Page 78 - Catalog Of Chinese Applied Art

454- BOTTLE-SHAPED VASE, with bulbous neck and greyish white glaze, much- crackled.

Deftly sketched drawing of a sage seated under a tree, in greyish cobalt blue. The
piece has become brown by being stained, probably in use. 7 inches high. Early

Ming period.
Lent by G. Eumorfopoulos, Esq.

455. LOW SQL^ARE VASE, with incurved sides of fine white porcelain painted with

bright deep cobalt blue, underglaze, of marvellous depth and quality. Design of
dragons and floral arabesques, with bands of conventional ornament top and bottom,
6| inches high by 4^ inches wide. Ming period, (plate ix.)

This is a brilliant example of a type of blue and white which is greatly esteemed
by the Chinese themselves. It bears the date mark of Chia Ching (1522-66.)

456. CYLINDRICAL JAR OF WHITE PORCELAIN, with a pierced wood cover.

Panelled design, boldly painted with kylins and ornamental borders in brilliantly
enamelled red, green, yellow and aubergine, with black outlines. 7J inches high.

Ming period.

457. DEEP BOWL OF FINE WHITE PORCELAIN, with much-crackled glaze, and

stained to a warm brown tone by age and use. Painted on the outside, a free design

of fishes and emblems very deftly drawn in greyish underglaze blue. 8 inches diameter,
4 inches high. Early Ming.

The two exhibits, Nos. 454 and 457, are almost certainly amongst the oldest
specimens of blue and white known.

458. LOBATE BOWL, with erect rim, standing on three feet, in white porcelain

painted with cartouches bearing Persian inscriptions and surrounded by conventional
scrolls in pure underglaze blue. The glaze has a singularly dull appearance, having
a surface only like that of an egg-shell, and is gathered and puckered like the skin of
boiled milk. 4 inches high, 6 inches diameter. It bears the mark of the reign
Cheng Te (1506-21.) (plate ix.)

459. SHALLOW SQUARE BASIN OF WHITE PORCELAIN, with duU enamelled

red ground painted with fish in yellow, among water plants painted in green and black,
4f inches wide. Cheng Te (1506-21.)

Lent by G. Eumorfopoulos, Esq.

460 and 461. TWO BOWLS OF FINE WHITE PORCELAIN, with deHcate greenish-

white glaze ; boldly painted design of vine tendrils and bunches of grapes in bright

pure cobalt blue. y\ inches wide by 3^ inches high. Chia Ching (1522-66.)

462. CYLINDRICAL BOWL, on three straight feet of coarsish porcelain with a thick
the " inches high by 4I inches
white glaze, decorated in Wan' ' Li five-colour
style. 3 J

wide. Late Ming.

Lent by R. H. Benson, Esq.

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