Page 210 - Chinese porcelains collected by Mr. and Mrs. Charles P. Taft, Cincinnati, Ohio, by John Getz

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A CATALOGUE OF

No. 62

Grand Vase, tall and graceful, of "balustre" shape, with long spreading
neck: " fami lie verte" type of rare quality, and of brilliant white
porcelain, elaborately decorated in rich translucent enamels, and in full

colors of the palette of its period.

The design includes panels of diverse forms that sustain individual subjects, attrac-

tively painted on the white glazed body, and reserved from the intricate green-brocaded
ground-color, w^ith its finely penciled (" honeycombed ") diaper, over which are interspersed
numerous conventionalized blossoms, in yellow, red, and blue opaque enamels ; included
are also various Taoist emblems, shown near the shoulder.

The largest panels are alternately upright and foliated, the former beautifully embellished
with two separate motives i.e., landscape scene, and a flowenng tree with its blossoms
delicately rendered, rooted among rocks, and also enlivened by birds. The two foliated

panels sustain, separately, a landscape with deer, and lotus flowers with birds, all carefully
painted upon the white glazed ground with colors showing a peculiarly delicate luster.

The three lower panels are smaller and in varying outlines of a leaf, displaying alter-
nately floral and bird subjects, a "dog Fo," and also mountainous landscape with a

distant and barely visible pavilion.

The tubular neck is surrounded by varied leaf-shaped panels, including fan and foli-

ated forms, that sustain separate subjects ; notably birds and flowers with landscape ; one
panel includes the fabled grotesque Ky-lin (Ch'-lin), emblematic of good government.

The upper rim of neck is finished by a diapered band of " flowered honeycomb," in-
terrupted by white vignette panels displaying emblems ; the shoulder is also encircled by
a similar broad honeycomb band, divided by vignettes in white, that show the fabled
and grotesque lion or " dog Fo."

The base is finished by a diaper band divided by four white vignettes, inclosing

symbolic ornaments, which, together with the others on neck, complete the set of " Pa-
pao," or eight "precious things," distinguished by the ribbons entwined with each.

1801