Page 451 - Chinese Porcelain Vol I, Galland

DECORATING WITH CHINA. 243

made to resemble in texture the Chinese, the dirt
exactly
stains on the and faces of the
unglazed portions pieces being
imitated so as to resemble the engraining of years. 17 Old pieces
of Chinese origin that have been broken can have the damaged
made in a that is marvellous ; in
portions good way perfectly
fact, there seems nothing almost that these clever craftsmen
and artists cannot accomplish. This trade is carried on openly,
the pieces being offered for sale in their windows, labelled as
reproductions of ancient works of art ; but no language can
well be too for use in dealers who
strong condemning buy
these to benefit them as
reproductions intending by reselling
and the better to deceive the have
genuine; public, they actually
sometimes these that their
shipped forgeries to China, hoping
receipt back from that country would place them above suspicion.
There seems to be no guide by which these frauds can be
detected except the actual practise, which enables the eye to
at once denounce them. It is impossible, therefore, to do
more than caution the reader and
against bargains, advise,
when to consult a whose
making purchases, specialist judgment
is known to be reliable.
It is but consolation to know that of
poor reproductions
blue and white have not hitherto been so successful as those
of the class.
polychrome
Nos. 279, 280, 282, 283, 322, 323, 337, 368 to 373, 380, 381,
393 to 396, have been photographed from French copies.

DECOKATING WITH CHINA.

Our ancestors bought cabinets in which to keep their
ceramic treasures, and the custom to a
still
prevails large
extent. The china is a great improvement to the cabinet, but
it is not so certain that the cabiuet is the best method of
displaying the china, particularly as great changes have of
late years been made in the decorating and furnishing of our
17 of ancient but
Copies porcelain are made at Tournai and in Silesia,
after all, this kind of imitation is carried out in every branch of art known to
have any value, and was in vogue even in the days of ancient Rome.— T. J. L.