Page 12 - Old Hyderabad China : (history, legend, and characteristics)

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The word " Porcelain " is derived from the
ItaHan word " Porcellana," a cowrie shell, and is an
apt comparison. This word at first included other
substances, such as mother-of-pearl, but is now used
to denote translucent pottery, whether it be the true

" felspathic " porcelain of China, or the various

wares made more recently in Europe.

Porcelain was widely used in India long before
it became known in Europe, and was used in Persia
before it was used in India. Since very early times
there must have been an extensive trade between
Persia and China, by the overland route, and in this

connection the recent explorations of Dr. Stein are
of great importance. Gulland quotes an interesting
reference in Hutchin's History of Dorset concerning
the " Trenchard " bowl, a piece of green porcelain,

presented to Sir Thomas Trenchard by PhilHp of

Austria in 1506 A.D. " To whom on leaving, the

King presented some bowls of oriental china. These
were then great rarities, as they must have passed
the desert on the backs of camels. The Cape of
Good Hope not having been colonised at that time.'*

Sulaiman in the 9th century visited China, and
describes " transparent " vases made of a fuie clay.*
In 1004 A.D. the Chinese Emperor Chin-Tsung
founded a Royal factory at King-te-Chin where from
remote periods pottery and porcelain had been made.
At this period the Chinese are known to have mainly
manufactured porcelain of a massive character and

green colour. (Gulland.)

In 1171 " Saladin " of Egypt sent to " Nur-ed-
din " on his reconquest of Palestine a present of

* Encyclop. Brit. Xlth Ed.. " Ceramics."