Page 307 - Oriental Series Japan and China, Brinkly

PORCELAIN DECORATED

taken simply as a field for displaying bright enamels,
and even if these occasionally approach the transpar-
ency and purity of their Kang-hsi and Chien-lung
prototypes, the general effect is confused and unsatis-

factory. It is probable, however, that some of these
imitations have found their way into American col-
lections, for they have been exported from the East

by dealers of repute.
A rare
and very highly prized variety of "jewelled
porcelain decorated with enamels showing all the
"

is

properties of glass. From the Ming era the Chinese

acquired great skill in the manufacture of cameo

glass, using it chiefly to make snuff-bottles, writers'

vases, bowls, and other small objects. Towards the

close of the Kang-hsi era their keramists conceived

the idea of employing glass, or a slightly modified

form of it, in the same way as they had hitherto em-

ployed verifiable enamels for over-glaze decoration.

Opinions may differ about the artistic success of this
new departure, but as a tour de force it was certainly

very remarkable, and from Chinese connoisseurs it

elicited applause. Few specimens are procurable, and

a very high value attaches to them in China. Occa-

sionally a porcelain vase is found having body-glaze

and decoration such that its resemblance to a speci-

men of cameo glass is striking.

Before dismissing the subject of porcelain decorated
with enamels over the glaze, notice must be taken

of the "Three-coloured Ware" (San-tsai-ki). This,

as its name indicates, is distinguished by paucity of

coloured enamels, green, yellow, and red only being
employed, with occasional addition of blue sous cou-
verfe. Green is the dominant colour, the others

usually occupying a more or less subordinate place.