Page 292 - Chinese porcelains collected by Mr. and Mrs. Charles P. Taft, Cincinnati, Ohio, by John Getz
P. 292
GLOSSARY
The foregoing terms, although first decried by bodies of those who eat of it become pellucid
some writers on Chinese porcelains, have proved
as crystal. This notion is derived in part at least,
very useful in quickly describing the character as would appear, from Buddhist Sutras, where
of such specimens. a tree, called the tree of the King of Drugs, is
seiid to grow on the Himalayas, and to possess
F£NG-HUANG, or FENG-HWANG (frequently such magic virtues that whoever smells, touches,
or tastes it is immediately healed of all diseases.
translated as " Phoenix "), is the generic desig-
nation usually employed for a fabulous bird of (Mayer.)
wondrous form cind mystic nature, the special
emblem of the Elmpresses of China. In works Glaze, the thin glassy covering of porcelain. In
of art, it is a nondescript bird of paradise or a China it is made of pe-tun mixed with lime,
compound of a peacock with the addition of
five gorgeous colors, typical of the five cardinal petrosilex, and fern ashes ; " hoa-chi " (steatite)
virtues. In literature, it is said to have the head is also used, sometimes mixed with the glaze
of a pheasant, the back of a swallow, the neck and at other times in the paste ; another sub-
of a tortoise, and the outward semblance of a stance used in the same way is called " Yeou-
dragon. (Mayer.) ko " (d'EntrecoUes).
Ecurly legends narrated that this bird made The glaze is prepared to a liquid state and ap-
plied by immersion, by sprinkling, or by being
its appearance as a presage of the advent of blovsTi from a tube with gauze. See also
virtuous rulers. Enamels.
Fillets, pieces of red cloth or tape looped or Gourd (" Hu-lu "), an emblem of longevity, ow-
tied round anything believed to possess the
efficacy of a charm. They are, in fact, to the ing to its durability when dried.
charm what the halo is to the deities or gods
and goddesses. GFO^VIATA (a term rarely used), Pekin porce-
lain, made as a yearly tribute to the Emperor,
Fish. The carp and perch are the two species
who, having a large collection of it, often pre-
most employed in art. sents it to European and other visitors. It was
produced particularly under Ch'ien-lung( 1736-
Two fishes, united by loops or fillets, have 1795)and the succeeding period of Tao-kouang.
reference to domestic felicity. The perch, called Large vases, and especially bowls, exist of this
class, with a yellow, rose, or pink ground, usu-
" Fu," is supposed to go about in pairs ; and ally engraved in small patterns and covered
this word having the same sound as " Fu," over with other enamel colors in rich arabesque
happiness (meaning also plenty), by increasing motives. Large medallions are left in white re-
the number to two (following the usual Chinese serve for separate flower and bird decorations.
method of expressing a superlative) it is made
to mean a wish for the utmost plenty. The bowls are generally known as " medallion
bowls," and come also in a yellow-citron or
FLAMB^ (" Yao-pien") or transmutation common-
crimson body-color, with similar engraved field.
ly termed "splashed glaze" : a variety of colors
in accidental or wilful dappled effect. HALL-MARKS, a form of inscription on Chinese
Fu, or FUH, a character meaning " Happiness" : porcelains, often put on pieces according to the
fcmcy of the decorator ; but as the artist used
often represented on presentation porcelain in the more or less romantic designation of his
circular seal or other form. studio as a " nom de plume," or the seal of the
superintendent of the Imperial factory, much un-
Fungus (" Lin-tchi " or " Ling-chih "), Toly-
certainty exists as to these so-called " hall-
porus lucidus, which grows at or near the root marks." TTjey are found on pieces of varying
of trees. As it is very durable when dried, it qualities, from those made and inscribed with
the name of an Imperial pavilion to the "flow-
has been considered by the Chinese as an ery " trade-mark of some particular shop where
emblem of longevity, and frequently employed they were subsequently offered for sale.
in decoration or as a mark on porcelain, together
with the grass which grows near it. HAND-OF-BUDDHA (" Fo-show "), or " Bud-
YUGenii (" Sien "), a certain race of immortals, dha's-hand," a peculiar kind of citrus fruit
who have eaten of the leaves of the tree called
" K'ien." The result of this food is that the
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