Page 253 - Chinese Porcelain Vol I, Galland

RED AND WHITE. 163

This is au
piece probably eighteenth-century reproduction
of this old Chinese motive. In the of King-te-
very history
chin, we read that during the Yung-lo period (1403-1415), cups
were made decorated with lions rolling a ball.
Pieces like this are known by the name "rouge de fer,"
from the colouring being in iron-red.

Cokal.
Bed and White.
No. 266 should come under this heading.

Bed over the Glaze, with Blue under the Glaze.
No. 268. Bottle. Height, 14J inches. No mark. Covered
with a deep coral-red over the glaze, the other decoration
in blue under the On the side shown is a four-
being glaze.
clawed dragon, surrounded by roundish-shaped clouds, or fire-
balls, from each of which four flames project. These are often
met with on dragon pieces. On the other side are three fish
jumping out of the water, the centre one, with a scroll from its
a small
mouth containing dragon, no doubt with reference to
the of the Yellow Eiver
sturgeon winning dragonhood by pass-
the of Men.
ing rapids Lung
Anderson, p. 224: "The carp in Japan serves as an
emblem of vigour and perseverance. It is frequently drawn in
the act of leaping the cataract, success in the ascent being
fabled to win its promotion to dragonhood. This belief is
derived from the Chinese that the
evidently legend, sturgeon
of the Yellow Eiver makes an ascent of the stream in the third
moon of each year, and if successful in passing above the rapids
of the Lung Men, becomes transformed into a dragon."
No. 269. Jar with cover, flat unglazed base. Height, 14J
inches. No mark. This is decorated with coral-red waves
over the amidst which the immortals
painted glaze, eight
in blue under the on various animals.
appear glaze, standing
The band at the neck is white and blue, with red ornament in
the four reserves. The neck is decorated with crabs and
cray-
fish in blue under the glaze. The flange of the cover is the
same, but with green enamel foliage introduced here and there.
The cover is decorated in the same manner as the with a
jar,
figure on one side and stag on the other.