Page 324 - Oriental Series Japan and China, Brinkly

CHINA

characteristic variety deserves special mention. It has
thin and strikingly light biscuit covered with lustre-
less glaze that shows a distinct tinge of buff and so
closely resembles the shell of an egg as to proclaim

at once its maker's intention. There is no orna-

mentation, either incised or in relief, and the ware

depends entirely on the softness and delicacy of its

general appearance. Judging by the care evidently
bestowed on the manufacture of these pieces, it is im-
possible to class them in an inferior grade of keramic

objects, though they may not rank as high as the

Ting-yao proper. In Japan they have always been
esteemed for the sake of their perfect adaptability as
flower vases : their quiet mellow surface consorts ad-

mirably with brilliant as with sober blossoms. The

most characteristic of these vases are without crackle,

but occasionally the glaze is covered with net-work

Whenof very fine veining. this is the case the pate

has usually greater weight and thickness. Indications

pointing with any distinctness to the age of the soft-

paste Kiang-nan porcelains are difficult to fix. That

examples of the work of the Sung or even of the

Yuan potters survive only in the smallest numbers,

goes without saying. The majority of the best speci-

mens now extant are probably from the hands of Ming
or early Tsing experts. The best test of age is that

they should fulfil the general rules applicable to good

porcelain as to fineness and thinness of biscuit uni-

formity and lustre of glaze, and careful technique.

According to the author of the Tao-lu, the potters

of Ching-te-chen imitated only the Fang-ting-yaoy or

rice-flour variety of Ting-yao that is to say, the

Nan-ting type of the ware. It would be more proper

to say that they confined their manufacture to this

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