Page 39 - The art of the Chinese potter By Hobson

AN INTRODUCTION

Round Canton, glazed stoneware has been made from very early
times, but it was probably during the latter part of the Ming dynasty
and after that most of the Kwangtung ware which we see was made.
The most common type of glaze met with is a dark blue or purple

one with white opalescence variegating it, but there are specimens
with a greyish colour which approximates fairly closely to some of

the Chun effects. The body is a good deal darker in colour, so

that no great difficulty should be experienced in detecting these
Southern products.

The Yi-hsing wares are potted on a hard reddish stoneware body
and some of the variegated glaze effects are pleasing ; the glaze
generally is a soft one which does not bind too well with the body

and consequently shows signs of chipping off.

In marked contrast to the gaily coloured Chun wares is the white
simplicity of the Ting yao. This ware was made at Ting Chou in
the province of Chihli during the early part of the Sung dynasty
but after the incursions of the Chin Tartars had forced the Sung
emperor to retreat south of the Yangtze to set up his capital at
Hang Chou, the Ting Chou potters migrated south also and the

majority of them appear to have established themselves at or near
Ching-te" Chen which was later to become the ceramic metropolis
of the Empire. But no doubt many of these potters, and those from
subsidiary factories employing the same kind of technique, moved

to other centres.

In any case, we know of a wide series of wares closely related to

the Ting yao proper, but showing differences which point to several

centres of origin. The difficulty of distinguishing the ware made
in the north at Ting Chou and that produced in the south later
was one which puzzled the ancient connoisseur, for we are told
that those who can distinguish between the two " have no reason

for shame."

The Ting ware consists of a fine white body with an orange or
reddish translucency when potted thinly enough to allow light to
pass through it. The glaze is a creamy or ivory white. Incised or
moulded designs often ornament the plates and bowls which

constitute the majority of specimens seen to-day, and the drawing
is distinguished by its boldness and its artistic feeling.

The Ting ware is divided into three classes, the white Ting or

pai ting, the flour- coloured Ting or fen ting, and the earthy Ting

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