Page 197 - Chinese Porcelain Vol I, Galland

PAINTED IN COLOURS UNDER THE GLAZE. 147

in of good blue, which is said to
difficulty getting supplies
have failed in the
altogether Ching-hwa period (1465-1488).
During the Ching-tih period (1506-1522), the Chinese seem, for
the first time, to have cobalt from ; but
procured foreigners
at all the surrounding conditions, it would seem
looking highly
improbable that they were able to obtain either free or constant
supplies of European cobalt much before the Kang-he period
(1(361-1722). It appears certain that all along the Chinese con-
tinued to use native pigments, probably on the score of cost,
while the shades we now find on blue and white
vary according
to the of the cobalt in the decora-
quality originally employed
tion thereof.
It may be well here to mention that some few of the pieces
seem to be made of softer material than the usual run of
Chinese but these all to the
porcelain, belong present dynasty,
not before the
in fact, apparently Keen-lung period (1736-1795).
As in the other classes, this ware varies in quality. Some of it
is fine indeed, and highly prized by those collectors who
very
understand it, and being very limited in quality, is likely to
increase in value as it gets better known. In the United
States of America it is much appreciated, and whole collections
exist of it. This soft paste is lighter in weight than the hard,
and is to be found in the rose and other classes, as well as in this.
In blue and white every style of decoration is to be found,
while the subjects vary from deities and emperors, with their
surroundings, to a simple twig, it may be of primus or some
other To understand all the motives we
symbolical plant.
should need to have the whole history, mythology, and classics
of China at our finger-ends.
No. 221. A blue and white jar in the South Kensington
Museum. Coarse ware. No mark. There is nothing to prove
the of this but in decoration it with what we
age piece, agrees
have reason to believe was current in the later
Ming period.
"
In the catalogue it is described as a Jar, Chinese ; blue Nankin
with and flowers.
porcelain ; globular, pencilled figures Height,
11 inches ; diameter, 15J inches."
The seems to be two scholars in a one
subject garden,
seated at a table with an attendant at his side, who carries a
knotted staff, from which are suspended a gourd and a scroll.
On the rim there is a narrow arabesque band, with another on