Page 222 - Chinese porcelains collected by Mr. and Mrs. Charles P. Taft, Cincinnati, Ohio, by John Getz

A CATALOGUE OF

No. 64

Tall Cylindrical Vase, with rounded shoulder and attenuated neck (club
shape), of fine white hard-textured porcelain, richly decorated over the
glaze, in "seven colors" of the "famille verte" variety, of rare brilliancy,
with gilding.

The body is covered with a brocaded design on a stippled green ground, includ-

ing scroll-formed vines, with leaves, and aster flowers, in brilliant red (of iron); this

mcolor also forms a bordermg for three large upright panels, which are reserved white,

and separately painted, bearing the three star gods: The first presents Fu Hsing, "God

of Happiness," clad in green with purple trimming, wearing an ancient black head-

covering showing a crest, and holding a long golden tablet in one hand, with the other

stroking his long beard, a boy attendant following, carrying a heavy scroll. The back-

ground includes an elaborate railing, and, above, a line of clouds finishes a dignified

picture.

The second panel sustains Lao Tsze (Shou-lao), the " God of Longevity," with high

bald head and mobile face, leaning on a long staff, clad in Imperial robes, brocaded with
circular longevity symbols of "Shou" and " Fu"; a boy attendant is bearing a fabulous

peach (" Fan-tao"), the attribute of this deity.

The third panel holds Lu Hsing, the "God of Rank," richly attired in brocaded

robes and holding a "Ju-i" scepter, in red; also attended by a boy who is reaching for

Athe symbol of rank. bamboo railing forms an accessory, and completes the panel.

The shoulder sustains a rich brocaded diaper bordering interrupted by four white

foliated medallions, showing Taoist emblems; the white margin-lines, reserved on each
side, are followed by a fungiform or lanceolate bordering, one of which overlaps the
body, and the other is at the edge of neck.

The tubular neck presents a fine white paste simply embellished by three characters,

"Fu," "Lu," and "Shou,"^ painted in green and yellow enamel colors over the glaze,

simulating applique brocaded silk. The upper part of neck is encircled by a green

^ Fu, happiness ; La. official rank ; Shou, long life ; Triad of the Taoist cult.

[84]