Page 45 - Chinese porcelains collected by Mr. and Mrs. Charles P. Taft, Cincinnati, Ohio, by John Getz

——

HISTORICAL

volumes of smoke and flames, ^ which mark the outlines of the town against
the crescent of mountains in the background, whose relative position may
perhaps be the reason that King-te-tchin has surpassed all other localities

in the production of porcelain."

The short reign of the Emperor Yung<heng (1723-1735), following
that of his father, K'ang-hsi, was nevertheless a most interesting period

in Chinese ceramic art. Yung-cheng, like his father before him, appears
to have taken great interest in all that transpired at the Imperial factories,
situated in the town of King-te-chen (Ching-te-chen), and did not fail

in expressing his gratification at every new discovery, bestowing praise

and admiration upon all such products as they arrived at the Peking

Palace.

As the rose-carmine color, derived from chloride of gold, was discov-

ered during that period, decorators were naturally attracted by its mag-
nificence, and it at once dominated their work. This important innovation

also introduced many new varieties in half-tones with felicitous effects, but
the true explanation may doubtless be found in the superior skill and energy
displayed by the superintendent, Nien-hsi-yao," who in 1727 was intrusted
with the management of the Imperial factory, and he personally super-
intended the execution of the Emperor's orders, and was soon there-
after joined by T'ang-ying, a brilliant decorator (who succeeded to the
directorship later, under Ch'ien-lung). They jointly acquired great repu-

tation, Chinese writers giving both officials credit for special practical
knowledge; they, however, also enlisted the services of the most able
decorators and potters, and were thus able to create objects that were

new or hee from archaic imitations, and so this era became transitional as

well as interesting.

' And bird-like poise on balanced wing Incessantly, and fill the air
Above the town of King-te-tchin, With smoke uprising, g>7e on gyre,

A burning town or seeming so, And painted by the lurid glare
Of jets and flashes of red fire.
Three thousand furnaces that glow
Longfellow. " Keramos."
—- All the articles made by Nien-hsi-yao which
TTiey were chiefly monochrome in color, but
—ate known as "Nien-yao," or Nien porcelain some were ornamented with painted flowers,
either incised or rendered flat.
were graceful in form and of fine workmanship,