to be summer), and the other boy carries

a gilt toy (" Ju-i"), wand or scepter. The various accessories are rendered in delicate and

accurate details, on a white ground that reveals a most beautiful quality of porcelain, and

includes two large jars, a table with scrolls, books, and other objects, notably a small vase

v^th varied articles used by a Taoist student, while a second vase, holding a coral stick

and two peacock feathers, indicates that the family belongs to an official class, having a

"three-grade promotion" at one time, bestowable by the Elmperor.

The seven borders include, first : the green arabesque motive with five rose-colored blos-

soms on a gold ground, directly surrounding the center panel ; this border is followed by

ma narrow band having a diamond fret pale green ; then a broader border with conven-

tionalized dragon scrolls in two shades of rose, interrupted by four blue-ground vignettes

with lighter blue arabesques; the fourth border, in a yellow scroll, finishing the top edge of

"Yslope, is followed by a foliated border filled in with a delicate "-shaped fret in green;

this band, with its scallops and gilded edge, overlaps the honeycomb reticulation on a lilac

ground, that is also studded with four round archaic scrolls, alternated by four white re-

served medallions containing flowers in natural colors minutely depicted, notably the peony,

"Tchrysanthemum, and aster, edged with a small "-pattern band.

The seventh amd last border (from the inside) bears a conventional Chinese arabesque

in gold, and finishes the rim, or outer edge, of this remarkable plate.

Ascribable to the period of Yung-ch6ng (1723-1 735), when the carmine, or rose-

color (derived from the chloride of gold), and the half-tone glazes, were first invented.

Diameter, 8 Vie inches.

Height, 1 '/e inches.

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