Page 46 - Chinese porcelains collected by Mr. and Mrs. Charles P. Taft, Cincinnati, Ohio, by John Getz

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HISTORICAL

The products of this epoch show a gradual reduction into toned enam-

els horn the transparent and clear<olored gleizes employed during the

K'ang-hsi regime.

The strong and vigorous rendering which marks specimens of the seven-

teenth century merged into half-tones and more careful finish, but it also

became more hard and stencil-like in exactness.

Superabundant detail in accessories marks many objects of the eigh-
teenth century originated under Yung<heng. The great master-painting

and -drawing of the Sung and Yiian dynasties were copied, but the decora-

tive force was weakened by added detail or by scmpulous care in finish,

Onlargely the fault of European demands and doubtless extra cost. the

other hand there exist specimens, which belong also to this period, that

are of great perfection both in technique and purity of paste, where decora-

tion subordinates itself with tact and is arranged so that the pellucid

quality of the porcelain is seen to advantage. Especially is this so in

smaller pieces, where the skill of workmanship is most remarkable.

Naturalistic floral decoration was certainly carried to a perfection un-

knowTi before; also, much refinement in shape as well as decoration is to

be found on the tmly great pieces (palace objects), which were until very

recent years unrevealed to the Westem world.

The dominant rose<olor superseded the green of the preceding peri-
ods. The successive predominance of these colors induced Jacquemart

—to group them in two classes, i.e., "famille verte" and "famille "rose,
— which designations may not be very technical, but satisfactorily express

the characteristics of each type, and are now accepted generally, after

some attempts to change them.

The blue and white porcelain of this era is inferior to that of former

epochs, especially owing to the uniform hardness and regularity in design

but the fineness and perfect quality of the material give some distinction

and beauty to such pieces.

Porcelain was not looked upon in this period merely as a vehicle for

decoration, but a thing to be admired in itself, hence some wonderful white

specimens exist that are marvels in technique and finish.

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