Page 231 - J. P Morgan Collection of Chinese Art and Porcelain

OF CHINESE PORCELAINS [CASE XVII

foliated tops containing the flowers of the four seasons.

The neck is decorated with peonies, lotus, prunus
chrysanthemums, and convolvulus, with butterflies

in brilliant enamel colors. On the covers are four

pyramidal reserves, with foliated tops, on a frog-
spawn ground, each showing boys at play; between these
reserves vases with flowers or peacock feathers with the

Shou or Yang and Yin sign in red on each. The top

is bright purple-blue. Magnificent examples of the
brilliant coloring which distinguishes the reign of K'ang-

hsi. The cobalt blue, as here, is usually applied over
the glaze and fired in the muffle stove with the other

enamels of the polychrome palette. It takes a pur-
plish tinge, and stands out in a tangible relief, but has
one disadvantage in that it has a tendency to scale off.

K'ang-hsi (1662- 1722). Height 23 inches.

461. CYLINDRICAL EWER with tiara top, used

for iced fruit syrups; another magnificent example

of the above class. The strongly designed dragon is

four-clawed, as is usual in the finest pieces of the time

which are not from the imperial factory. Note the

crackled texture of the green enamels, as interesting

points of comparison with contemporary monochrome

glazes executed with the same materials.

K'ang-hsi (1662-1722). Height 20 inches.

462, 463. TWO HEXAGONAL LANTERNS. Egg-

shell porcelain, decorated in most brilliant transparent
enamels of the K'ang-hsi period on a paste of exquisite
fineness. Each piece is surmounted by a crenelated
crown, originally gilt, and the hexagonal retreating
base rests in a metal stand or socket of similar design.
The six panels bear decorations depicting traditional

incidents.

K'ang-hsi (1662-1722). Height I2>< inches.

(plate XXIV AND PLATE XXVl)

9'