Page 337 - Chinese Porcelain Vol I, Galland

PAINTED IN COLOURS OVER THE GLAZE.
195
other of he is uot as his
god literature, though regarded
assistant."
"
A Chinese friend writes : The man seated at the
literary
table is to be a scholar who is destined shown
supposed (as
by the star of literature) to come out first in the metro-
politan examinations, the highest of degrees (Chinese, Chang
Yuan)."
a Chinese " trans-
Mayers, p. 282, gives phrase meaning
formation of fishes into dragons," which is used metaphori-
" "
cally for successful graduation at the literary examinations
No.
(see 268).
The figure of Kue Sing being just in the curve of the vase,
the photograph has failed to reproduce it distinctly.
This piece is decorated with green enamel, pink, and other
colours.
No. 333. Porcelain dish with brown
edge. Diameter,
13 inches ; height, If inch. No mark. It will be noticed
J
that the diaper band is of green speckled work, the flowers
scattered on it being prunus blossoms in red and white, while
the six reserves are marked off by yellow bands. The motive
consists of two ladies in a boat. The one in front has a basket
of flowers at her feet, this is Lau Tsae-ho the other, her
;
attendant, holds in her hand a fungus ; while above is a bat,
thus symbolizing longevity and happiness. The pink here
in the dresses of the ladies. With to the red
appears regard
disc, which appears in this and the next plate, and is often to
be met with on china, a Chinese friend writes, " Whether
coloured red or a mere circle, these discs represent the sun, sign
of a bright prospect, the light chasing away darkness."
No. 334. Porcelain dish. Diameter, 141 inches ; height,
2\ inches. No mark. Brown edge. The decoration consists
of a drawn female of Lau Tsae-ho, with a basket
boldly figure
and — carried on a
of flowers— in this case, pseonies
magnolias
hoe over the shoulder. The in the
right pink only appears
sleeves, the body of the tunic being of a rich dark green, while
the skirt is of the old red we find in earlier Overhead
pieces.
are four bats, the first of the five blessings, longevity being
symbolized by the large fungus growing at the base of the rock
to the reader's hand. There is a these
right prejudice against
but date from the of the
coffee-glaze edges, they beginning